What does ㅋㅋㅋ (kekeke) mean?
- ㅋㅋㅋkekeke
LOL / haha
Casual: friends and people younger than you
ㅋㅋㅋ (kekeke) is the Korean way of typing laughter, like "LOL" or "hahaha" in English. You will see it in almost every casual Korean text chat and comment section.
Where it comes from
ㅋ is the Korean consonant for a "k" sound. Typing it again and again imitates a laughing sound like 크크크 or 킥킥, without bothering to add the vowels.
How to use ㅋㅋㅋ
The number of ㅋ changes the feeling. A single ㅋ can look dry or even sarcastic, ㅋㅋ is a light chuckle, ㅋㅋㅋ is a normal laugh, and a long row like ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ means you are really cracking up.
ㅋㅋㅋ feels more playful and "laughing out loud" than ㅎㅎ, which is a softer, gentler smile. Between friends, ㅋㅋㅋ is the default. With a boss, a teacher or someone older you do not know well, ㅎㅎ is the safer choice, or no laugh at all.
People often put ㅋㅋㅋ at the start or end of a message, or send it alone as a whole reply. Out loud, nobody says "kekeke"; you just laugh.
Examples
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Reacting to a funny video a friend sent
Your friend tells you an outrageous plan
Agreeing with a friend's joke about yourself
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| ㅋㅋ | Heh / haha | Lighter, shorter laugh. |
| ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ | Hahahaha / dying | A long row means it is really funny. |
| ㅋ | Heh. | A single one can sound dry or sarcastic. |
| ㅎㅎ | Hehe | Softer, gentler laugh. Safer with people you are not close to. |
Questions learners ask
What does kkk mean in Korean texting?
ㅋㅋㅋ, often written "kkk" in English letters, is laughter, like "LOL" or "haha". It has nothing to do with the English meaning of "KKK".
What is the difference between ㅋㅋ and ㅎㅎ?
ㅋㅋ is a more open, playful laugh. ㅎㅎ is a softer smile and feels a bit more polite, so it is often used with coworkers or people you just met.
Is a single ㅋ rude?
It can be. One ㅋ often reads as a dry, unimpressed "heh", so if something is actually funny, use at least ㅋㅋ.