I dont speak fluent English and I'd like to know why people write XOXO to say "kisses and hugs" - well, is that what it means? Why the letters x and o? How am I supposed to read it?
Thanks xDD
2006-09-23 11:39:53 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Hugs and Kisses is a term for a sequence of the letters X and O, e.g. XOXO, typically used by lovers to express affection at the end of a written letter or email.
It is debatable which letter represents which act. Some interpret X as the crossed arms of a hug and O as the puckered lips of a kiss. However, the interpretation assumed in the following, in which X represents the four lips of a kiss and O the four arms of a hug, is more common.
The use of XOXO goes back to the use of an X or cross, which was considered as good as a sworn oath in times before most people could write and therefore used the X in the same way a signature is used today — a mark of one's word.
An X at the end of a letter or document was often kissed as a seal of honesty, in much the same way one would kiss a Bible or kiss the fingers after making the sign of the Christian cross, thus the X came to represent a kiss in modern times.
The origins of the O as a hug are not generally known, although it is speculated that it may represent the arms wrapped around someone being hugged. Another thought is that it came from Jewish immigrants who would sign with an O instead of an X because they did not wish to mark their word with the obviously Christian cross the X represented.
2006-09-23 11:48:55 · answer #1 · answered by Barkley Hound 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The way I see it is the X is supposed to represent the kiss, meaning two lips coming together and basically forming an X. The O represents the hug, when two people join together and wrap their arms around each other it creates a general O shape. Therefore birthing the idea of XOXO at the end of some peoples letters. This is only a guess that I have though, I may be wrong.
2006-09-23 18:42:58 · answer #2 · answered by Sara 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yes - X means a kiss and O means a hug. I guess the x is the closest letter to look like a kiss and an o circles you like a hug. You don't really them they are just symbols which are easier to write than kisses, hugs kisses hugs.......
2006-09-23 18:44:46 · answer #3 · answered by probslvr 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I stands for Hugs and Kisses
2006-09-23 18:42:22 · answer #4 · answered by koffee 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i always thought an X was a hug and O was a kiss. not sure how it started but yeah just means kisses and hugs
2006-09-23 18:42:16 · answer #5 · answered by gsschulte 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hi, most friends or family members will end a letter with xo's. All it means is hugs and kisses. It means nothing else.
2006-09-23 18:54:07 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hugs and kisses. Love XOXOXO
2006-09-23 18:44:09 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
it means hugs and kisses x is hugs i think and o is kisses...or is it the other way?
2006-09-23 18:44:17 · answer #8 · answered by idaloo2002 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hugs and kisses
2006-09-23 18:41:02 · answer #9 · answered by April J 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hugs
2006-09-23 18:59:04 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋