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“What is Love?” meme: meaning, origin and epic card

“What is Love?” is a video meme from a Saturday Night Live sketch.

MyMemeCards editorial teamPublished 8 min read
What is Love? meme
The “What is Love?” meme, 2005

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In MyMemeCards, the meme card game, “What is Love?” is an epic card of the Memes World series 70, number 20866 of the collection, and the 66th best-known meme of its 243 cards. Here is what the meme means, where it comes from, and how to get its card.

What does the “What is Love?” meme mean?

This format expresses total, joyful agreement with something, often ironically or excessively. The repetitive head movement creates a hypnotic and comedic effect. It is used to show that one loves a situation, object, or idea, sometimes absurdly. The collective nature of the nod reinforces the idea of a ritualistic communion around shared pleasure, turning a simple dance track into a quirky anthem.

Where does the “What is Love?” meme come from?

The meme traces its roots to the recurring sketch “The Roxbury Guys” aired on Saturday Night Live since March 23, 1996. It features Chris Kattan and Will Ferrell playing characters leaving a club and bobbing their heads to Haddaway’s “What Is Love”. The song itself dates back to 1993. The specific memetic phenomenon emerged on June 2, 2005, on YTMND, thanks to user ligamentx. This user combined the repeated audio clip with the original video sequence, creating an interactive file that fueled dissemination. This version allowed netizens to swap faces while keeping the syncopated movement, cementing the visual icon associated with the title's rhetorical question.

  1. 1993Release of the single “What Is Love” by Haddaway.
  2. March 23, 1996First airing of the “The Roxbury Guys” sketch on Saturday Night Live.
  3. June 2, 2005Publication of the foundational interactive GIF on YTMND by ligamentx.

How to use the “What is Love?” meme

  • Share this GIF to show enthusiastic agreement with a minority opinion.
  • Create a variant by replacing the actors with your own photos to illustrate your obsession with a trivial subject.
  • Use the original audio in a comment section to highlight the addictive or rhythmic nature of an action.

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  • haddaway what is love year
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The “What is Love?” card in MyMemeCards

What is Love? card
NumberNo. 20866
RarityEpic
CollectionMemes World series 70
Fame79/100 · #66 of 243
Recycle value20 MemeCoins (60 in Shiny)
Rarities of the Memes World series 70: 243 cards
  • Common197.8%
  • Rare197.8%
  • Epic19580%
  • Legendary62.5%
  • Mythic41.6%

How to get the “What is Love?” card

Every pack holds 5 meme cards, the first 3 of them Common; What is Love? comes out of the Memes World series 70 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 is love meme origin?

The meme comes from the Saturday Night Live sketch “The Roxbury Guys” (1996) and Haddaway’s song (1993). The current viral form was born on YTMND in 2005.

Who are the actors in what is love?

The main characters are played by Chris Kattan and Will Ferrell. Jim Carrey also appears in some versions of the original sketch.

What does what is love meme mean?

It expresses collective joy, blind adherence, or excessive enthusiasm. The synchronized head nodding embodies a ritualistic communion around shared pleasure.

When was the what is love meme released?

The song is from 1993 and the TV sketch from 1996. However, the digital meme as known today was specifically published on June 2, 2005, on YTMND.

How do I get the What is Love? meme card?

Open a pack of MyMemeCards: “What is Love?” is an epic card of the Memes World series 70. Your first pack is free, with no account, and you can also buy, trade or win the card at auction.

How rare is the What is Love? card?

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

Sources: meme.com › memes › what-is-loveWhat is Love? Meme: Haddaway, SNL Roxbury Guys, YTMND · What is Love? · What is Love Jim Carrey · checked on October 11, 2026.

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