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What does LOL mean?

Say itLAHL/lɑːl/interjection, verb

Stands for
  1. LLaughing
  2. OOut
  3. LLoud

Short for "laughing out loud": a way to show that something is funny or a joke, or just to make a message sound friendly.

Written by the Second Language TeamWritten

LOL is short for laughing out loud. People write it when something is funny, or to show that what they said is a joke. Today, a small "lol" at the end of a message often has nothing to do with laughing. It just makes the message sound relaxed and friendly. You will see it in texts, group chats, comments, and casual work chats.

Younger people usually say it as one word, "LAHL," and write it in lowercase. Older people often say the letters, "el-oh-EL," and write it in capitals. Both are fine. LOL is informal but never rude, so you can use it almost anywhere except in formal writing.

Word stats

How casual
Informal, but so common that almost nobody notices it anymore.
OK at work
Fine in a quick chat with coworkers, like "oops lol." Leave it out of client emails and anything formal.
Grandma-safe
Totally safe. Just know that some older relatives think it means "lots of love."
Cringe risk
Low. A small lol sounds normal to everyone, but LOL in capitals after every message can look a little older.
Freshness
Around since the 1980s and still in every chat. More people look it up every year.

Spotted in the wild

Group chat · Tuesday, 9:15 pm
  1. Jordandid anyone else get an email from the landlord about "loud noises"
  2. Samthat was me singing in the shower lol
  3. YouLOL sam
  4. Jordanplease choose quieter songs

What it means here: Sam’s small lol makes the confession sound light, and your capital LOL shows you really find it funny.

Text with Mom
  1. MomHave a great first day at work! LOL, Mom
  2. Youthanks mom 😂 you know lol means laughing out loud right?
  3. MomOh no. I wrote that in Aunt Rosa’s get-well card.

What it means here: Mom used LOL to mean "lots of love," the older meaning, not laughing.

Work chat · direct message
  1. Danacan you send me the slides before 3?
  2. Youyes! sorry, totally forgot lol
  3. Danano worries, thanks!

What it means here: Nobody is laughing here: lol just makes the apology sound calm and friendly.

How to use it

  • message + lol (to soften it)sorry I’m late again lol
  • lol + reactionlol what is this video
  • LOL alone as a reply"I wore my shirt inside out all day." "LOL"
  • lol as a verb: lolled / LOLedI actually lolled when I read your text.
  • be LOLing at somethingI’m LOLing at these cat photos.

Don’t say it like this

  • Sounds offMy grandpa is in the hospital lol

    Say thisMy grandpa is in the hospital.

    Even a soft lol makes a message sound like a joke. With sad or serious news, it sounds like you do not care.

  • Sounds offSo sorry for your loss. LOL, Anna

    Say thisSo sorry for your loss. Lots of love, Anna

    Most people today read LOL as laughing, not "lots of love." Write the words out.

  • Sounds offShe wrote "lol," so she thinks my joke is hilarious.

    Say thisShe wrote "lol," so she is being friendly.

    A small lol is usually a smile, not a big laugh. For real laughing, people write things like "LOL I can’t breathe" or "I’m crying."

  • Sounds offThank you for the interview lol

    Say thisThank you for the interview.

    LOL is too casual for formal emails, job applications, or messages to people you do not know well.

LOL or not?

Is each of these LOL? Pick an answer to find out.

  1. A friend sends a funny meme. You only smiled, but you reply "lol." Does lol fit?

  2. You tell a friend "my dog died lol." Does lol fit?

  3. A coworker asks you to switch shifts. You write "sure, no problem lol." Does lol fit?

  4. You end a cover letter with "I would love this job lol." Does lol fit?

The LOL family

  • hahaThe sound of laughing, written out.LOL’s older cousin. More "haha"s means more laughing: hahahaha is a big one.
  • ROFLRolling on the floor laughing: something is very funny.LOL, but lying down. Most people now find it a little old-fashioned.
  • OMGOh my god: surprise or excitement.Often sent right before LOL, as in "OMG LOL."

Where it came from

  1. Early to mid 1980sWayne Pearson says he made up LOL on Viewline, an early online message board in Calgary, Canada, after a friend’s joke made him really laugh out loud [1]. This is his own story; no dated record backs it up.
  2. 1985–90Dictionary.com dates the first record of LOL to these years, from its use in early online messages [2].
  3. May 1989The earliest written use found so far, according to the linguist Ben Zimmer, is in the May 1989 issue of FidoNews, a newsletter for an early computer network [3].
  4. TodayLOL is everywhere, often in lowercase, and often with no laughing at all. It even works as a verb: "I lolled."

Is everyone who writes lol laughing?

Usually not. The linguist Gretchen McCulloch says LOL has become a bit aspirational: people send it to say that something is funny, even when they are not laughing at all [1].

MessageWhat it usually means
"LOL I can’t breathe"Real laughing. Capitals and extra words make it stronger.
"lol what""That is funny or strange." A small smile, not a laugh.
"I’m running late lol""Don’t worry, I’m not stressed." It only softens the message.
"ok lol"Friendly, but sometimes a little awkward. Read the rest of the chat.

Two other meanings can confuse you:

  • lots of love: an older meaning that some dictionaries still list. Some older people end cards and texts this way.
  • LoL: the video game League of Legends. Gamers often write it with a small o.

Sources

  1. In the '80s, this Calgary man invented one of the most common words in internet-speakCBC Radio (The Current), September 4, 2019
  2. LOL Definition & MeaningDictionary.com
  3. Happy 25th Birthday to LOLSlate, May 2014

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