Taboords

Subculture

What does Goth mean?

A subculture born of post-punk: black, dark romance, the ball, and a refusal of pop-culture sunshine.

  • Circulation: high
  • Source language: en
  • Translatable: yes

Definition

Goth is not only black clothes. It is a scene with a disco, a band, a magazine and its own humour — from Bauhaus to the club kid still dancing to Sisters of Mercy. The internet mixed goth, emo and e-girl. The lexicon returns the cut: UK late 70s and early 80s, Victorian and graveyard as stage, not as a mood diagnosis.

Origin

English gothic, British post-punk scene.

History

From London's Batcave to fairs, TikTok and the school misunderstanding.

How it emerged

Post-punk needed an adjective that was not only dark.

Usage examples

  • Goth is not depression in uniform.

  • The club is still more goth than the filter.

Translations

  • pt goth / gótico
  • en goth
  • es goth / gótico

Synonyms

  • gothic
  • dark post-punk
  • the black scene

Related terms

Subculture Emo A scene that came out of emotional hardcore: a fringe, a diary out loud, pop-punk and a school fame for too much feeling. Subculture Lolita fashion A Japanese aesthetic of full skirts, lace and a doll silhouette — adult fashion, despite the imported name. Subculture Punk A scene of three chords, refusal and do-it-yourself: from the pin to the ethic, not only the haircut. Subculture Visual kei A Japanese scene in which the band's look — makeup, hair, costume — is as central as the sound.

Questions

What is goth?

A musical and aesthetic subculture born of British post-punk.

Same as emo?

No. Emo comes from another branch. There is wardrobe overlap on the internet.

Do you have to be sad?

No. The scene has dancing, irony and community.

By Kevin Henrique · Updated August 19, 2026