Love Island 2019: What does ‘bevy’ actually mean?

Contestant Lucie Donlan used the word several times in Tuesday's episode

As Love Island returns to our screens, so does a mix of new dating terms you’ve probably never heard before.

While “melt”, “graft” and “muggy” might’ve taken centre stage in previous years, in 2019 there’s only one word on everyone’s lips in the sun-soaked Mallorcan villa – and for most of us, it has a different meaning altogether.

Generally speaking, “bev” or “bevy” is short for “beverage”, or, more specifically, an alcoholic beverage.

But for this year’s Islanders – specifically 21-year-old Lucie Donlan – the phrase has been used to refer to a very handsome man.

Confusingly though, in Tuesday evening’s episode of the ITV2 dating show, Donlan also used the word to describe her pyjamas.

Speaking to The Sun, Donlan hinted that she might’ve created the phrase herself.

“I do make up weird words. They will be coming out this summer,” she said ahead of appearing on the programme.

“There is ‘Bev’, which is like hot,” Donlan continued. ”’My Bev’ is ‘he is nearly my boyfriend’.”

But the mixed meanings of bev/bevy has aggrieved viewers, many of whom have vented their frustrations on Twitter.

“Can’t decide if I like Lucie you know,” wrote one person. “One minute I do, then I remember she says bevy too much then I don’t.”

Another added: “Hearing Lucie say bevy for the 8268th time and they aren’t even 24 hours in the villa.”

Some creative Twitter users have confused matters even further by photoshopping images of Donlan’s head onto alcoholic drinks, such as beer bottles.

Click here for a full list of Love Island terms and what they mean.