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Slang file #003RisingInternet culture

What does POV mean?

Say itpee-oh-VEE/ˌpiː.oʊˈviː/noun (abbreviation)

Stands for
  1. PPoint
  2. OOf
  3. VView

Short for "point of view"; online, a "POV:" caption asks viewers to imagine they are in the situation the video shows.

Written by the Second Language TeamWritten

POV is short for point of view. Online, and especially on TikTok, people write "POV:" at the start of a video caption. It asks you to watch as if you were in the scene: "POV: you’re the last person to leave the party."

Say it letter by letter: "pee-oh-VEE." It is casual but not rude. Teens and young adults use the caption style most, but almost everyone understands it. In everyday talk, "from my POV" simply means "from my point of view."

Word stats

How casual
Casual, but not rude. Strangers use the caption style online, and "from my POV" works in everyday talk.
OK at work
"From the customer’s POV" sounds normal in a meeting. In a report, write "point of view."
Grandma-safe
Totally safe. Grandma may just wonder why every video starts with "POV:".
Cringe risk
Low, unless you put "POV:" on a video that does not put anyone anywhere. People notice that.
Freshness
More people look it up every year, because new POV videos keep coming.

Spotted in the wild

TikTok · caption and comments
  1. jess.makes.videosPOV: you’re the friend holding everyone’s bags at the concert 🎒
  2. Danithis is literally me every weekend
  3. Youthis POV is too real, my arms got tired just watching

What it means here: The caption asks you to imagine that you are the friend holding the bags while you watch.

Group chat · Sunday, 6:15 pm
  1. Sami filmed my whole bike ride with the camera on my helmet
  2. Anapost it as a POV!! "POV: you’re late and every light turns red"
  3. Youlol i would watch that 10 times

What it means here: The video shows exactly what Sam saw, so viewers feel like they are riding the bike.

Work chat · #design
  1. Markfrom the customer’s POV, the new checkout page is confusing
  2. Youagreed. can we test it with a few users this week?

What it means here: No video here: POV just means point of view, or how the customer sees the page.

How to use it

  • POV: you’re + situationPOV: you’re the only one who read the group project instructions.
  • POV: your + person + actionPOV: your little brother finds your phone.
  • a POV / a POV videoShe posted a POV of her first day at a new job.
  • from someone’s POVFrom the teacher’s POV, the test was easy.

Don’t say it like this

  • Sounds off"Pahv"

    Say this"pee-oh-VEE"

    Say the three letters, with the stress on the last one. As one word, people may not understand you.

  • Sounds offIn my POV, the plan is too expensive.

    Say thisFrom my POV, the plan is too expensive.

    English says from my point of view. For an opinion, "in my opinion" also works.

  • Sounds offPOV: my lunch 🍜 (on a photo of noodles)

    Say thisPOV: you finally eat lunch after a six-hour shift 🍜

    A POV caption sets up a situation the viewer can step into. A plain photo of your lunch is just a photo.

  • Sounds offIn this essay, I will explain the author’s POV.

    Say thisIn this essay, I will explain the author’s point of view.

    In essays and formal emails, write the full phrase. The short form looks like a text message.

POV or not?

Is each of these POV? Pick an answer to find out.

  1. A skier films her run down a mountain with a camera on her helmet. The caption says "POV: first run of the day."

  2. A creator acts like a very tired teacher. The caption says "POV: you’re a teacher and it’s 8 a.m. on Monday."

  3. A news channel posts a concert clip with the caption "Best moments from last night’s show."

  4. A cooking video has the caption "Easy 10-minute pasta recipe."

The POV family

  • FYPFor You page: the TikTok feed the app picks for you.Where most POV videos find you, usually when you should be asleep.
  • PFPProfile picture: the small photo on your account.The tiny face next to your comment that says "this POV is me."
  • POV shotA film shot that shows what a character sees.POV’s older sibling who went to film school.

Two kinds of POV video

Many learners ask why a POV video can show the creator’s face. If it is "my point of view," shouldn’t the camera be my eyes? Sometimes it is, and sometimes it is not. People use the caption in two ways.

KindWhat you seeExample caption
Through the eyesThe camera is where the person’s eyes are. You see their hands, the road, the wave."POV: your first time surfing"
Imagine you are thereThe creator acts out a scene. You watch from outside, but you pretend you are part of it."POV: you told the teacher you finished the homework"

One media lecturer told TODAY.com that the term took off on TikTok, where early POV videos meant "this is a video from my point of view" [1]. The second kind is now very common for jokes. Many are about small moments from daily life, and some are strange on purpose [2].

Outside these captions, POV is just a short way to write point of view, a phrase people have used for a long time in films and stories. "From my POV" and "from my point of view" mean the same thing.

Sources

  1. 'POV' is more than just 'point of view.' Here's what teens mean when they say itTODAY.com (via Yahoo Lifestyle)
  2. TikTok slang explained: FYP, POV, PFP – What do they mean?Dexerto

More slang to decode

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