イケてる

• Reading: イケてる
• Romaji: iketeru
• Pronunciation: /i.ke.te.ɾɯ/

Meaning

Cool, stylish, or looking good — used to compliment someone's appearance, fashion, or general vibe.

Derived from the verb イケる (to be able / to be good), イケてる emerged in the 1990s as youth slang for someone or something that looks stylish or attractive. It covers appearance, fashion, interior design, and overall aesthetic. While it peaked in the late 1990s, it remains widely understood and used, especially among people in their 20s-40s.

Examples

1. 新しい髪型めっちゃイケてるじゃん！ Your new haircut looks super cool!
2. あの店の内装すごいイケてるから今度行こうよ。 That place has a really stylish interior — let's go sometime.
3. 今日のコーデかなりイケてるね、どこで買ったの？ Your outfit today is seriously on point. Where'd you get it?

Usage Guide

Context: friends, fashion, casual conversation

Tone: complimentary, approving

Do Say

• その靴イケてるね！どこで買ったの？ (Those shoes are so cool! Where did you get them?)
• あのバーの雰囲気イケてるよ (That bar has a really cool vibe)

Don't Say

• 目上の人に「イケてますね」は軽すぎる (Saying 'iketemasu ne' to a superior sounds too casual — use 素敵ですね instead)

Common Mistakes

• Using イケてる for non-visual/aesthetic praise — it specifically refers to style and appearance
• Confusing with イケメン (handsome guy) — イケてる is broader and applies to things, places, and styles too

Origin & History

From イケる (to be viable/good), popularised in the 1990s through trendy TV shows and magazines. The te-iru progressive form イケてる emphasises an ongoing state of being cool.

Cultural Context

Era: 1990s peak popularity, still actively used

Generation: 20s-40s, widely understood across ages

Social background: Urban youth culture, fashion-conscious speakers

Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. Closely associated with 1990s-2000s youth culture and fashion magazines. The opposite, イケてない, means unfashionable or lame.