Introduction

Slang Misinterpretation memes humorously depict characters questioning the literal meanings of popular slang phrases, creating a comedic disconnect.

Background

Slang Misinterpretation memes involve the literal interpretation of slang phrases like 'based' and 'let's fucking go.' These memes often feature various characters expressing confusion and seeking clarification. The trend surged in popularity in early February 2020, largely due to the viral 'Based on What?' meme, which is frequently used to react to contemporary slang.

Meme History

The earliest known use of the Slang Misinterpretation concept was on April 30th, 2019, when Twitter user @bab_all_summer posted, 'based? based on what? I don't get it.' This post garnered five likes by May 2nd, 2021. Following this, on November 1st, 2019, @martpunished shared a 'Funny? Funny How?' meme featuring a scene from Goodfellas, where Tommy DeVito questions the meaning of 'based.' This post achieved significant engagement with over 360 retweets and 1,600 likes over the next year. The trend gained traction in February 2020 with a viral meme from an Instagram livestream of rapper Soulja Boy asking 'Based? Based on What?'. The image was widely shared, notably by users on platforms such as Amino and Twitter.

Internet Reaction

On February 15th, 2020, iFunny user SavoirFaire shared a derivative meme featuring YouTuber Jerma985, which received over 2,300 smiles, further driving the popularity of the format. Subsequent posts on iFunny featured characters like Kagami Hiiragi from Lucky Star and recreations of the Goodfellas meme, indicating the widespread adoption of this meme style. Additionally, a March 13th post featuring a dialogue from Breaking Bad gained over 6,900 smiles, leading to its own series of edits and parodies. The phrase 'Let's Fucking Go' also saw a similar treatment, with early examples appearing in 2019, leading to a popular trend of characters misunderstanding the phrase in various memes.