The word yiff originated as an onomatopoetic word in Foxish, a constructed language created in 1990 for use by fox role players in the text-based RPG FurryMUCK. It was meant to be a positive expression of joy, depending on context.
What is R/Yiff?
Yiff is an onomatopoetic word from a pseudo-language called Foxish that was used by roleplayers in the 1990s text-based RPG FurryMUCK. The word was a contraction of the phrase “yipp” that had sexual connotations based on its etymology as the sound a fox makes while yipping. Yiff has since gained more r/yiff connotations, particularly in the context of furry porn and the sexual activity that happens between anthropomorphic animals.
It is also used to describe a style of art that can be seen as sexy. This style involves human-like characters with a few animal-like physical features like ears and a tail. It is often seen as a more sexy alternative to anime, which tends to use more elongated features to create its characters.
Some people, especially outsiders to the fandom, see this as a sexy thing that needs to be condemned and derided. However, most furries do not consider yiffing or R/Yiff the associated artwork to be anything more than just part of their fandom.
In the context of online discussion, r/yiff is also a term for a furry convention or gathering, where participants meet in real life to socialize and share their art and costumes. These events are often described as dog piles, with a nod to the famous scene in the CSI episode “Fur and Loathing” that depicted a massive dog pile at a furry convention.
A less sexy, but still very common use of the word is in reference to an animal-themed video game called Second Life. This is a virtual world where users can create avatars and interact with one another in close proximity. Some of the more sexy interactions that happen in Second Life are described as yiffing.
The word is also sometimes used to refer to any sexual content within the furry fandom, whether it be the sex of anthropomorphic characters or the sexy art that has come out of the fandom. This is a somewhat controversial subject, as many people feel that the content skews too close to bestiality and should not be considered sexy in any way.
Yiff in Hell R/Yiff
The Yiff in Hell meme is used by those opposed to the r/yiff Furry Fandom and directly targets them as a form of protest. It is often seen in threads on 4chan, as a text macro (an image or phrase that is repeated over and over again), and on websites such as WikiFur and Wikipedia, as a means of disrupting discussion and vandalizing content.
Unlike most works of art, which can be designed to reveal meaning or simply satisfy the curiosity of the viewer, Yiff in Hell is intentionally impenetrable. This creates the possibility for it to dismantle itself one minute, or even be unappreciated altogether, but it also grants it a fluidity that would be impossible within traditional media.
A lot of the story is reminiscent of high literature, while the rest evokes a sort of dystopian fantasy. The characters in the story are shaped by the same whimsy and playfulness that permeates much of the other Yiff artwork, but this time it is tempered by a deeper level of maturity. The story oscillates from vivid bursts of action to impenetrable depths that can only be interpreted through a careful consideration of the loose ends that are left behind.
Yiff is thought to originate from a word in Foxish, a constructed language created by Littlefox for use among wolf role players on r/yiff (an online, text-based roleplaying game). It was meant to represent a positive sound that could be exuberant or affirmative, but it became conflated with another word in the same language, yipp, which had sexual connotations. It was then adapted by non-furries to demoralize the community, possibly under the false pretense that all furries are fetishists.
R/Yiff Art
If you’re a member of the furry fandom then you may have heard of the word yiff. It’s a bit of a tongue in cheek term that typically refers to any sort of sexual content within the fandom. This can be anything from yiff art (which is erotic media depicting anthropomorphic characters) to yiff comics and yiff movies. It can also refer to sexual interaction between furries, be it fans themselves or fictional characters. It’s generally not taken very seriously by most furries, especially since it shines a light on the fetishization and sexualisation of the community.
The word yiff was first introduced to a r/yiff wider audience in the CSI episode Fur and Loathing, which was widely reviled by the furry community due to its portrayal of all furries as perverted fetishists. From here it became a common name for the erotic media created by members of the community, and also the sexual interactions between them. It’s a shame, because the word has been used as a way to denigrate the community rather than help it.
Yiff art is any kind of anthropomorphic or anthro artwork. It can be anything from cartoony tiger cubs to full-on sexy foxes. Yiff art is often depicted in a stylized way to make it more accessible to non-furries. It’s a good way to get people to understand the anthropomorphic art style and can be fun for those who enjoy it.
Another type of yiff art is the “softcore” variety, which is character-focused and less sexy than normal yiff art. Softcore yiff can be a great way to introduce people to the anthropomorphic art style, as it can be very cute and sweet without being too sexy.
Yiff is an onomatopoetic word that’s r/yiff part of the constructed language Foxish, which was created by a user named LittleFox or Foxen for use during online furry roleplaying in the 1990s. It’s a variation of yipp, which originally had no sexual connotations and was simply an onomatopoetic sound for foxes making the ‘yip’ sound while mating.
R/Yiff Second Life
A large part of yiffing is done within Second Life, a virtual world created by the company Linden Lab. This world allows its users to create and customize their avatars and interact with other users through a proximity chat system. During the early days of Second Life, membership required that users have a real name and a valid credit card or other type of payment information on file with Linden Labs; this requirement was dropped in 2007.
In addition to the standard avatar r/yiff customization options available to all residents, yiffing is often used to create erotic content for the Second Life community. For example, in the past, a number of yiffing clubs have opened up where people can meet and socialize while wearing furry costumes. These clubs are usually Adult rated and may offer a variety of sexually explicit activities.
One of the first yiffing clubs to open in Second Life was the International Yiff Center, which was created by Leopard Adored. This club was a popular hangout for the SL furry community, and regularly featured live entertainment and other events. The IYC sim also offered Residential sims and Shopping in Adult rated areas. It was often ranked among the top 3 Furry clubs in SL for both traffic and content.
More Words
Another yiffing group in Second Life is Tiger Creek, which is owned by Anshe Chung. The first version of Tiger Creek was a small island that earned a dwell award (money given to Second Life residents who rake in the most dwell during the month, which partially offsets the monthly fee for owning a region). Then Tiger Creek was expanded with The r/yiff Forest, an overflow area that is larger and more opulent.
In a recent post on r/yiff, Chung explains that the reason Tiger Creek has been so successful is because it is focused solely on yiffing and the community there knows exactly what to expect. She also explains that the community there has developed a code of conduct that all members must follow to maintain a high standard of professionalism and quality.
