derp
/dɝp/interjection, verb, noun
derp is spelled D-E-R-P: 4 letters. It appears about once in every 3 million words in written English, the 48,775th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an interjection, derp means “Draws attention to an act of foolishness or stupidity” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in derp?
| Letters | 4: D-E-R-P |
|---|---|
| In writing | about once in every 3 million words; the 48,775th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with | |
| Same letters |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is derp?
Derp appears about once in every 3 million words in written English, the 48,775th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce derp?
- US /dɝp/
- UK /dɜːp/
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-au-derp.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with derp?
7 words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as derp from its last stressed vowel (/ɜɹp/):
Spelled with the same letters in another order: pred.
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of derp
- derps present, singular, he/she/it, plural
- derping participle, present
- derped participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does derp mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
interjection
- 1
slangDraws attention to an act of foolishness or stupidity.
I put chips in my soup instead of crackers. Derp.
- 2
slangA placeholder for unimportant details, blah blah blah.
verb
- 1
slangTo act stupidly or foolishly.
- 2
slangTo make a stupid mistake.
- 3
slangTo have one's eyes pointing in different directions; to exhibit strabismus.
noun
- 1
slangA person who acts stupidly or foolishly; a person who derps.
- 2
slangA stupid mistake, stupidity.
- 3
The constant repeating of an opinion after facts have proved it incorrect, especially as a rhetorical tactic.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Where does derp come from?
Probably from dur, a British informal exclamation for “stupid” or from duh, an exclamation indicating faltering speech and assumed stupidity, glottalized for emphasis. Popularized by BASEketball (1998) and "Succubus", a 1999 episode of South Park. See also twerp possibly related to Welsh twp meaning fool. Derp was used in the movie College Rhythm (1934) to refer to a nerdy or awkward type of person.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).