"Dat Tho" is a catchphrase format where you place a noun between "dat/that" and "tho/doe/though" to highlight or compliment something, as in "dat hair tho"[1].

Where did Dat Tho come from?

The phrase has roots in African American English and appeared in image macros before going viral through Vine and YouTube in early-to-mid 2013[1].

What does Dat Tho mean?

It's typically used to express approval, admiration, or to draw attention to a specific feature or moment. "Dat hair tho" usually means "look at that great hair"[2].

How do you use Dat Tho?

Fill in the blank with any noun: "dat [noun] tho." Use it as a comment, caption, or reaction to something that catches your eye[3].

Is Dat Tho still popular?

The phrase hit its peak around 2013-2014 and has since faded from heavy rotation, but it's still recognized and occasionally used as a quick compliment or attention-getter[1].

Is Dat Tho positive or negative?

It depends on context. Most often it's positive or impressed, but with the right setup it can be ironic, neutral, or even mildly critical[2].

Who made Dat Tho popular?

Vine creator KingBach was one of the earliest viral boosters with his #ButThatBackflipTho video in June 2013[1]. The phrase was already circulating in AAVE before that[1].

Why did the spelling change over time?

The shift from "dat... doe" to "that... though" likely reflects the phrase spreading beyond its African American English origins into broader internet culture[1].

What's the difference between "dat... doe" and "that... though"?

They mean the same thing. "Dat... doe" is an earlier eye dialect spelling closer to AAVE pronunciation, while "that... though" is a later standardized English spelling[1].

Is "Dat Tho" from AAVE?

Yes. The pronunciation of "th" as "d" has a long history in African American English, and the catchphrase construction originated in that community before spreading online[1].

Dat Tho

2013Catchphrase / snowcloneclassic

Also known as: Dat ___ Doe · That ___ Though · But Dat ___ Tho

Dat Tho" is a 2013 catchphrase snowclone meme sandwiching a noun between "dat" and "tho/doe/though" to express approval, rooted in African American English and popularized through image macros and Vine videos.

"Dat Tho" (also spelled "dat... doe" or "that... though") is a catchphrase and snowclone meme format where a noun is sandwiched between "dat/that" and "tho/doe/though" to draw attention to or express approval of something. The construction first appeared in image macros and Vine videos in early 2013, with roots in African American English1. What started as a way to highlight a redeeming quality ("yeah but dat backflip tho") gradually shifted into a general-purpose compliment or attention-getter used across social media1.

snowclone memes catchphrase memes aave memes vine memes early 2010s memes

Overview

"Dat Tho" follows a simple three-part formula: "dat" (or "that") at the start, a noun in the middle, and "tho" (or "doe" / "though") at the end1. The phrase calls out one specific thing for emphasis. Saying "dat hair tho" means you're drawing attention to someone's hair, usually in a positive way2. The blank can be filled with practically anything: a body part, a skill, an object, a person's name3.

The construction works because "though" implies contrast. It originally set up a concession: something might be bad overall, but this one thing? That one thing is impressive1. Over time, the contrast element faded and people started using it as pure emphasis or approval without any negative setup1.

The exact origin is hard to pin down, but the format traces back to African American English, where the pronunciation of "th" as "d" has a long history1. Know Your Meme links the construction to an earlier image meme predating the Vine era1.

One of the earliest viral examples came from KingBach on Vine, who posted a video in June 2013 tagged #ButThatBackflipTho1. In the clip, he runs toward a woman whose purse has been stolen, yelling "I'll save you!" Instead of chasing the thief, he runs up a wall and does a backflip. The joke lands because the backflip is both impressive and completely useless in context1. Around the same time, a YouTube video titled "dat dagger tho" went up in April 20131.

Origin & Background

Platform

Vine, YouTube (viral spread), image macros (earlier usage)

Key People

KingBach, Unknown

Date

2013

The exact origin is hard to pin down, but the format traces back to African American English, where the pronunciation of "th" as "d" has a long history. Know Your Meme links the construction to an earlier image meme predating the Vine era.

One of the earliest viral examples came from KingBach on Vine, who posted a video in June 2013 tagged #ButThatBackflipTho. In the clip, he runs toward a woman whose purse has been stolen, yelling "I'll save you!" Instead of chasing the thief, he runs up a wall and does a backflip. The joke lands because the backflip is both impressive and completely useless in context. Around the same time, a YouTube video titled "dat dagger tho" went up in April 2013.

How It Spread

The phrase spread rapidly through Vine and YouTube during mid-2013. The earliest Urban Dictionary entries for "dat [blank] doe" appeared in late 2013, with a November 2013 entry defining the format. The alternate spelling "that... though" showed up later. The earliest Urban Dictionary entry using the full English spelling didn't appear until July 2014, almost a full year after the "dat... doe" versions.

This spelling shift is significant. Linguist Gretchen McCulloch noted that the move from "dat... doe" to "that... though" may reflect the construction spreading beyond the African American English community where it originated. The "dat... doe" spelling is a form of eye dialect, a way of writing out non-standard pronunciation. Whether these spellings came from within the community or from outsiders making assumptions about dialect pronunciation is an open question.

The meaning also shifted during the spread. Early uses from 2013 always included a setup where "though" served as a mitigating factor. The KingBach Vine works this way: the rescue attempt fails, *but that backflip tho*. Similarly, early Urban Dictionary entries for "dat booty doe" include scenarios that start with a negative comment about someone's appearance, with the "dat... doe" line expressing a redeeming quality.

By mid-2014, the contrast requirement had dropped away. People started using the format as standalone approval. A Reddit commenter from around that time gave a clean example: "Watching a football game. Receiver makes great catch. 'That catch tho!'". No negative setup needed. McCulloch described this evolved usage as "the speaker preemptively contradicting the objection you haven't even made yet".

How to Use This Meme

The format is flexible and works in almost any context:

Pick something to highlight. It can be a physical feature, a skill, a moment, or literally any noun.

Sandwich it in the formula. Place "dat" or "that" before the noun and "tho," "doe," or "though" after it.

Use it as a comment or caption. Drop it in reply to a photo, video, or story where one element stands out.

Cultural Impact

"Dat Tho" is one of several phrases that crossed from African American English into mainstream internet slang during the early 2010s Vine era. McCulloch placed it alongside "bae" as an example of AAVE-origin terms that were widely adopted online.

The phrase's journey also illustrates how internet slang gets "bleached" of its original dialect associations as it spreads. The spelling evolution from "dat... doe" (phonetically reflecting AAVE pronunciation) to "that... though" (standard English spelling) tracks this process in real time. People picked up the phrase through speech, primarily via Vine audio, which led to the wide variety of spellings that coexisted during its peak popularity.

On English Language Learners Stack Exchange, the phrase generated genuine confusion among non-native speakers trying to decode whether "that hair tho" was a compliment or an insult, showing how deeply context-dependent the construction is.

Fun Facts

The construction appeared with at least four distinct spellings during its peak: "dat... doe," "dat... tho," "that... tho," and "that... though".

Linguist Gretchen McCulloch analyzed the phrase as part of her internet linguistics series for Mental Floss, treating it as a case study in how online language evolves.

The spelling diversity happened partly because people learned the phrase by hearing it in Vine videos rather than reading it, leading to inconsistent written forms.

Despite "though" grammatically implying contrast or concession, the meme version dropped that requirement entirely by 2014.

Derivatives & Variations

"Dat ass tho"

— One of the most common specific fills, used to comment on someone's rear end. Urban Dictionary entries specifically define this variant[3].

"Dat backflip tho"

— The KingBach Vine that helped popularize the format on the platform[1].

"Dat booty doe" / "Dat smile tho"

— Early Urban Dictionary examples that demonstrate the original mitigating-factor usage[4].

"But dat ___ tho"

— A variant that adds "but" at the front, making the contrast function more explicit[3].

Frequently Asked Questions

References (5)

1
The Evolution of "That [Noun] Though"article
2
slang - If someone says "That hair tho", does it have a positive or a negative meaning? - English Language Learners Stack Exchangearticle
3
Gặp nhau cuối nămencyclopedia
4
Dat Tho - Urban Dictionarydictionary
5
Urban Dictionary: dat [blank] doedictionary

Dat Tho

2013Catchphrase / snowcloneclassic

Also known as: Dat ___ Doe · That ___ Though · But Dat ___ Tho

"Dat Tho" (also spelled "dat... doe" or "that... though") is a catchphrase and snowclone meme format where a noun is sandwiched between "dat/that" and "tho/doe/though" to draw attention to or express approval of something. The construction first appeared in image macros and Vine videos in early 2013, with roots in African American English. What started as a way to highlight a redeeming quality ("yeah but dat backflip tho") gradually shifted into a general-purpose compliment or attention-getter used across social media.

snowclone memes catchphrase memes aave memes vine memes early 2010s memes

Overview

"Dat Tho" follows a simple three-part formula: "dat" (or "that") at the start, a noun in the middle, and "tho" (or "doe" / "though") at the end. The phrase calls out one specific thing for emphasis. Saying "dat hair tho" means you're drawing attention to someone's hair, usually in a positive way. The blank can be filled with practically anything: a body part, a skill, an object, a person's name.

The construction works because "though" implies contrast. It originally set up a concession: something might be bad overall, but this one thing? That one thing is impressive. Over time, the contrast element faded and people started using it as pure emphasis or approval without any negative setup.

Origin & Background

Platform

Vine, YouTube (viral spread), image macros (earlier usage)

Key People

KingBach, Unknown

Date

2013

How It Spread

How to Use This Meme

The format is flexible and works in almost any context:

Pick something to highlight. It can be a physical feature, a skill, a moment, or literally any noun.

Sandwich it in the formula. Place "dat" or "that" before the noun and "tho," "doe," or "though" after it.

Use it as a comment or caption. Drop it in reply to a photo, video, or story where one element stands out.

Cultural Impact

Fun Facts

The construction appeared with at least four distinct spellings during its peak: "dat... doe," "dat... tho," "that... tho," and "that... though".

Linguist Gretchen McCulloch analyzed the phrase as part of her internet linguistics series for Mental Floss, treating it as a case study in how online language evolves.

The spelling diversity happened partly because people learned the phrase by hearing it in Vine videos rather than reading it, leading to inconsistent written forms.

Despite "though" grammatically implying contrast or concession, the meme version dropped that requirement entirely by 2014.

Derivatives & Variations

"Dat ass tho"

— One of the most common specific fills, used to comment on someone's rear end. Urban Dictionary entries specifically define this variant[3].

"Dat backflip tho"

— The KingBach Vine that helped popularize the format on the platform[1].

"Dat booty doe" / "Dat smile tho"

— Early Urban Dictionary examples that demonstrate the original mitigating-factor usage[4].

"But dat ___ tho"

— A variant that adds "but" at the front, making the contrast function more explicit[3].

Frequently Asked Questions

References (5)

1
The Evolution of "That [Noun] Though"article
2
slang - If someone says "That hair tho", does it have a positive or a negative meaning? - English Language Learners Stack Exchangearticle
3
Gặp nhau cuối nămencyclopedia
4
Dat Tho - Urban Dictionarydictionary
5
Urban Dictionary: dat [blank] doedictionary