LOL

For other meanings of LOL, see LOL.

LOL (or lol; also lawl) is an acronym, the abbreviation for "laughing out loud" or less commonly "lots of love". It is a common slang term used on the Usenet, in bulletin board systems, chat rooms, Internet games, Internet forums, IRC, and in instant messaging. It is used for expressing general amusement.

The origin of LOL is unknown. It is rumored that it first started in print in 1973. Other rumors attribute its use to the Dutch word lol meaning "fun".

Jerry Holkins, one of the authors of the internet webcomic Penny Arcade, decries the usage of "LOL" and other similar internet abbreviations as "the crude truncations of the lower classes" [1]. His preferred expression is "I cried aloud with mirth and merriment."

LOL is sometimes used mockingly, usually to imitate a teenage girl or a stereotypical AOL user, commonly portrayed as using lol and alternating caps in his or her Internet speech. In this sense, lol can be looked upon as a kind of "filler" word, akin to saying "ummm."

Variations on the theme

The popular use of the term has sprung many variations of LOL to express merriment, such as pseudo-pluralizations (e.g. lols and lolz) repetitions (e.g. lololol, loooool, and lolllll) extensions (e.g. lit. lol/llol for "literally laughing out loud"), and puns (e.g. lollerskates). Humourous over-use, to the point where it becomes nonsense, is also common (e.g. ROFLOLOL and LOLOL).

Variants in widespread use

File:RoflcopterAnimated.gif

An animated depiction of the Roflcopter. The first Roflcopter originated on the Newgrounds flash art site and spread quickly. Today there are hundreds of different Roflcopters out there.

Pseudo-pluralizations and translations

• El oh el
• lal/olal. 'lal' can refer to either a pronunciation of 'lol', or the german translation of it. 'olal' meaning 'oh, lal'
• ｗ — used commonly in 2ch

Extensions

• LM(F)AO ("Laughing My (Fucking) Ass Off")
• ROFLM(F)AO ("Rolling On the Floor Laughing My (Fucking) Ass Off")
• LOLOF ("Laughing out loud on floor")
• BOL ("Bent Over Laughing")

Repetitions

• lolol ("Laughing out loud out loud.")
• Bolol

Overuse

• Roflolmao
• ROFLOLOL ("Rolling on floor laughing out loud out loud.")
• Lmaol

Puns

• Loltastic
• Lolympics
• Lollercakes
• Lollerskates
• Lollipop
• Lollercoaster
• Lollercopter
• Steamloller
• Lolicious
• roflcopter
• Roflwaffle
• Lolcano
• Loltard
• Lolzer
• LOLapalooza
• Lolgasm
• Lolbow
• Roflburgers
• Lolbiscuits

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External links

• roflcopter