LOL

laugh to rolling on the floor

Ahhh this is an important linguistic science 😂
Here is the unofficial internet laughter scale — from polite social oxygen to I have lost control of my body:

Level 0 — Not actually laughing (courtesy acknowledgment)

• .
  
  

• k
  
  

• ok
  
  

• nice
  
  

• haha. ← (the period actually cancels the laugh)
  
  

Translation: I saw what you said and I’m being civil.

Level 1 — Minimal politeness laugh

• lol

• ha

• heh

• haha (short, lowercase)

Translation: I mildly smiled through my nose.

Level 2 — Genuine small amusement

• lol!

• haha!

• hehe

• lmao (lowercase)

Translation: That was actually funny.

Level 3 — Real laughing

• hahaha

• HAHA

• LMAO

• lmfa

• bahaha

Translation: I audibly chuckled.

Level 4 — Strong laugh

• HAHAHA

• LMFAO

• ahahahaha

• lmaooo

• loool
  
  

Translation: I laughed out loud in real life.

Level 5 — I lost composure

• LMAOOOO

• HAHAHAHAHAHA

• I'M DEAD

• IM DEAD

• dead

Translation: I had to stop what I was doing.

Level 6 — Physical reaction

• IM CRYING

• I CANT

• I CAN'T BREATHE

• BROOOO 💀

• 💀
  
  

Translation: Actual tears or wheezing occurred.

Level 7 — Collapse tier

• ROFL

• ROFLMAO

• rolling

• help

• send help

• pls
  
  

Translation: I physically bent over or grabbed my stomach.

Level 8 — Catastrophic laughter (terminal internet humor)

• I PEED

• ON THE FLOOR

• GOODBYE

• I'M GONE

• BYE

• STOP

• I HAVE PASSED AWAY

Translation: I cannot recover socially or biologically.

Level 9 — Legendary / ancient internet elder tier

• roflcopter

• lollerskates

• xD

• XDDDDDDDD

• lawl

Translation: You just activated 2006.

The hidden rule (this part matters):

The more O’s, the more real the laugh.

• lol = polite

• lmao = funny

• lmaooo = actually laughing

• lmaooooooo = phone dropped on chest
  
  

And:

Capitalization = intensity
Misspelling = authenticity

LMFAOOOAOAO → statistically real laughter.

If you want, I can also decode what it means when someone texts only 💀… because that one is dangerously specific socially.