'plenk' is used to express curiosity, confusion, or a sense of being caught off-guard. The emote captures a moment of innocent bewilderment or surprise, similar to the 'huh?' or 'what?' reaction. It's often used when something unexpected happens on stream, when chat is confused about what's happening, or when viewers want to convey a sense of wide-eyed wonder or skepticism. The cat's direct stare into the camera creates a feeling of being personally addressed or questioned.
Origin
The 'plenk' emote originated from a cat named Plenk who belonged to Twitch streamer Pokelawls. The emote features a close-up, wide-angle shot of a white and orange cat with prominent whiskers looking directly at the camera. It was added to 7TV and became popular in the streaming community around 2021-2022. The emote's distinctive fish-eye lens perspective gives it a unique, slightly distorted appearance that makes it instantly recognizable in chat.
When to use
Common usage includes: when a streamer says something confusing or contradictory; when chat witnesses something bizarre or unexpected on stream; as a reaction to plot twists in games or content; when viewers are collectively confused about what's happening; during awkward moments; or when someone in chat makes a questionable statement. It's particularly popular in gaming streams and Just Chatting categories where unexpected moments frequently occur.
