Raising What does aura mean? "Aura points" and "aura farming," explained
What does aura mean? In kids' slang, "aura" is effortless cool. Kids give or take imaginary "aura points" for cool or embarrassing moments ("minus 1,000 aura"), and "aura farming" means doing things on purpose to look cool. It went viral on TikTok in 2024, and "aura farming" made Oxford's 2025 Word of the Year shortlist. It contains no profanity.
Aura at a glance
| Means | Effortless cool; "aura points" are imaginary points won or lost; "aura farming" is doing things to look cool |
|---|---|
| From | Spread in the early 2020s; viral on TikTok in 2024 source |
| Recognition | "Aura farming" was on Oxford's 2025 Word of the Year shortlist source |
| Tone | Contains no profanity |
Checked October 2026. Slang changes fast; meanings can differ between groups of kids.
What does aura mean?
Short answer: Effortless cool.
- "He has aura" means he's cool without trying.
- "+1,000 aura" / "–1,000 aura" are imaginary points for a cool or an embarrassing moment.
- "Aura farming" means doing something on purpose to look cool, often on camera; it can be a compliment or a dig at trying too hard.
Where aura comes from
According to Merriam-Webster, this sense of "aura" spread in the early 2020s around athletes and celebrities and went viral on TikTok in 2024. "Aura farming" took off in July 2025 with a video of 11-year-old Rayyan Arkan Dikha dancing calmly on the bow of a racing boat in Indonesia. Oxford put "aura farming" on its 2025 Word of the Year shortlist.
Is aura a bad word?
Short answer: No. It contains no profanity. Losing "aura points" is a way to tease someone for an embarrassing moment.
The habit kids may copy: every moment is a score
With aura points, every moment wins or loses points in front of others. The question is what that does to a child's willingness to try.
Try tonight: minus aura, plus courage
Tell your child about a time you did something embarrassing and survived it. Then ask: "What's something brave that might lose aura?" In our program, this is the lesson "Courage": being brave includes feeling silly or scared.
FAQ
What are aura points?
Imaginary points kids give or take for cool or embarrassing moments, like "minus 1,000 aura."
What is aura farming?
Doing something on purpose to look cool, often on camera.
Who is the aura farming kid?
Rayyan Arkan Dikha, an 11-year-old in Indonesia, whose calm dance on a racing boat went viral in July 2025.
Is aura a bad word?
No. It contains no profanity.
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