What Is A Stank Face & Where Did It Originate?

What is “stank face”?

Stank face is a positive, involuntary facial expression in response to music. The expression is often characterized by a frown and a scrunched nose. Some people also flare their nostrils or curl their upper lip to intensify the “stank” in their expression. Many people reflexively make the stank face when they’re really enjoying music. When listening to music, it’s also common to bob or shake your head in time with the beat while making the stank face. The idea is that you’re making an overly exaggerated expression that looks like disgust, but actually means you like something.

Why do people make a “stank face”?

People make “stank face” to express appreciation for music. According to musician and music scholar Milton Mermikides, listening to music we enjoy can release dopamine, a feel-good hormone. When this dopamine response is combined with the dissonance of a bent note, syncopated rhythm, or rough guitar sound, it creates the feeling of “pleasurable pain.” Because of this, the stank face is believed to be an automatic reflex to hearing a riff, beat, or other piece of music that you connect with. Musicians also sometimes make a “stank face” when they’re playing music. Stank face is mostly associated with funky music, but it can happen when listening to any type of music you enjoy. Stank face is most commonly associated with music, but people sometimes use it to describe other things they admire, like impressive plays in sports.

Where did “stank face” come from?

“Stank face” is strongly associated with American Black culture. It’s often connected to funk, jazz, and hip-hop music. The word “stank” comes from African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and refers to something that’s stinky or foul-smelling. However, when used in some contexts, “stank” means that something is creative or has attitude. For example, “put some stank on it” means to add your own personality to something to make it more exciting. Saying someone “put some stank on it” is a compliment. So, when you’re “putting some stank on it,” you make a “stank face.” Someone may also make a “stank face” to show they recognize and appreciate your “stank.”

Some believe “stank face” specifically refers to funk music. Funk music evolved from soul, R&B, and jazz in the mid-1960s. Before that, jazz was often described as being “funky,” meaning it was earthy or smelly. Making a “stank face” was the natural reaction to listening to or playing funk music, with bass players leading the way. “Stank face” was such a common facial expression for people playing funky bass that it’s also called “bass face.” Using “funk” to mean a smell comes from French cheese-making. The French word “funkière” means “to smoke.” It was associated with making cheese stinkier or smokier. “Stank face” is similar to the “guitar face” many musicians make as they play lead guitar. It’s often seen as another way to express concentration or emotion during a performance. It’s also a way to show that musicians are really getting into the music.

Some use “stank-faced” to describe being high on marijuana. Marijuana has a strong, distinctive smell that some describe as skunky, earthy, and herbal. Because of this smell, some may use the term “stank” to describe weed. People may use “stank-faced” to talk about being high in the same way they use “sh*t-faced” to talk about being drunk.

Is “stank face” a sign of disgust?

Stank face is not typically a sign of disgust. Stank face is generally positive and a way for people to show that they’re really enjoying something. However, some people make a similar expression to communicate disgust. In humans, a wrinkled nose and raised upper lip are common reactions to a disgusting smell. This look of disgust is not generally referred to as a stank face, though.

Using the term “stank face” to show disgust may be cultural appropriation. Recently, some people have begun using the term “stank face” to describe the expression people make when dealing with something gross or smelly. However, many feel that this is cultural appropriation because it has nothing to do with the original meaning. The term and expression have a long history in the Black music community, where stank face is seen as a sign of respect for musicians. Some people are also displeased with Purina Tidy Cats for using the term "stank face" in a cat litter commercial. They feel that the company is taking something important to Black culture and using it to sell products to primarily middle-class white women in an attempt to be “cool.”

“Stank Face” Meme & Emoji

People use “stank face” videos on TikTok to make a funny point. Unlike some other memes, there’s no single image or video clip people use to make “stank face” memes. However, they often use images or videos of themselves, pictures of cats, and clips of celebrities to show a “stank face.” On TikTok, users post “stank face” videos to refer to behavior they find disgusting and to express their appreciation for music. Users occasionally post “stank face” images on Instagram, but it’s less common than on TikTok. While there’s no official “stank face” emoji, some people have created stickers that look like an emoji that’s meant to communicate, “Stop, it’s too funky.”

Millennial “Stank Face” Dancing Trend

Millennials make a stank face and dance when they hear their song. A popular TikTok trend features millennials humorously pointing out that they make a “stank face” and dance whenever they hear one of their favorite songs. In some cases, they’re making fun of how they have wrinkles because they used to dance with a “stank face” when they were younger. In an interview in 2024 to promote season 3 of Bridgerton, actress Nicola Coughlan refers to her signature dance move as the “Millennial Stink Face.”

Other Expressions Similar to “Stank Face”

Mean Mug A “mean mug” is an angry face with a frown and a furrowed brow that someone makes at another person. A person may “mean mug” at someone to express frustration, anger, or judgment. People also use it to attempt to intimidate another person. It’s also possible to “mean mug” at someone without meaning to when you’re concentrating. People who have naturally frowning expressions may also “mean mug” unintentionally.

Stink Eye A “stink eye” is a dirty look that expresses annoyance or disapproval. This expression may include narrowed eyes, furrowed brows, and an overall negative look. A “stink eye” is sometimes called a “stank eye” or “stank look.”