Understanding the Meaning of 'Poke' and Its Use as Slang in Vietnam

The word poke, is now used for other ‘poking’ activities, especially in online conversations. The literal meaning of ‘poke’ is light striking touch or prod, while in modern slang it has taken on a life as young people’s buzzword. If you look up the term ‘poke in slang’ particularly in Vietnam (VN), it usually refers to sending a quick on-line message or an expression of interest about a person’s online status.

The ‘poke definition’ first came from Facebook where in the past users had access to poking a friend as a fun way of attracting your friend’s attention without sending them a message. With time the ‘poke in slang’ grew to be more than just a social media nudge and also generalized into a casual friendly poke or an intentional nudge over communication. In Viet Nam, young people (especially teenagers) often use the word ‘POKE’ with meaning: just to say hello or show that you are interested in sth/sb but a way that is not direct".

Vietnamese internet culture, however, demands that we understand the ‘poke meaning’ – as well as why it has become slang for sex. The term ‘poke in slang’ is commonly used during conversations to refer to a casual light or non-intrusive way of chatting, or flirting with someone on the internet. This adaptable slang is increasingly widespread and culturally significant in the streets of Vietnam, particularly on the Internet and mobile phones.

‘Poking’ the case in slang is a light-hearted way to have presence on one’s digital footprint, so it can be a special instance of Vietnamese internet slang. Therefore, the identification of the ‘poke meaning’ is an important reference point to more thoroughly understand interactions on social media among Vietnamese youth as well as their habits of communication.