Where did the Phrase “Bye Felicia!” Originate from?

In today’s society we often hear people using the saying “bye Felicia!” as they storm out the door signifying “get out of my face.” It’s used all the time in the everyday modern world. There are some interesting facts on where the saying originated from as well as its actual meaning.

Surprisingly, Felicia was derived from the Latin adjective Felix which means happy and or lucky. The word Felicia actually means happy times. It’s quite ironic that after years of history and it’s meaning of happiness the word Felicia turned into its polar opposite being rude or rather derogatory.

The phrase “Bye Felicia” first commonly surfaced in the movie Friday released in 1995 costarred by ice Cube. He stated it was meant to get someone out of your face. It was back then thought of as a dismissive send off to an unwanted individuals presence.

In 2014 “ Bye Felicia” started to be used more frequently and a show on VH1 aired a show called “Bye Felicia.” It was then that the famous American Idol star Jordin Sparks released a popular mixtape called #byefelicia. So not only has the phrase been picked up and used by the movie industry but by the music industry as well.

In the year 2015, “Bye Felicia” really became prevalent and hit its hype and peak. Not only were people saying it more frequently in the common world but it was being said more often in movies. For instance in the 2015 movie, Straight out of Compton, Ice Cube’s son screamed “Bye Felicia” as he kicked a girl out of his hotel room. Apparently he coincidentally adlibbed “Bye Felicia” into his lines while throwing her out as a joke but It was well received as funny and left in the movie.

In 2017 on Good morning America, it’s cohosts used the phrase “Bye Felicia” when describing Omarosa Newton’s departure from the White House.

My favorite and most surprising use of “Bye Felicia” was said and used by Former First Lady Michelle Obama while on the Tonight Show in 2018 referencing her leaving the White House. It was used comically but yet ironic at the same time. Surprising yet cool coming from the former First Lady. It was a breath of funny fresh air and laughter.

It’s quite mind boggling and amazing when a word is derived and given a certain meaning and over time its meaning slowly morphs and changes into its to polar opposite. Often we take words for what they are and their intended meaning; however learning a words origin and intentional meaning is rather exciting.

A phrase as simple as “Bye Felicia” whether said jokingly or with derogatory intent, clearly has the unmistaken meaning of “see ya” or “get out of my face.” It’s usually simultaneously said with a hand firmly placed and stretched out in the air aiming at the door. There is no mistake in the sayings intent. By now, “Bye Felicia” has taken on a definitive meaning of its own leaving behind its original intent.

The world Felicia originally having the meaning of happiness and turning into a comical meaning of “ get the heck out of here,” is just one of many words that over the years have had their meanings slowly changed. “Bye Felicia” was definitely fun to research and see its transformation over the years. Now, just how many more words used in the common world originally had a different meaning? One can only wonder. Definitely something for an English or history buff to inquire about especially when the world starts using a certain saying.