roflcopter

Roflcopter is an internet meme and reaction phrase that combines ROFL (rolling on the floor laughing) with the image of a helicopter. It is used to express strong amusement in online discussions, often as a textual exclamation or as ASCII art representing a helicopter.

Origin and spread: The term emerged in the early 2000s within online communities such as forums and imageboards. Its exact origin is uncertain, but it became popular as part of the broader ROFL meme family. The spelling roflcopter is a common variant; capitalization varies (ROFLcopter, roflcopter).

Representation and use: In many early posts, roflcopter appeared as ASCII art helicopter accompanied by the word ROFL or ROFLcopter, intended to convey that the joke was so funny it deserved a literal helicopter flight. It also appeared in plain text as a catchphrase, for example “roflcopter has landed” to punctuate a punchline.

Legacy: As internet humor evolved, roflcopter became a recognizable relic of early meme culture, cited as an example of how text-based humor and simple ASCII art helped spread online jokes. It continues to be referenced in discussions of meme history and the ROFL family of expressions.