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“ISSOU” meme: meaning, origin and epic card

The ISSOU meme features the uncontrollable laughter of Spanish comedian Juan Joya Borja, known as El Risitas.

MyMemeCards editorial teamPublished 7 min read
ISSOU meme
The “ISSOU” meme

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In MyMemeCards, the meme card game, “ISSOU” is an epic card of the Memes World series 76, number 22749 of the collection, and the 91st best-known meme of its 298 cards. Here is what the meme means, where it comes from, and how to get its card.

What does the “ISSOU” meme mean?

This term acts as an interjection to emphasize the absurdity or silliness of a context. It signals a moment of shared madness where logic gives way to nervous laughter. Users employ it to amplify the humor in edits, often paired with the artist’s smiling, squinted face. It serves as a badge of camaraderie against illogical events.

Where does the “ISSOU” meme come from?

The phenomenon stems from Juan Joya Borja, aka El Risitas, a Spanish comedian famous for his distinctive laugh. On February 9, 2007, he appeared on the show _Ratones Coloraos_ hosted by Jesús Quintero. He recounted a childhood story about paella pans lost at sea. The video was uploaded to YouTube on June 25, 2007. In France, it gained traction around June 2016 on the gamesvideo.com forum. Internet users created memes based on his mispronunciation of the host's name, turning 'Jesús' into 'Issou'.

  1. 2007Original interview aired on February 9, 2007, in the show Ratones Coloraos.
  2. 2007Full video uploaded to YouTube on June 25, 2007.
  3. 2016Massive popularity surge in France via the gamesvideo.com forum in June.

How to use the “ISSOU” meme

  • Share a Risitas image when discussing a bizarre political event.
  • Reply to a confusing message by sending only the word 'ISSOU'.
  • Use the laughter audio clip as a phone ringtone to surprise contacts.

Also searched as

  • El Risitas
  • Juan Joya Borja
  • Jesus Quintero
  • risita
  • issou meme meaning
  • issou meme origin
  • el risitas laugh
  • issou gamesvideo.com

The “ISSOU” card in MyMemeCards

ISSOU card
NumberNo. 22749
RarityEpic
CollectionMemes World series 76
Fame50/100 · #91 of 298
Recycle value20 MemeCoins (60 in Shiny)
Suggested by@zqsd91
Rarities of the Memes World series 76: 298 cards
  • Common15753%
  • Rare9532%
  • Epic4515%
  • Legendary10.3%

How to get the “ISSOU” card

Every pack holds 5 meme cards, the first 3 of them Common; ISSOU comes out of the Memes World series 76 as an epic card. The pack odds say what each rarity weighs.

Your first pack is free and needs no account. After that a new free pack lands every 10 minutes, up to 3 waiting for you. You can also buy the card with MemeCoins on the market, bid for it at auction, or trade it — and a double recycles into 20 MemeCoins.

Open your free pack

5 meme cards, one of them at least Rare. One free pack per person.

Free · no account needed

Odds per card, averaged over a pack: Common 72%, Rare 23.9%, Epic 3.2%, Legendary 0.56%, Mythic 0.3%, Full Art ≤ 0.1%, Shiny 0.2%. Cards 1 to 3 are always Common, cards 4 and 5 climb the rarities. Rates drop for cards that circulate a lot. Details

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Frequently asked questions

What does issou meme mean?

It is a French interjection derived from the laughter of Spanish comedian El Risitas. The term comes from his approximate pronunciation of the host's name, Jesús Quintero.

Who is el risitas?

El Risitas is the nickname of Juan Joya Borja, a Spanish comedian known for his contagious laugh and naive interviews. He lived a hard life before becoming an internet icon.

Issou meme origin video?

The source video dates back to February 2007. It shows the artist telling a story about lost pans in the sea during a televised interview in Spain.

How do I get the ISSOU meme card?

Open a pack of MyMemeCards: “ISSOU” is an epic card of the Memes World series 76. Your first pack is free, with no account, and you can also buy, trade or win the card at auction.

How rare is the ISSOU card?

It is an Epic card. Rarity decides which pack slot can deal it, and what it is worth on the market.

Sources: Risitas y las paelleras (Vídeo 2007) | Corto, Tertulia · El Risitas, la fin d'une légende - Minizap · El Risitas - Wikipedia · checked on October 25, 2026.

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