What Does Woosah Mean?

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How to use “woosah” to slow down and relieve stress

Co-authored by Colleen Campbell, PhD and Marcus Pruitt, BS

Last Updated: March 31, 2025 Fact Checked

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Woosah Meaning

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Practicing “Woosah”

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Where Woosah Comes From

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Who uses “woosah?”

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Other Mindful Quotes & Phrases

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If you’ve ever seen movies from the Bad Boys franchise, you’ve likely heard of the term “woosah.” “Woosah” is used to encourage a calming state of relaxation that intends to relieve anger and stress. It’s a staple in the film Bad Boys II, but you can also incorporate it into your life. In this article, we teach you what “woosah” means, how to practice it, and more!

Woosah Definition

“Woosah” is a slang expression that’s used to calm oneself down and achieve a more relaxed state, especially in moments of anger or stress. It was coined by the film Bad Boys II (1995).

Section 1 of 5:

The Meaning of Woosah

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Woosah is a slang term that means to relax and relieve anger and stress. The slang term “woosah” is used to invoke a calm and relaxed state. It is typically done alongside mindfulness techniques like deep breathing. The term is mainly used while someone is trying to calm down, but it is also associated with mindfulness as a whole.^{[1]
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- Real-Life Example: On February 18th, 2025, user @pstaggert posted a gif on X of Martin Lawrence’s character practicing “woosah” with the caption “Woosah. Woosah. Woosah. I am not people-ready today.”
- Real-Life Example: On March 2, 2025, user @shvnique made a post on X captioned “going to woosah my way through this incredibly annoying day.”
- The term "woosah" originated in the first Bad Boys film.

Section 2 of 5:

How to Practice “Woosah”

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Repeat “woosah” on a rhythmic breath. To practice “woosah,” focus on taking deep breaths and being mindful of the things around you to recenter yourself. As your breaths become rhythmic, say “woo” as you breathe in and “sah” as you breathe out. If you really want to channel Martin Lawrence’s character, rub your ears as you say “woosah” to further recenter yourself.^{[2]
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- If you struggle with practicing mindfulness, career coach Colleen Campbell says to intentionally prioritize it. Make a plan about how you’re going to be mindful. You can try incorporating it into daily walks or during small interactions.^{[3]
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  Colleen Campbell, PhD
  Career & Life Coach
  
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If you find that the typical “woosah” practice isn’t helping you calm down, try box breathing. Employed by Navy Seals, box breathing is a rhythmic breathing exercise designed to relieve stress. To box breathe, slowly breathe in while you count to four, hold your breath for four counts, exhale for four counts, then hold for four more counts after you exhale.^{[4]
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Cleveland Clinic
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If you find yourself routinely angry and “woosah” isn’t helping, try to incorporate meditation into your daily life. Start your day with some light meditation by sitting in a calm, comfortable area to sit, closing your eyes, and focusing on your breathing.^{[5]
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Research source} You may find your anger waning as you draw your focus away from it.
Nature is a great way to reconnect with yourself and the world around you. If you find yourself quick to anger, dedicate an afternoon or evening to visiting your local forest preserve, sitting in nature, and allowing yourself to take in the world around you. This can help reduce stress and boost your energy when “woosah” fails.^{[6]
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Exercise regularly. Regular exercise can help you consistently release endorphins, which are natural brain chemicals that make you feel good and can help improve your sense of well-being. By improving your sense of well-being, you can reduce anger and stress. You may also find it easier to relax.^{[7]
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Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

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- Go for a run, hit the gym, or exercise at home.
- Build a workout plan so you know what exercises you'll be doing rather than picking one right before your workout.
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Eat a healthy diet. A healthy diet is made up of various fruits and veggies, nuts, fish, meats, and other healthy proteins that are lean and unprocessed, whole grain fibers, and is characterized by a limited consumption of sugars and salts. A healthy diet sharpens your mind and gives you more energy, allowing you to be more mindful of your anger and stress.^{[8]
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- A healthy diet also lowers your risk for serious disease and boosts your immune system.

Section 3 of 5:

Where does “woosah” come from?

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Woosah comes from the 1995 film “Bad Boys II.” The slang term “woosah” was first used in the film Bad Boys II, which starred Martin Lawrence and Will Smith. In the film, Lawrence’s character deals with anger issues that land him in a therapist’s office. The therapist encourages him to acknowledge his anger by saying things like “I’m angry” and “I love myself” before softly saying “woosah.”^{[9]
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- Throughout the rest of the film, Lawrence’s character routinely repeats the phrase when he’s stressed.

Section 4 of 5:

Who uses “woosah?”

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Since the term originated in the film Bad Boys II, it’s not surprising that Martin Lawrence’s character uses it alongside various other characters to calm down in stressful situations. Due to the film’s popularity, “woosah” has grown to be used by those who are looking for ways to calm down and destress, like self-help gurus and people who struggle with anxiety.^{[10]
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Section 5 of 5:

Other Mindful Quotes & Phrases

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By being mindful, you can quell your anger and avoid potentially destructive habits, as mindfulness involves being aware of your internal state and surroundings.^{[11]
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American Psychological Association
Leading scientific and professional organization of licensed psychologists

Go to source} When you’re struggling to be mindful with your words alone, use some of the following quotes & phrases to help bring you back down to Earth:
- “Rule your mind or it will rule you.”
- “When times get hard, remember that you always hold an internal safe space to retreat to.”
- “Be where you are, not where you believe you should be.”
- “Nature doesn’t rush, yet everything always happens on time.”
- “Mindfulness is the act of witnessing the dance that is life.”
- “When you can’t do anything but there’s nothing you can do, simply do what you can.”
- “Live for today, not yesterday or tomorrow.”
- “Calm the mind and your soul will speak.”