People shocked after realising what 'Stan' actually means

For years now, chronically-online individuals have claimed they 'stan' something they really like - but apparently, many don't know what the Gen Z-friendly term actually means, or where it came from.

Let's use it in a couple of sentences to remind ourselves how the phrase can be used.

Using it as a noun, we could say: "Harry Potter 'stans' were thrilled when a new TV series based on the books was announced."

You could also use the term as a verb, however, and could say: "I'm gutted Sabrina Carpenter and Barry Keoghan broke up, I really 'stanned' them as a couple." Are we getting the jist?

Basically, to 'stan' something or someone, is to be an excessively enthusiastic and devoted fan of that thing, or person.

Where and how did the term originate?

To 'stan' something, is to be a pretty big fan of it (Getty Stock Image)

While the term has been included in both the Oxford English Dictionary, and America's Merriam-Webster equivalent, for some years, many social media users admitted recently they don't know from where it derived.

Believe it or not, however, but it was rap legend Eminem who first coined the term.

As credited by both the British and the US dictionaries, 'stan' came from a song released by the musician in 2000 of the exact same name.

It is believed to be portmanteau of the words 'stalker' and 'fan'.

"Early 21st century: with allusion to the 2000 song ‘Stan’ by the American rapper Eminem, about an obsessed fan," Oxford's etymology explains.

M-W agrees: "From Stan, name of such a fan in the song "Stan" (2000) by the American rap artist Eminem (Marshall Bruce Mathers III)."

For those in need of a reminder, the single tells the tale of Stanley 'Stan' Mitchell, a man who claims to be the chart-topper's biggest fan and writes Eminem ceaseless letters, professing his admiration for him.

In lyrics performed by the star, 'Stan' can be heard becoming increasingly agitated by the fact that the rapper doesn't reply to his messages, with the third verse taking on the guide of a voice recording, captured by the die-hard fan whilst he is under the influence of alcohol.

The term was coined by Eminem in 2000 (Ke.Mazur/WireImage)

In the song, the fan admits to having tied up his pregnant girlfriend and thrown her into the trunk of a car, which he drives off a cliff after realising Eminem won't even receive the recording.

The fourth verse hears the rapper as himself responding to Stan's letters, urging him not to misunderstand the meaning behind his lyrics, and to treat his girlfriend better, so as not to turn out like a man he just saw on the news, who'd driven his pregnant partner off a bridge.

In the final line, he realises the man was Stan.

So, not the jolliest of tracks, but there you have it - the origin behind the term 'stan'.

As we say, many social media have seemingly been left blindsided by the news.

"What, does it, I love that song and I did not know this. Make sense," one wrote after the term's etymology was shared on Instagram.

Another noted: "The influence hip hop has on the culture...".

"I had no idea!!!" a third added.

"The fact people don't know this makes me feel so old," another quipped.