Groovy
Meaning: Cool, excellent, or having a great rhythm — a retro term that has cycled back into ironic and genuine use.
Originally 1960s-70s hippie slang meaning 'cool' or 'far out,' groovy fell out of use before being revived both ironically and genuinely. In music, 'groovy' specifically describes a song with a compelling, funky rhythm that makes you want to move.
Examples
- That bassline is so groovy. 那段贝斯线太有律动了。Esa línea de bajo es súper groovy.あのベースラインめちゃくちゃgroovyだね。저 베이스라인 진짜 그루비하다.
- We had a groovy time at the festival. 我们在音乐节玩得超嗨。Lo pasamos genial en el festival.フェスでgroovyな時間を過ごしたよ。페스티벌에서 그루비한 시간을 보냈어.
- The DJ played nothing but groovy funk all night. DJ整晚放的全是充满律动的放克音乐。El DJ no puso más que funk groovy en toda la noche.DJは一晩中groovyなファンクばかりかけてた。DJ가 밤새 그루비한 펑크만 틀었어.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: music, retro culture, compliments
Tone: fun, retro, appreciative
✓ Do Say
- That beat is groovy.那个节拍很groovy。Ese ritmo es groovy.あのビート、groovyだね。그 비트 그루비하다.
- What a groovy tune.真是一首groovy的曲子。Qué tema más groovy.なんてgroovyな曲なんだ。정말 그루비한 곡이네.
✗ Don't Say
- Be aware it can sound dated or ironic — context matters注意它可能听起来过时或带有反讽意味——要看语境Ten en cuenta que puede sonar anticuado o irónico — el contexto importa古臭く聞こえたり皮肉に取られる場合がある——文脈次第구식이거나 아이러니하게 들릴 수 있다는 걸 알아둬 — 맥락이 중요해
Origin & History
From jazz slang in the 1920s ('in the groove' meant performing well). Became mainstream hippie slang in the 1960s. Austin Powers parodied it in the 1990s, and it's since been revived genuinely by music fans.
Cultural Context
Era: 1960s-1970s, 2010s revival
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
More From This Topic
More from Music & Entertainment
Flashcards, quizzes, audio pronunciation & spaced repetition — all free