- A slang portmanteau (blend) of the words chill and relax.
- Means to calm down, relax, take it easy, and stop being stressed or agitated.
Explanation
Origin
- Emerged in informal American English, gaining popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
- It combines two very common informal words for relaxation into a single, trendy-sounding term.
- Popularized through youth culture, movies, and TV shows of that era.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Take a chill pill. (Figurative)
- Woosah. (Humorous reference from the movie *Bad Boys II*, meaning find inner peace/calm)
- Zone out. (Can be a way to chillax, but specifically means stop paying attention)
- Hang loose. (Older surfer slang for relax)
Milder/Standard:
- Please relax.
- Try to calm down.
- There's no need to be anxious.
- Take a moment to breathe.
Situational Appropriateness
- Very informal slang.
- Primarily used among younger people (Millennials, Gen Z) or in very casual, laid-back contexts.
- Sounds out of place and unprofessional in formal settings or when speaking with older generations who might not be familiar with it or find it juvenile.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- The main issue isn't misunderstanding the meaning (which is fairly clear from context and the root words), but rather its high level of informality and generational association. Using it in the wrong context can make the speaker seem unprofessional or immature.
Examples
- You're stressing way too much about the exam. Just chillax!
- My plans for the weekend? Just gonna chillax at home.
- Hey, no need to yell. Chillax, man.
Dialogue
Person A: *Pacing back and forth nervously* What if I mess up the presentation? What if they hate it?
Person B: Dude, chillax. You know your stuff. You're gonna be great.
Person A: You think so?
Person B: Totally. Just take a breath and chillax for a minute.
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: Finally Friday! Time to chillax and forget about work for two days. 🙏 #weekend #relaxation #chillax
- Instagram caption: Poolside, sunshine, and good vibes. Just gonna chillax here all afternoon. 😎 #vacation #chillaxing
- Comment: User A: Freaking out about the game update! User B: Bro just chillax it'll be fine lol
Response Patterns
- Similar to Chill or Relax.
- Acceptance: Okay, okay, I'll try to chillax.
- Annoyance: Don't tell me to chillax! / Easy for you to say.
- Explanation: I can't chillax until this is finished!
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After telling someone to chillax:
- The speaker might offer specific reassurance (It's going to be fine).
- Suggest a relaxing activity (Let's just watch a movie and chillax).
The person told to chillax might:
- Take a deep breath and try to calm down.
- Continue venting but perhaps with less intensity.
- Ignore the advice if they feel it's unhelpful.
Conversation Starter
- No. It's usually a directive or a description of relaxing.
Intonation
- Said very informally, often in a laid-back, soothing, or sometimes slightly dismissive tone.
- Stress usually falls on the second syllable: chi-LAX.
Generation Differences
- Strongly associated with Millennial and Gen Z slang from the early 2000s onwards.
- Older generations (Gen X, Boomers) are less likely to use it and might prefer Relax, Calm down, or Take it easy.
Regional Variations
- Originated in the US but spread through media. Usage is most common in North America but understood by younger demographics elsewhere.