Vibe Is Short for Vibration, in the Spiritual Sense
A vibe is a distinctive atmosphere. The word came from 1960s ideas about energy.
A vibe is a distinctive atmosphere or feeling given off by a person or place. It is short for *vibration*, and the sense comes directly from 1960s counterculture, where people and places were held to emit literal vibrations that others could sense. The word survived the belief entirely: almost nobody using it now means anything physical. Latin *vibrare*, to shake, gives *vibrate*, *vibrant* and *vibrato*, and *vibes* also names the vibraphone.
- An atmosphere. *A good vibe.*
- A feeling. *Bad vibes.*
- Vibration — the source. *A vibration.*
- Vibraphone. *The vibes.*
- Latin — *vibrare*, to shake. *The root.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | vibe | A vibe. |
| Plural | vibes | Vibes. |
| Full form | vibration | A vibration. |
| Adjective | vibrant | Vibrant. |
| Latin | vibrare | To shake. |
- The place has a good vibe.Atmosphere.
- Short for vibration.Etymology.
- He plays the vibes.Music.
1960s words that outlived their beliefs
- Vibe — from literal vibrations people emitted
- Karma — borrowed and loosened from Sanskrit
- Energy — used of people, not physics
- Aura — a visible field, now just an impression
- Each kept the word and dropped the claim
Shortened from *vibration*, from Latin *vibrare*, to shake.
Where does vibe come from?
It is short for vibration, from 1960s counterculture belief that people emit literal vibrations others can sense.
What are the vibes as an instrument?
The vibraphone, a tuned percussion instrument with rotating discs that produce a vibrato effect.