What is the Nani meme?

"Nani" (何) is a Japanese word meaning "what" that became a widespread internet catchphrase through anime fandom, used to express exaggerated shock or disbelief.

Where did the Nani meme come from?

The meme draws from anime culture, with two major vectors: the "Omae wa mou shindeiru" / "Nani?!" exchange from martial arts anime, and the "Nani Sore" catchphrase from the character Nonon Jakuzure in the 2013 anime Kill la Kill.

"Nani" means "what" in Japanese. In meme context, it's used as a dramatic exclamation of surprise, typically in response to something absurd or threatening.

How do you use the Nani meme?

The most common format pairs "Nani?!" with "Omae wa mou shindeiru" ("You are already dead") as a call-and-response joke. It also works on its own as a replacement for "What?!" in online conversations.

Is the Nani meme still popular?

"Nani" is widely recognized as a staple of anime meme culture, with the catchphrase familiar to internet users even outside dedicated anime communities.

What is "Nani Sore" from Kill la Kill?

"Nani Sore" is a line spoken by the character Nonon Jakuzure in Kill la Kill, meaning "What does that mean?" Her squeaky delivery in Episode 6 made it a fan-favorite clip for audio remixes and video edits.

What does "Omae wa mou shindeiru" mean?

The phrase translates to "You are already dead." It's a line from martial arts anime that became the setup for the "Nani?!" punchline in a widely used call-and-response meme format.

Who is Nonon Jakuzure?

Nonon is one of the primary antagonists in the Kill la Kill anime series. She leads Honnōji Academy's non-athletic clubs and is known for her distinctive squeaky delivery of the phrase "Nani Sore".

Nani

2013Catchphrase / reactionclassic

Published March 10, 2026 · Updated March 23, 2026

Also known as: Nani Sore · Omae Wa Mou Shindeiru / Nani

"Nani" (何) is the Japanese word for "what" that became one of the internet's most recognizable anime-derived catchphrases. The word picked up meme status through two main routes: the dramatic "Omae wa mou shindeiru" / "Nani?!" exchange shared across anime fan communities1, and the squeaky "Nani Sore" line from the 2013 anime Kill la Kill2. Both versions turned a simple Japanese word into a go-to expression of exaggerated shock on YouTube, Tumblr, and beyond.

anime manga catchphrase memes reaction memes call and response memes japanese internet memes

Overview

"Nani" works as both a standalone reaction word and part of a call-and-response format. At its core, it's a Japanese exclamation of surprise that anime fans adopted as internet shorthand for "What?!"3. The word itself is common in Japanese and can refer to people, places, and media across many contexts2, but online, it took on a life of its own.

Two specific uses gave the word its meme power. The first pairs "Nani?!" with "Omae wa mou shindeiru" ("You are already dead"), a line from martial arts anime. One speaker delivers the death sentence, and the target responds with a stunned "Nani?!" before disaster strikes3. The second major variant is "Nani Sore" ("What does that mean?"), a catchphrase from the character Nonon Jakuzure in Kill la Kill, delivered in a distinctively squeaky tone that made it irresistible for remixing1.

Gallery

Origin & Background

Platform

Anime (source media), YouTube / Tumblr (viral spread)

Creator

Unknown

Date

2013

"Nani" is standard Japanese vocabulary meaning "what"3. Anime fan communities adopted it as a humorous way to express confusion or shock, though the exact crossover point is hard to pin down since Japanese loanwords filtered into English-language internet culture gradually throughout the 2000s.

The "Nani Sore" variant has a clearer starting point. Nonon Jakuzure, one of the primary antagonists in Kill la Kill, serves on Honnōji Academy's Student Council as the leader of the school's non-athletic clubs. She says "Nani Sore" multiple times throughout the series, but her first and most notable delivery comes in Episode 6, where the peculiar squeaky tone made it stand out from standard anime dialogue1. On November 3rd, 2013, YouTube user fckngjss uploaded a clip of this moment, marking one of the earliest standalone "Nani Sore" videos online.

How It Spread

The "Nani Sore" clip moved quickly through anime fan communities. Within a month of the original upload, YouTube user IEnjoyBeingNaked posted a one-hour loop of the phrase. By March 27th, 2014, YouTube user AverageScrandyDandy had uploaded a "When I'm Bored" remix featuring the line, which pulled in over 180,000 views1. The phrase also jumped to instant sound effect sites where fans could trigger it on demand, with a Tumblr sound button version logging over 16,000 plays and the top Myinstants version getting shared on Facebook over a thousand times.

A specific screenshot drove further spread: an extreme close-up of Nonon's face while delivering the line. This image became both a video thumbnail and an exploitable template. A Tumblr post combining a pun with an edit of the screenshot pulled over 5,000 notes. On April 6, 2014, Tumblr artist Bernie's Sauce Pot posted a crossover drawing of the My Little Pony character Rarity with Nonon's face, gaining over 1,000 notes.

The broader "Nani?!" meme, tied to the "Omae wa mou shindeiru" exchange, followed its own path through forums, Reddit, and social media. The format is dead simple: set up an impossible situation as the "deadly technique," then deliver the punchline with a shocked "Nani?!"3. This call-and-response became so widespread that "Nani" alone could function as a reaction, used even by people who had never watched the source anime. Urban Dictionary entries capture this cultural moment well, with one user noting that "Weebs say it because they think watching anime means they are Japanese"3.

How to Use This Meme

"Nani" fits several formats:

As a standalone reaction: Respond "Nani?!" to any surprising, confusing, or absurd statement. The word typically replaces "What?!" for comedic anime flavor, often typed in all caps or with extra punctuation.

In the call-and-response format: One person says "Omae wa mou shindeiru" ("You are already dead"), and the other responds "Nani?!" in disbelief3. Video edits commonly follow the "Nani" with an explosion, bass-boosted audio, or some other dramatic effect.

As a "Nani Sore" clip: Use the phrase or the close-up Nonon screenshot when something is confusing or needs explaining. The squeaky delivery makes it popular for audio remixes and video edits1.

In everyday text: Some people drop "Nani" into casual conversation as an exaggerated reaction, often with self-aware humor about the anime reference.

Fun Facts

"Nani Sore" translates more precisely to "What does that mean?" rather than a simple "What?"1

The word "Nani" appears across many unrelated contexts outside of memes, including as a name for actors, footballers, politicians, musicians, towns, and even a Disney character from Lilo & Stitch2

The one-hour loop of "Nani Sore" was uploaded just one month after the original clip, a sign of how fast the Kill la Kill fanbase latched onto the line

Urban Dictionary definitions for "Nani" often double as commentary about Western anime fans adopting Japanese vocabulary into everyday speech3

Derivatives & Variations

One-hour loops:

Extended loop videos of the "Nani Sore" audio appeared within weeks of the original clip, created for background listening or comedic endurance[1]

"When I'm Bored" remixes:

Electronic music edits incorporating the "Nani Sore" phrase into beat-driven tracks, with AverageScrandyDandy's 180,000+ view version being an early example[1]

Nonon face edits:

The extreme close-up screenshot became an exploitable template applied to other characters, including a Rarity/Nonon crossover that gained over 1,000 Tumblr notes[1]

Sound effect buttons:

Instant sound sites hosting the audio for one-click playback, shared across Tumblr and Facebook[1]

Frequently Asked Questions

References (3)

1
Naniencyclopedia
2
Nani - Urban Dictionarydictionary
3
Nani - Know Your Memeencyclopedia