IJBOL means 'I just burst out laughing'. Merriam-Webster defines it that way, written as IJBOL or ijbol. It's a reaction to something very funny, used like LOL or LMAO. It's been around online since at least 2009, but K-pop fans made it popular from 2021, and despite a common belief, it isn't a Korean word.
IJBOL looks like a typo the first time you see it, which is half of its charm. It's a laughing acronym with a better origin story than most, a pronunciation people argue about, and a myth attached to it. Here's what it means and how it compares with the laughter slang you already know.
IJBOL, letter by letter
The letters stand for I Just Burst Out Laughing. Wiktionary files it under Stan Twitter slang and lists it as an interjection, meaning it's a reaction rather than part of a sentence. It usually comes at the end of a message, after the joke:
- 'He tried to parallel park for ten minutes and gave up ijbol' Laughing at a story.
- 'The cat knocked the cake off the table ijbol' Laughing at chaos.
- 'IJBOL I can't believe you said that in the meeting' Laughing, a little shocked.
Those are made-up examples. Merriam-Webster quotes real ones, including a BlueSky post from January 2025 about pushing old code on the first day back at remote work to look productive, ending in ijbol. It's the same mix of self-mockery and delight.
Where IJBOL came from
The word is older than its fame. Wiktionary says that according to Know Your Meme, the earliest known use was in a conversation between two Twitter users posted on 23 July 2009, and the term was added to Urban Dictionary later that year. Merriam-Webster agrees it's been in use online since at least the late 2000s.
Then it went quiet for a decade. Wiktionary says it was popularised in 2021 in the K-pop community, and that in 2023 it was reported to be replacing LOL and LMAO among young people on social media. The report it cites is a New York Times article by Shirley Wang from 8 August 2023, headlined 'IJBOL Is In. LOL Is Out.'
Is IJBOL Korean? No
Because K-pop fans spread it, many people assume IJBOL is a Korean word. Wiktionary is direct: the term is not derived from Korean. It cites a Mashable piece by Elena Cavender from 6 July 2023, titled 'Ijbol isn't a Korean word. It's just a sillier version of lmao.'
Merriam-Webster quotes the same Mashable article on the confusion, noting that some of the earliest recent conversations about ijbol were from out-of-the-loop K-pop fans wondering what it meant. One tweet from March 2022, it says, read 'idk what ijbol means and at this point I'm too afraid to ask.' If you've felt the same, you're in good company.
How to pronounce IJBOL
You can spell it out, I-J-B-O-L, but plenty of people say it as a word. Wiktionary gives the US pronunciation as /ˈidʒ.boʊl/, which sounds roughly like 'idge-bowl'. Merriam-Webster adds a jokey warning: don't confuse IJBOL with spagbol, the British word for spaghetti with Bolognese sauce. Say it out loud and you'll see why the dictionary felt it had to mention it.
IJBOL vs LOL vs LMAO
Laughing acronyms are like a volume dial. Here's roughly where IJBOL sits:
| Acronym | Stands for | How strong it feels |
|---|---|---|
| LOL | Laughing out loud | Mild, often just friendly |
| LMAO | Laughing my a** off | Big laugh, a bit cruder |
| ROFL | Rolling on the floor laughing | Big laugh, a bit old-school |
| IJBOL | I just burst out laughing | Sudden, real laugh, sillier in tone |
Merriam-Webster is realistic about its reach. It says IJBOL isn't going to threaten LOL or LMAO hegemony anytime soon, but calls it a handy alternative that can be used in similar contexts. For the old-school end of the scale, my guide to ROFL has the history, and OML covers another reaction you'll see in the same threads.
Who says IJBOL?
It started with fans. Wiktionary's examples come from fandom accounts in 2021 and 2022, including one about Thor: Love and Thunder and others about K-pop idols. If you're not sure what a stan is, my guide to stan explains how fan accounts got their name.
By 2024 it had gone mainstream enough for Parade to publish a list of Gen Z memes 'to make you say IJBOL', which Wiktionary quotes, and Merriam-Webster quotes another Parade piece from December 2025 suggesting funny lines to send in a group text. That's the usual path: fandom first, then group chats, then lifestyle sites.
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How to reply when someone sends IJBOL
If a friend sends ijbol after your story, they're telling you it landed. You don't need to reply with another acronym. A laughing emoji, a follow-up detail or 'I know, I'm still not over it' keeps the conversation going. If they send it about something they've posted themselves, it's usually self-mockery, so laughing along is the kind response.
One thing to watch: because ijbol looks like a random string of letters, older relatives or colleagues may think it's a typo or a password. If you're messaging someone who doesn't live on social media, LOL or 'that made me laugh' will be understood first time.
Once you have this one down, the OMW meaning page is a useful follow-up.
Can you use IJBOL on a brand account?
Sparingly. A playful brand replying 'ijbol' to a customer's very funny comment can feel warm, if your audience already uses the word. The risk is forcing it. If you have to look it up before every reply, your followers can tell, and an acronym used wrongly is more awkward than no acronym at all. When in doubt, a laughing emoji or 'this made my day' says the same thing in words everyone understands.
Another term worth knowing is explained in the OMG meaning page.
Frequently asked questions
What does IJBOL stand for?
It stands for 'I just burst out laughing', according to Merriam-Webster.
Is IJBOL a Korean word?
No. Wiktionary says it isn't derived from Korean, even though K-pop fans made it popular.
When was IJBOL first used?
Wiktionary cites Know Your Meme dating the earliest known use to a Twitter conversation on 23 July 2009.
How do you pronounce IJBOL?
Many people say it as one word, roughly 'idge-bowl', which matches the US pronunciation Wiktionary gives.
Is IJBOL the same as LMAO?
It's used the same way, but Merriam-Webster says it's an alternative rather than a replacement for LOL or LMAO.
Is IJBOL rude?
No. Unlike LMAO, none of its letters stand for a swear word.
