“Super” is not interchangeable with “very”

[GloiredeDijon]

Stop using “super” when you actually mean very or extremely.

Unless you are an American of course, in which case carry on because apart from anything else language is the least of your problems.

It’s like totally super cool to do it tho

I agree especially “super cute.” Make the person saying it sound like a child.

Was having a coffee and a grown man - around 40s said it on a call to a client it sounded really cringy and yes unprofessional.

Oh give over.

They pay my salary and keep hundreds of people employed in an absolutely awful job market - so I don't give a shit if it's pompous or not

Like I say, it doesn't bother me at home ☺️

You'd get a more nuanced discussion, OP, if you posted this in Pedants' Corner.

This is true.
Report your OP and ask them to move your thread.

I agree with you, by the way.
I think it's extremely annoying.

I realise that Pedants' Corner is my natural home but I wanted to spread the word to a wider audience.
Fully expected some disagreement.

I’m with you. This overuse of super in last few years drives me insane

Yes, thank you, OP! Absolutely does my head in. Not sure why really, possibly because it feels American.

Aye, hen - and you got it.

I think it’s quite fun it’s returned to modern parlance, it was a super popular word in the 70s, admittedly used with its intended purpose, but word meaning changes over time. Just waiting for the other 70/80 words; ‘one’, ‘wizard’ and ‘spiffing’ Maybe wizard and ‘spiffing’ are due a resurrection into ones vernacular super soon

I am highly professional and don't give a shit if someone says "super" to mean "very".

It irritates me too.

See also: amazing. Used for trivial things that are absolutely not amazing. I texted someone to say DD found her hat, following from an earlier message asking if her hat was there, and the reply was 'amazing!'. Really, it's amazing a kid found a hat in their house? Also used to confirm arrangements. See you at 4. I'll order for you if I'm there first. Reply - amazing.

It's not superabundant usage, though, is it? I wouldn't get supercharged about it. It's a bit of a superfine point.

You're being super unfair OP.

I’m super relaxed about this. But as I duck off to the supermarket this evening I do blink at all of the superlatives in the advertising. I have to go this evening as I can’t get there at supersonic speeds and I work full time in the super (Australian term) industry.

I'm glad you exempted "Americans", given that in US English it actually does mean "very" (among other things).

Even your American PM knew that !!! 👍

Weren't people saying "super duper" in the 1970s?
Language evolves and "super" is such a banal word. I'm not sure why you'd get het up about it in particular.

Super for very has been around for at least a decade. It still makes the user sound a bit vacuous but I think we're stuck with it. What I noticed a lot recently is things like "I was so, so upset", "He was was so, so unkind". It sounds so (just the one) gushing or theatrical.

I know it’s become normal but it always sounds insincere to me.

It’s already happened. There’s nothing you can do. Rage by all means but you’re wrong. It means what it means now. Things weren’t fixed because of you and how you want them to stay.

This made me LOL 🤣

I think it's entered the lexicon OP. I quite like it.

The trouble is that "very" has lost its meaning due to overuse. The adjective "super" is much more expressive and has a element of irony about it which "very" does not have.

People use it at work all the time. So someone might say "that's super exciting". We all know it's work, so chances are it's probably not at all exciting. But it's entertaining and jollies the day along. Which "very" would never do.

Veryman
Verydry
Verycallifragilisticexpialidocius

You are super odd, OP

I find the German influence uber annoying.