SOS Meaning: What Does the Popular Term “SOS” Mean and Stand for?

What does SOS mean? Learn the definition, how and when to use this text abbreviation with useful conversation examples and ESL printable infographic.

SOS Meaning

What Does SOS Mean?

However, meaning ‘Save Our Ship’ the phrase ‘sos’ is more widely known as another way of saying ‘please help me now’. On a few occasions and depending on the lore behind each story it has also been known to mean ‘Save Our Souls’.

Origin of SOS

The abbreviation ‘sos’ was first known for being an international code and/or signal that meant extreme distress. It was mainly used by ships at sea for an urgent call for help. It was shortened to the abbreviated form for an easy way to send the message via morse code.

Other Meanings

On very rare occasions ‘sos’ has been known to mean ‘Same Old Stuff’.

Here is the useful list of other meanings of SOS:

  • Somali Shilling
  • Strength Of Schedule
  • Silicon On Sapphire
  • Save Our Souls
  • Save Our Ship
  • System Of Systems
  • Sink Or Swim
  • Support Our Students
  • Share Our Strength
  • Secular Organizations for Sobriety
  • Survivors Of Suicide
  • Son Of Sam

Conversation Examples

How you will find ‘sos’ used.

Example 1:

  • Girl 1: Hey girl look who just got here.
  • Girl 2: What who?
  • Girl 1: Over by the door.
  • Girl 2: Oh no, sos. I repeat sos.
  • Girl 1: No worries, I got you.

You will even find situations like being at a bar and an ex walks in, that by saying ‘sos’ to your friend they know help get me out of here and do it fast.

Example 2:

  • Texter 1: SOS!
  • Texter 2: What? Are you alright?
  • Texter 1: Nope, my folks just found my stash.

Another situation ‘sos’ is used can be to start a conversation and allow the person you contact to know that things aren’t good from the very first message.

Example Of Meaning ‘Same Old Stuff’

  • Texter 1: Hey how are you doing?
  • Texter 2: Not bad hbu?
  • Texter 1: Fine I guess just doing the sos.

Here we have a conversation where two old friends are talking and when asking how they are doing in a way they say, same as always.

  • hbu – How About You or How Bout You

SOS Meaning Infographic

SOSPin

Last Updated on January 4, 2021

6 thoughts on “SOS Meaning: What Does the Popular Term “SOS” Mean and Stand for?”

  1. While it is accepted as “Save our Ship”; SOS has no meaning. It is signal in morse code that is easily recognized.

    I was a 500khz operator in the Military for 22 years and operated in morse code 18 of those years

    Reply

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