Bimbo

For other uses, see Bimbo (disambiguation).

Bimbo is a derogatory slang term that typically describes an attractive but observably behaviourally unintelligent female.

Use of this term began in the United States as early as 1919, where it was used as a slang term for an unintelligent or brutish male. and as an extension to the "dumb blonde" stereotype.

The term "bimbo" is also the shortened form of a female Yoruba name in Nigeria. Bimbo is the short form of Abimbola meaning "I was born with affluence". Although it is essentially a feminine name, a few men are known to also bear the name.

History

English usage

The word bimbo derives itself from the Italian bimbo, derived from bambino a masculine-gender term that means (male) baby or very young (male) child (bimbo's feminine equivalent is bimba). Use of this term began in the United States as early as 1919, and was a slang word used to describe an unintelligent or brutish man.

It was not until the 1920s that the term bimbo first began to be associated with females. In 1920, composer Frank Crumit recorded "My Little Bimbo Down on the Bamboo Isle", in which the term "bimbo" is used to describe an island girl of questionable virtue. The 1929 silent film Desert Nights describes a wealthy female crook as a bimbo and in The Broadway Melody, an angry Bessie Love calls a chorus girl a bimbo. The first use of its female meaning in the Oxford English Dictionary was in 1929, from the scholarly journal American Speech where the definition was given simply as "a woman".

An unintelligent man can be referred to as a 'himbo' or 'mimbo' (a male bimbo), a backformation of bimbo.

German usage

In Germany, during the 19th and 20th century, the word "bimbo" had the dual meaning as racist term for a person of African descent. The word in relation to its original meaning, however, is rarely used. Although sometimes the word "bimbo" is used, associated but separate phrases, such as "dumme Blondine" (= "dumb blonde"), are more common instead.

Italian usage

In Italy, "bimbo" is a common nice word, used as a diminutive of (male) child. Child = bambino = bimbo.

Spanish usage

The English usage of the word does not exist in the Spanish language, as in Latin America, especially Mexico, the word bimbo often refers to the brand of bread of the same name. In fact, in the Spanish-speaking world, "pan bimbo" has become synonymous with any brand of loaf bread.

Bimbos in popular culture

Music

• Bimbo (song)
• In the 1990s, the Danish band Aqua used the word bimbo in their major hit Barbie Girl, using the dumb blonde archetype as well ("I'm a blonde bimbo girl..."), which was noted by Mattel in the legal conflict against Aqua and their record company for the representation of the popular Barbie doll.
• In 2012, Bridget Mendler used the word bimbo in the song "Forgot To Laugh"

Cartoons

• Bimbo was Betty Boop's boyfriend

Internet

• A beauty contest game called Miss Bimbo is an online game in which players attempt to use virtual characters to win contest, earn IQ points and impress virtual boys, through makeovers, clothing, exercise and the purchase of operations such as facelifts and breast implants. Although the game itself does not promote such activities in real life and is often viewed as a parody, it has received condemnation in the media from parent groups, especially in the British region.

Television

• The term 'mimbo', to mean a male bimbo, was first coined in Season 5 Episode 12 (The Stall) of the popular American Sitcom, Seinfeld. in the context to Elaine Benes's boyfriend, Tony (Dan Cortese)

Bimbo characters

• Kelly Bundy (Christina Applegate), in the sitcom Married... with Children
• Lily St. Regis, in the musical and film Annie
• Dalia Royce (Carly Chaikin), in the television series Suburgatory
• Lorelei Lee, in the musical and film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
• Faith Fairfield (Kelly Ripa), in the sitcom Hope & Faith
• Corky Sherwood (Faith Ford), in the television series Murphy Brown
• Elle Woods, in the novel and film Legally Blonde

See also

• Blonde stereotype
• Sex and intelligence

Regional:

• Valspeak
• Valley girl and Essex girl carry similar connotations to a young bimbo or "bimbette", but are non-synonymous.
• Kogal and Ganguro also carry similar connotations as a Japanese version of a "valley girl" or bimbo.