interjection, verb General Slang

werk / werq

· interjection, verb · ballroom

An affirmation shouted to hype a fierce performance.

0

Definitions

1

A shout of pure approval, you better werk, thrown at someone performing with confidence and flair. The deliberate misspelling is the point: it marks it as scene language, not the everyday word. As both a cheer and a command, it tells the performer to give everything and keep going.

“She hit the runway in those heels and the whole crowd screamed werk.”
by community
0
2

As a verb, to do something with exceptional style and command, to werk an outfit, a stage, a moment.

“He werqed that catwalk like it owed him money.”
by community
0

werk / werq In A Sentence

She hit the runway in those heels and the whole crowd screamed werk.
He werqed that catwalk like it owed him money.

Origin & Usage

Black gay and ballroom culture; an intentional respelling of 'work'. Heard in the 1990 documentary Paris Is Burning as encouragement during performances, later cemented in mainstream slang via RuPaul.

Variants werqwerk ityou better werkwork
Tags #ballroom#drag#lgbtq#rupaul

People Also Ask

What does werk mean?

Werk is an affirmation shouted to hype up a fierce performance. It's a celebratory cheer of encouragement and approval.

How do you use werk in a sentence?

"Yes queen, werk! You're serving looks tonight!"

What's the difference between werk and werq?

There's no real difference — werk and werq are just alternate spellings of the same hype affirmation, both used to praise a fierce performance.

Comments 0