나비보벳따우

Navibovettau

"Nah-bee-boh-bet-ttow" (The "ttow" part is pronounced like "tow" in "towel" but with a tense, unaspirated 't' sound, similar to the 'tt' in "butter" in some American accents, or a quick, sharp 't'.)

The 'Navibovettau' meme originated from 'K.K. House,' an OST from Nintendo's 'Animal Crossing' series. Around May 2019, the trend began when a YouTube comment, transcribing the lyrics of K.K. House as they sounded – 'Navibovettau Bobbovetti' – gained popularity. Its popularity surged particularly after 'Animal Crossing: New Horizons' was released on Nintendo Switch on March 20, 2020, leading to an explosive increase in the game's popularity. Concurrently, the 'Navibovettau' meme also gained widespread public attention, with a flood of parody content appearing mainly on YouTube from late March through April and May 2020. It is analyzed that the comfortable and stable atmosphere of the song resonated with the public's emotions amidst the anxiety and isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to its further spread.

'Navibovettau' is a Korean phonetic transcription of the lyrics of 'K.K. House,' a song sung by the dog character K.K. Slider (K.K.) from the 'Animal Crossing' series. Originally, K.K.'s song lyrics are a series of meaningless, synthesized sounds. However, one user's transcription of these sounds as 'Navibovettau Bobbovetti' evolved into a meme, becoming a more famous nickname than the original song title. Some have even assigned English lyrics to these synthesized sounds, interpreting them as phrases like "How we do it now? We'll on edge. Now meet a woe." or "No, we hold it tight. We're one at now. Don't forget this. Now win at woe." There have also been instances where it was adapted into classical Chinese poetry (Hansi).

This meme initially gained popularity among players of 'Animal Crossing: New Horizons.' It became widely known to non-gamers as well, particularly through streamers on platforms like Twitch who broadcasted their gameplay. Many people, even those not actively playing the game, were captivated by 'Navibovettau's' catchy melody and comforting atmosphere. It was broadly consumed across all age groups who actively use social media platforms like YouTube. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it gained significant popularity among the public seeking to alleviate anxiety and find emotional stability.