A kiki is a gathering for gossip and laughter. It comes from drag and ballroom culture. It is a time to talk, to spill tea, to laugh. It is not a party. It is a conversation. It is intimate. It is a space for community. The word is used in LGBTQ+ spaces and beyond.

Kiki is different from a kickback. A kickback is casual. A kiki is focused on talk. It is a session. It is a ritual. You sit. You sip. You dish. The word is a verb, too. "We were kiki-ing all night." It is a way to bond. It is a way to catch up.

Related terms

• Kickback: casual gathering.
• Tea: gossip.
• Spill the tea: share gossip.
• Turnup: a wild party.

Kiki is a word with warmth. It is a word with history. It belongs to a community that built it. Using it outside that community can be tricky. But at its core, it is simple. It is friends, talking, laughing. That is universal. Everyone needs a kiki sometimes.