19

I often see rsrsrs in emails or on the internet. From context, I'm guessing it should mean something like "lol", which is thought to be an acronym of "laughing out loud". But I'm not sure whether rs is an acronym or an abbreviation (maybe of some form of the verb rir), or simply intended to represent the sound of someone laughing or something else entirely.

So, what's the meaning and origin of rsrsrs?

Improve this question
1

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
18

The "rs" commonly seen in conversations throughout the internet, is an abbreviation of "risos" (laughs).
Depending on how a person pronounces it, it can also sound like a laughing (quite weird, but sounds like one...). Just like "kkkk", "hahaha", and so on.

Just note however that "rsrs" isn't used in Portugal. There, the most common internet laughings are "hahaha" and the recent "kkkk".

Improve this answer
15
  • 1
    Em Portugal não se usa rsrsrs.
    – Jorge B. ♦
    Commented Jul 16, 2015 at 9:52
  • 6
    @JorgeB. nem apsokaposkaposk tambem. :)
    – LucasMotta
    Commented Jul 16, 2015 at 10:14
  • 2
    Aqui usa-se o "ahahahah" agora recentemente o "kkkkk" vindo do Brasil...
    – Jorge B. ♦
    Commented Jul 16, 2015 at 10:33
  • 5
    @JorgeB. Então, basicamente, em Portugal as únicas risadas são "haha" e o recente "kkkk"? Nuss, nunca imaginei que nós brasileiros tivéssemos tanta criatividade pra inventar risadas.. XD
    – Yuuza
    Commented Jul 16, 2015 at 10:54
  • 2
    Eu só acho que seria "risos" e não "risos". Mas acho que isso nem importa e na verdade ninguém nunca se preocupou em saber qual é o "s" que está representado.
    – Victor Stafusa
    Commented Jul 16, 2015 at 16:37
1

As a brazilian, I never imagined "rs" to be an abbreviation of "risos".

As far as I know, "rs" is supposed to represent the sound of a rather goofy laughter. It has an effect very similar to "hihihi" - except "hihihi" seems/sounds too feminine, while "rsrsrs" seems/sounds gender neutral. Both are very teenagery.

Imagine you hold back your laughter a bit, like you're going to "hihihi" but instead you hiss at each "rs" - basically just change the "i" from "hihihi" to "s" and there you go, that's the sound.

Sometimes it can be used as rather timid laughter. I use it as a silly laughter with my friends.

Improve this answer
4
  • Brazilian is spelt with a capital letter.
    – Lambie
    Commented Jun 30, 2018 at 15:23
  • Alright, like this then?
    – Jacinto
    Commented Jul 3, 2018 at 6:30
  • 3
    I've been using "rs rs rs" as an abreviation for "risos" for more than 20 years and never came across any hint that it might mean something else.
    – Centaurus
    Commented Jan 18, 2019 at 16:09
  • i'm pretty sure that "rs" has been arose just as an acronym for "risos" (plural), in the late-90s, the same time when "vc" (você) has also sprouted out. People (we) were used to use it interchangeably "risos" or just "rs" (in emails, ICQ and lots of other chat systems). Years later, it started to be used doubled "rsrs" or written many times, like "rsrsrs" or others. However, people might've connected it later to some sounds of laughing, although it may matches some of those sounds, that isn't definitely its real origin.
    – Luciano
    Commented Feb 21, 2019 at 21:35

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.