Flag This Hub

The Meaning of LMAO in Text Messaging and Facebook

By


Want to know the meaning of LMAO? Did you know it has more than one meaning? At one time or another, you've probably seen this Internet slang word and are wondering what it means. LMAO is one of many common words used in text messaging, instant messaging, chat, and even Facebook or Twitter.

So by now you're probably really wondering what LMAO stands for. LMAO is an acronym which stands for Laughing My A** Off and many people say this when they find something funny.

Sometimes, when a person finds something extremely funny, they say LMFAO. This one is almost identical in meaning, but has the "F" word added to it to create: Laughing My F**king A** Off. This one, however, is considered to be vulgar and is not used as often as LMAO.

Funny stormtrooper pictures make me LMAO
See all 2 photos
Funny stormtrooper pictures make me LMAO

Alternative Meanings

LMAO has a number of different meanings. While this acronym has a large number of popular uses, it is most often used to tell a person that something is funny. Because of this, many people are unaware of or do not use any alternative meanings.

If you use LMAO to mean any of the following, make sure that they are aware of these alternative meanings or you may confuse or offend them. While some of them can be hilariously funny, you have to make sure that your friends know what they mean. Be sure to point them over here to see some of these alternate meanings!

  • Laughing My Arms Off
  • Laughing My Ankles Off
  • L*ck Me All Over
  • Leave Me Alone, Okay?

More Common Text Terms & Chat Acronyms

Word
Meaning
BRB
Be right back
BTW
By the way
CYA
See you, later!
FWIW
For what it's worth...
GR8
Great
IMO/IMHO
In my (honest/humble) opinion
IRL
In real life
JK
Just kidding
L8R
Later
LOL
Laugh out loud
NP
No problem
OMG
Oh my god
OT
Off topic
RTM/RTFM
Read the (effing) manual
TMI
Too much information
TTYL
Talk to you later
WTF
What the f***

A Funny Poke At Internet Slang

Hee hee hee!
Hee hee hee!

Netspeak vs Leetspeak

Words such as LOL (meaning Laugh Out Loud), LMAO, and LMFAO make up what is called netspeak. This is also sometimes called chatspeak.

A large number of people on sites like Facebook, MySpace, Twitter use these terms, but many of these words have been in use before these websites even existed. For example, many words in netspeak come from gamers and those who use Instant Messengers.

Netspeak is also related to what is called leetspeak, which is a language developed by hackers in order to bypass email filters. It caught on and is no longer used solely in hacking.

That said, leetspeak still isn't a huge part of social networking sites like Facebook. It is mostly used by those who play online games, programmings, forum users, and hackers (obviously.) Leetspeak works by replacing letters with number (and other letters) that are similar in appearance. Sometimes spelling is also slightly changed.

Examples of leetspeak:
ski11z = skills
1337 = leet
haxxor = hacker
n00b = noob, newbie (this means a newcomer and is usually meant as an insult)

As you can see, LMAO is just one of many words used throughout the Internet.

As the Internet almost has a completely different vocabulary than real life, it can be frustrating for n00bs. Don't worry, as time passes, you'll learn to become comfortable with many of these terms.

For now, you know the meaning of LMAO, LMFAO, and LOL. (As well as a little bit of leetspeak.) If you're curious about other terms common on the Internet, you may want to look up terms like rofl, ftw, wtf, afk, imo, and more! That way you'll know more than just what LMAO stands for!

Comments

De Greek 15 months ago

So that's what LMAO means! :-))

UrbnGeek 15 months ago

Ha! a short topic extracted into a big hub! Thanks for the meaning. Well written. How did you come up with this hub's idea?

Mochan 15 months ago

I've only heard it referred to a "laughing my a** off" and never the other three, but it's interesting that people are using it for those terms as well!

Thanks for the hub!

110211 15 months ago

ROFL

crystolite 15 months ago

Thank you very much. You know, at times i always come across it but never know the meaning.

Morten Knudsen 14 months ago

A "newbie" is a person that is new at "it" and therefore NOT an insult.

A noob is a person that still after many years seems to be a newbie, and is always an insult.

Rubz 13 months ago

thanks for this..always wondering its meaning before...now i know it..

shaq 11 months ago

N00bs!

bingogunter 10 months ago

OMG, great hub!

gary 10 months ago

thxx fo the hub

FACE 10 months ago

NYCE HUB THOUGH

vero 7 months ago

rofl means rolling on the flour laughing

gulshan 7 months ago

thanks very much now i got the meaning of lmao

pipes 7 months ago

i like the lick me all over meaning better

addy 7 months ago

The meaning'LICK ME ALL OVER' is perfect

teejazz 6 months ago

wow little did i knw ani of this meanings until now.nice hub man.10x

[insert name here] 6 months ago

Finally, I understand now... I see it all the time, and never wanted to ask and look dumb (^_^)

fitnesszone 6 months ago

LMAO, it sure has too many meanings :D

Cardisa 5 months ago

It's really embarrassing, but I had no idea what LMAO stands for. It took me forever to figure out LOL and it was a month ago I learned xoxo. Wow, the internet is really a different world.

Charity Squid 5 months ago

That's funny cause I thought LMAO was some sort of a spanish term by my spanish friends who were using it on Facebook. LOL! Great Hub!

crockpotcooking 5 months ago

"ROTF LMHO"

Rolling on the floor, laughing my head off :-)

tammyfrost 5 months ago

Yes this will help some people who don't know the meaning of LMAO!

one2get2no 4 months ago

Very funny hub....I actually knew the Laugh My A** Off bit but not the others. I especially appreciate the knowledge that LMAO can also mean Lick Me All Over....imagine saying LMAO in a romantic voice whilst wrestling with a loved one...lol

Toni Mokomane 3 months ago

You dont know how thankful i am of your help, you really made my day. Your information is highly appreciated.

Asian 3 months ago

from the overseas just think ...how hard to know its meaning.thank you

Alecia Murphy 3 months ago

I only thought LMAO meant laughing my a** off, I didn't know about the other meanings but given the widespread popularity of these terms, I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I knew there was a reason I decided not to use these terms...Great hub!

Ardie 3 months ago

Very funny Mel!! I didnt know how these little acronyms started - very interesting :P lmao (NOT lick me all over)

cclitgirl 3 months ago

Too funny! LOL. Yes, really, I'm laughing out loud. It's funny, too. There are a lot of people that DON'T know what those abbreviations mean. Fun hub!

Mrsberry 3 months ago

Lmbo laughing my butt off is used by ppl that don't want to use a$$

Stephen 2 months ago

I now know the other meaning of LMAO

Chuck Bluestein 2 months ago

I think that OMG is the most overused one. ?

syko 8 weeks ago

LMAo should also be LIKE MY AWKWARD OBSESSION

sam 5 weeks ago

thnx fr givin diff acronyms...

Alick-sangoma chibanthowa 4 weeks ago

Thax alot dea,,bt how about xoxo?!

clemence 2 weeks ago

I thought LOL meant Lots of Love.....????

melbel 2 weeks ago

Clemence, sometimes it can mean that, but it is generally used to mean "laugh out loud." :)

jen 13 days ago

thanks for the info! :)

Laide akin 11 hours ago

Another meaning for LOL! is Lots Of Love!

Submit a Comment
Members and Guests

Sign in or sign up and post using a hubpages account.



    Like this Hub?
    Please wait working