Wannabe

A "wannabe" is a person who is trying hard to be someone they aren't talented or qualified enough to be (thus, they are stuck as a "want to be"). For example, you are a wannabe if you aspire to be a lead singer like Mick Jagger but don't have the voice, charisma, or style.

Wannabe is derogatory, meant to write off people similarly to the poser insult. People may use it in various contexts, including complaining about a boss' lack of skills to a co-worker or criticizing a friend's athletic dreams.

For example, you may message your co-worker, "Tom doesn't have the cutthroat mentality to be a CEO in our field. He's just a wannabe." Or, you might criticize your friend's attempt to become an MLB pitcher, "Jake is a wannabe pro pitcher. His fastball can't touch 85, and his curve has little movement."

Alternatively, people may use wannabe in messages when combining "wanna" and "be" to save space. For example, your friend might text you, "u wannabe in my wedding next summer?!?"