Aura Salad: Meaning & TikTok Trend Explained

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Learn the origins behind this viral TikTok lingo & dance trend

Co-authored by Bailey Cho

Last Updated: January 29, 2026 Fact Checked

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“Aura Salad” Meaning

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Origins

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TikTok Examples

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More Slang

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Video

If you’ve been seeing the term “aura salad” all over TikTok, then you’ve just discovered one of the most popular slang terms on Nigerian social media. Luckily, we’re explaining everything you need to know about “aura salad,” including its meaning, origins, and example TikToks using the term. We’ll also cover other trending slang terms so you can be in the know. Let’s go!

“Aura Salad” Slang Meaning & Origins

“Aura salad” refers to a mix of moods or intentions, which can be good or bad. The term comes from a viral TikTok audio snippet from Nigerian Afrobeats artist Mavo, in which he sings, “I dey give my baby aura salad.” The audio went viral in January 2026, inspiring countless dance challenges and funny parody videos.

Section 1 of 4:

What does “aura salad” mean in slang?

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“Aura salad” means a mix of moods, emotions, or intentions. While the definition of the term is up for interpretation, the slang term “aura” refers to someone’s overall vibe, charisma, coolness, or social magnetism.^{[1]
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Research source} The term “salad” suggests a mixture of different elements. So, “aura salad” likely means “a confusing mix of good energy, bad energy, flirting, tension… all tossed together,” according to the top comment in this TikTok from @benose._ed. 🥗✨😎
- Alternatively, “aura salad” could mean “different types of aura from different types of places,” according to this TikTok from @fawazunleashed_. Telling someone that you’ll give them aura salad is another way of saying you’ll give them all the aura they deserve.

Section 2 of 4:

Origins of “Aura Salad”

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“Aura salad” is a snippet of a song by Nigerian Afrobeats artist Mavo. On January 19, 2026, Mavo released a teaser of his song in this TikTok video on his page @mavoswago. In the video, he dances and lip-syncs the lyrics, which include, “I dey give my baby aura salad.” People quickly flooded the comment section with questions about the term and joked that many of his lyrics revolve around food (he has a song called “Jollof Rice” and a lyric about meat pie in the song “Body”).
- In less than 2 weeks, Mavo’s TikTok video gained over 394k likes and over 29k shares.
- Shortly after, TikTok users started posting their videos using the “aura salad” audio. This included dance challenges, funny parody videos, and explanations of the slang term.

Section 3 of 4:

Examples of the “Aura Salad” TikTok Trend

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Mavo’s song “Aura Salad” is now part of Nigerian social media slang and a viral dance challenge taking over TikTok. Some people also use the term to make funny videos or to ask what it means. Here are a few links to some viral videos that feature the trending audio:
- This funny TikTok from @dennis_nkpa shows a guy mimicking how Mavo probably created the song in the studio.
- This TikTok from @clementuanseru shows a guy filming a fit check in a parking garage, with overlaid text that reads, “Mavo, which one be Aura Salad 🥗.”
- This TikTok from @_angels_world shows a girl dancing to the song, with overlaid text that reads, “Babe what are we having for dinner,” and she responds, “aura salad.”
- This TikTok from @__mu.na shows a girl sipping water with overlaid text that reads, “Aura Salad 🥗 Cos this boy posted 3 minutes ago and I texted 3 hrs ago.” She’s saying he posted on social media and hasn’t texted her back, so she’s feeling mixed emotions.
- This TikTok from @debbie__gram__ shows a girl dancing to the song with overlaid text that reads, “Aura Salad even you wey no sabi difference between coleslaw and salad.”

Section 4 of 4:

More Trending Slang Terms

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New slang and trends are constantly popping up online. Teens are constantly creating new slang terms and abbreviations. Here’s a quick overview of some popular terms if you want to understand Gen Z slang:
- Bet: This is another way to say “okay” or “sure.”
- TS: This stands for “talk soon,” “tough s***,” or “this s***.”
- Body tea: Used to describe a snatched, or super hot bod.
- Chopped: Means you’re ugly, undesirable, or unattractive.
- Szn: This is short for “season.” It can refer to a traditional season, like summer or winter, but most people use it to discuss holidays, events, sports seasons, or personal phases.
- PMO: This stands for “pissing me off” or “put me on.” If it’s the latter, it’s a request for someone to show you something new or provide a recommendation.
- Bop: A “bop” is someone who posts promiscuous photos online or has lots of sexual partners. It’s a misogynistic term that’s used to shame women and is highly disrespectful.
- Type shi: Whether it’s clothes, music, jewelry, or a luxury lifestyle, “type shi” can be used to talk about anything cool, impressive, or high quality. It can also be used to agree with someone, similar to saying “I feel you” or “I hear you.”
- Ten toes down: When you’re “ten toes down,” you’re fully loyal to a person, cause, or belief. You stand firm in your values, no matter what other people say, and you aren’t afraid to embrace your authentic self.