If you hear “dupe” or “doop” on TikTok, it’s a shortening of the word “duplicate” and refers to a copy of a popular brand-name product. TikToks showcasing dupes of popular items are common on the service, and some big influencers gained an audience by doing these videos. However, the term has recently gained popularity through viral videos that use it sarcastically.
What does dupe, doop, or doupé mean on TikTok?
When someone refers to something as a dupe on TikTok, they’re saying it’s a duplicate of an item from a famous brand. For example, the Chinese clothing company Shein often sells copies of clothing and accessories from fashion houses like Gucci, Prada, Versace, and more.
So, a standard dupe video template on TikTok would be to show off a “Shein haul” and compare the clothes to name-brand designs. While doing this, the item is commonly introduced as a “Gucci dupe,” “Prada dupe,” “Fendi dupe,” etc. Alternatively, some TikTokers record themselves visiting stores and pointing out which items are dupes of more expensive items.
The videos about dupes are so common that it’s trending to make fun of them. In these, a TikToker will go somewhere like Walmart, Nordstrom Rack, or TJ Max and pick up random items and call them dupes. These are parodying influencers who stick so closely to the format and the fact that there are an incredible number of dupes to be found at nearly every retailer.
Of course, the latter type of video is incredibly confusing for those that don’t know about the former. If your first encounter with dupe or doop is a TikTok of someone holding a painting and calling it a “Salvador Dali DOOP,” there’s no context to figure out what’s happening.
Fortunately, you are now well-equipped to enjoy the world of dupe videos and the doop videos that make fun of them.
