Buzz
Here's your ultimate guide to the TikTok meme taking over feeds
The phrase “Erm, what the sigma?” is the latest bizarre meme to go viral on TikTok. You might’ve heard it in an audio clip where Squidward and Spongebob-like voices chant the phrase — or maybe you've caught Gen Z and Gen Alpha using it as a sarcastic comeback. Curious about what it’s all about? Let’s dive into its offbeat origins, meme logic, and the sound that kicked it all off.
Breaking Down the Phrase: “Erm, What the Sigma?”
The phrase “Erm, what the sigma?” is an ironic twist on saying “What the heck?” while mocking Gen Alpha’s niche internet humor — especially the overused “sigma” meme. It blew up thanks to a TikTok audio clip with characters sounding like Spongebob and Squidward. People also toss it around just for laughs, even when it makes no sense.
How to Use It
What Does “Erm, What the Sigma?” Mean?
The phrase “Erm, what the sigma?” is a humorous way of saying "What the heck?" It satirizes Gen Z and Gen Alpha meme culture, often appearing in TikToks that feature a viral audio clip where voices similar to Spongebob and Squidward from Spongebob Squarepants repeat the phrase.
- One standout TikTok features a scene from Spongebob Squarepants, edited to replace Squidward's dialogue with “Erm, what the sigma?” Watch here.
- Creators use the phrase when joking about trying to speak Gen Alpha slang or decode younger generations’ chaotic lingo. It often pairs with other absurd memes like “skibidi toilet.”
- Sometimes, the phrase is just tossed into posts for laughs, leaning fully into its nonsensical vibe.
When and How to Say “Erm, What the Sigma?”
Use the phrase to show ironic confusion or poke fun at internet absurdity. TikTok users, often from Gen Z and Gen Alpha, drop the “Erm, what the sigma?” line in videos to ironically claim sigma male status, joke about brainrot (meme overload), or react to chaotic pet behavior. It’s like saying “What the heck?” with a wink.
- Drop it in a comment when a video leaves you baffled, or use it as a funny voiceover line in your own clip.
- It's especially fitting for meme edits involving Spongebob Squarepants, since the trend was born from a spoof audio clip mimicking Spongebob and Squidward’s voices.
Where “Erm, What the Sigma?” Came From
“Erm, what the sigma?” took off on TikTok in March 2024. The meme originated from a now-deleted post by @lawfreeza, which featured two Instagram voice messages — the second of which included the phrase “Erm, what the sigma?” It gained traction when @annamae_83 reposted the clip, pointing out the Squidward-like voice. The trend exploded after @huugh_mungus used the audio in a TikTok showing Squidward and Spongebob reacting to an ice cream cone by repeating the phrase.
- The original audio appears to be a remix of Stewie Griffin’s line “Erm… What the deuce?” from Family Guy and the meme slang “sigma,” meaning a cool, independent male figure.
Connected Slang
Sigma “Sigma” describes a confident, lone-wolf type of man, considered an equal to the “alpha” male in online masculinity hierarchies. While the term started in toxic manosphere spaces, it’s been reclaimed by Gen Z and Gen Alpha to humorously describe themselves or others in memes that mock the seriousness of those labels.
“Erm… What the deuce?” This catchphrase from Family Guy, often said by Stewie Griffin, likely influenced the creation of “Erm, what the sigma?” It gained meme status on iFunny in 2021, leading to spin-offs like “Erm… what the scallop?” voiced by Plankton from Spongebob Squarepants, which later spread across social platforms in 2022.
So That Just Happened In the same meme category as “Erm, what the sigma?” are phrases like “So, that just happened” and “Well, this is awkward,” inspired by cheesy Marvel movie one-liners. Gen Z and Gen Alpha use these phrases to ironically highlight awkward, absurd, or cringe moments — just as they do with “Erm, what the sigma?”
