w (w)
In Japanese, 'lol' can be expressed as w (w). If unsure, use w (w). Wiktionary also lists www (www) and ワラ (wara).
Meaning: expression of laughter (intj)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| w (w) | ||
| www (www) | ||
| ワラ | wara | |
| 草 | kusa | [kɯ̟̊sa̠] (narrow) |
| （笑） |
These terms are used to indicate laughter or that something is funny.
What does it mean word for word?
The slang term 草 (kusa) literally means 'grass'. This is used to represent 'lol' because the repeated 'w' characters in www (www) look like blades of grass growing in a field.
Which one should you use?
The forms range from standard internet abbreviations to more metaphorical slang. w (w) and www (www) use the letter 'w' to signify laughter, while 草 (kusa) uses the imagery of grass. ワラ (wara) is a phonetic representation of the laughter sound, and （笑） is a common way to denote laughter in a slightly more traditional manner.
Did you know?
- There is a possible phonetic link between the slang 草 (kusa) and the Japanese onomatopoeia くすくす (kusukusu), which describes the sound of stifled or suppressed laughter.
- The slang term 草 (kusa) can be used as a verb or an adjective in internet slang, such as saying something is 'growing' or 'is grass'.
- Using （笑） is often seen as more traditional or polite compared to the highly informal w or 草 used by younger generations.
Examples in context
- 鯖落ちてて草Lol the server's downThis example shows how to use 草 to express that a server being down is funny.
- つべで紹介されてて草Someone made a YouTube video on it lolThis example shows how to use 草 to react to something being featured on YouTube.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lol” translations and entries 草, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries w, 草, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
