ROFL stands for rolling on the floor laughing, in other words, I can't stop laughing. It's a chat reaction to something really funny, stronger than lol. It works only as a reaction: it doesn't name a joke or a prank.
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rofl (reply to something funny); rofl, + comment; comment + rofl
- rofl, your cat's face when the vacuum cleaner turned on!
- My dad sent a voice message to the family chat by accident, and it's just him singing, rofl.
- rofl, I just found my old school essays, they're so dramatic.
What changed
First versionDon't be angry, it was just a rofl.
RevisionDon't be angry, it was just a joke.
Rofl is only a reaction to something funny; in English it can't be used as a noun meaning a joke or a prank. That's why the ordinary word joke is needed here.
People add lol to almost anything that made them smile, and rofl when something is genuinely funny: lol, nice one and rofl, I can't breathe. Rofl isn't a verb either: to joke at someone's expense, English uses make fun of someone or tease someone: They were teasing me about my accent. Rofl isn't used in letters, essays or IELTS Speaking; out loud, people say that's hilarious.
Your turn
My friend sent a video of her toddler dancing like a pop star, and I was crying with laughter, so I replied: ___
Show the answer
rofl — You're crying with laughter, and rofl conveys exactly that kind of strong laughter. SMH means shaking my head, disbelief or disapproval, and it doesn't fit a funny video of a toddler.
Write to a friend about something really funny that happened this week. Say where it happened and start the message with rofl.
rofl, in the office kitchen today my boss tried to open the microwave with his key card.
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