There's a newly discovered pair of terms confusing people across social media and many refuse to believe they're real. The terms, "barlo" and "kaan," are respectively defined as a new sexuality and slur against said sexuality, but what exactly do they mean and are they real? Here's what you need to know.

@brassius.s

Please say ykh guys have seen tbe barlo tik tok

♬ basics in behaviour by the living tombstone – ☆

What Do 'Barlo' And 'Kaan' Mean?

In April 2021, a TikToker named @barlopride posted a video defining a never-before-heard sexuality, "barlo." The post explains that a "barlo" person is attracted to bees and that "kaan" is the designated "slur" against barlo people, warning readers to never use it unless they're barlo.

The post was eventually deleted along with the poster, but not before it was screenshotted and spread around on social media. Wherever it's posted, there's usually someone asking if it's real and if there are really barlo people out there.

While there is purportedly a term for people who are attracted to bees, it is not "barlo." The term is actually Melissophilia and it's been written about by numerous publications over the past decade. "Barlo" and "kaan," on the other hand, are made up in an effort to troll people.

How Is 'Barlo' Used In Memes?

Since going viral in 2021, screenshots of the original video defining "barlo" have occasionally made the rounds on social media, inspiring several Reddit, Tumblr and X posts with tens of thousands of upvotes. The post has also inspired memes referencing it, such as a post to /r/Memes with over 10,000 upvotes that shows Thanos reading the definition then snapping the earth away.

Lots of the time, the post is simply shared without context to get reactions out of people, some understanding the satire and others frantically wondering if barlo people exist.

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For the full history of Barlo and Kaan, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.