jejeje
/xexexe/from spelling rules
The English laughter sound "hehehe" is expressed in Spanish as jejeje.
This is an onomatopoeia used in written text to represent the sound of laughter.
Which one should you use?
The form jejeje is the standard Spanish onomatopoeia because the letter j represents the aspirated sound /x/ used in Spanish laughter. In contrast, hehehe is more common in digital contexts influenced by English.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the shorthand version jeje is used in online conversations to express a quiet laugh.
How do you pronounce it?
/xexexe/
Did you know?
- Spanish speakers use different vowels to distinguish the type of laugh, such as jejeje for a chuckle, jajaja for a hearty laugh and jijiji for a giggle.
- In some digital contexts, Spanish users might use jsjsjs to represent a fast or stifled laugh where the tongue barely moves.
- While jejeje is written with a j, it is phonetically equivalent to the sound of the English word 'hot' as spoken in some dialects or the 'ch' in the Scottish word 'loch'.
Examples in context
- Cuando el profesor contó el chiste, todos rieron suavemente.When the teacher told the joke, everybody chuckled softly.
- Me contó un chiste muy gracioso y me puse a reír muchísimo: jajaja.They told me a very funny joke, and I burst out laughing: hahaha.
- Esa foto que me enviaste es adorable, jejeje.That picture you sent me is adorable, hehehe.
- Me acordé de ese chiste que me contaste, jeje.I remembered that joke you told me, hehe.
- ¡Qué ocurrencia tan divertida! Jijiji.What a funny remark! Heehee.
- Jejeje, qué gracioso eres.Hehehe, you are so funny.
- Jejeje, no puedo creerlo.Hehehe, I can't believe it.
- Jejeje, me dio mucha risa.Hehehe, that made me laugh a lot.
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are texting about a funny joke.
- Sofía¡Mira este video, Alejandro!Look at this video, Alejandro!
- AlejandroJejeje, es muy divertido.Hehehe, it is very funny.
- Sofía¡Lo sé! Me encanta.I know! I love it.
- AlejandroJejeje, Sofía, eres muy ocurrente.Hehehe, Sofía, you are very witty.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
