Sus is a slang term that means suspicious, questionable, or untrustworthy. It can describe a person, object, or situation that seems off or raises doubts. It can also be used as a noun for suspicion or a suspected person.

Did Sus originate from the game Among Us?

No, Sus did not originate from the game Among Us. While the game significantly popularized the term in 2020, Sus existed as a shortening of suspicious or suspect since at least the 1920s, used in British police jargon and later in urban slang.

Sus Meaning and Origin

In short

What does Sus mean?

Sus means suspicious, strange, untrustworthy, or questionable. It is an adjective but can also be used as a noun meaning suspicion or a suspected person.

Where does Sus come from?

The word Sus comes from a shortening of English suspicious or suspect and was first recorded in English in the 1920s. It gained widespread popularity in 2020 due to the online game Among Us, though it existed as slang for decades before. Note that Sus is unrelated to the verb suss, meaning "to figure out or investigate."

English Sus (early 20th century)
shortening of English suspicious or suspect

Origin established

Etymology at a glance

Language: English
Original form: suspicious / suspect
Original meaning: suspicious / suspected
First recorded in English: 1920 (as "sus."), 1925 (as "Sus")
Root: suspicere (Latin) "to look up at"

Verdict: False

The myth about Sus

Verdict: False The story that Sus originated with the game Among Us in 2018 or 2020 is false. While the game significantly popularized the term, Sus existed as a shortening of suspicious or suspect much earlier, dating back to the 1920s and 1930s.

Where It Came From

The word Sus is an established shortening of the English words suspicious or suspect. It was first recorded in English in the 1920s, appearing as "sus." in 1920 and as Sus in 1925, both meaning "suspicious" or "suspected" (Merriam-Webster). However, other sources date the adjectival use to 1955 (Oxford English Dictionary; Green's Dictionary of Slang) or 1935–40 (Dictionary.com). The noun form, meaning "a suspected person" or "a suspicion," was first recorded in the 1930s.

How It Spread

Sus was used in British police jargon from the 1930s, especially in connection with "sus laws." By the 1990s and early 2000s, it spread to urban communities in the US and UK as general slang for anything questionable. The word experienced a dramatic increase in popularity in 2020 with the rise of the online multiplayer game Among Us, which was released in 2018. It quickly moved beyond gaming circles to become common across social media platforms, particularly TikTok, in 2020.

Who Says It

Sus is widely used by younger generations, especially in online communication, texting, and casual conversation. You will see it frequently on social media platforms and in gaming communities.

Myths and Mix-ups

How has the meaning of Sus changed?

Noun: "a suspected person" (1936)
"a suspicion" (1936). Adjective: "suspicious" or "suspected" (1920s/1925)
"suspicious, strange, untrustworthy, questionable, shady, or off" (2017-present). Verb: "to suspect" (1953).

How is Sus used today?

Sus is a common slang term used to describe something or someone that seems suspicious, untrustworthy, or out of place. It can also refer to a feeling of suspicion or a person who is suspected of something.

"That person acting all quiet is pretty sus."
"The whole situation feels a bit sus to me."
"Don't be so sus of everything."

Quick answers about Sus

What does Sus mean?: Sus is a slang term that means suspicious, questionable, or untrustworthy. It can describe a person, object, or situation that seems off or raises doubts. It can also be used as a noun for suspicion or a suspected person.
Where does Sus come from?: Sus comes from a shortening of the English words suspicious or suspect. It was first recorded in English in the 1920s as police jargon in Britain and later spread to urban communities before gaining widespread popularity online in 2020.
Did Sus originate from the game Among Us?: No, Sus did not originate from the game Among Us. While the game significantly popularized the term in 2020, Sus existed as a shortening of suspicious or suspect since at least the 1920s, used in British police jargon and later in urban slang.

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Sources

Oxford English Dictionary
Merriam-Webster
Dictionary.com
Collins English Dictionary
Green's Dictionary of Slang
Wiktionary
Know Your Meme