asplode

v. a jocular form of explode. Also a splode. Subjects: English

Editorial Note: Often used in representations of uncouth or uneducated speech. Sometimes said to be a representation of a Spanish-speaker’s pronunciaton of the English word, particularly as demonstrated by Cuban actor Desi Arnaz. This term was popularized in 2004 by the character Strong Bad on the HomestarRunner web site.

7 Comments | Cites | Permalink | Tell a Friend

Citations: [1996 [Guardian] Usenet: alt.fan.letterman (Dec. 17) “Dave made fun of kid?”: Is it me, or did Dave make fun of the kid’s pronunciation and said “Asplode” instead explode?] 2002 [Silent Bob] Usenet: alt.dss.hack (Mar. 8) “Re: What 222 was all about—a scenario”: Oh an I almost fergot that all my heirs fells outsa my hed when I asploded it cause I wuz standin too cloze ta it. 2004 Homestarrunner.com (Jan. 12) “Video Games”: YOUR HEAD A SPLODE. 2004 [waterlily25] Raechalsan (Jan. 15) “your head asplode!”: (title) 2004 [IBleedPurple11] Fark (Jan. 31) “Woman gives birth to her own grandchildren, making the newborns their own parents”: IBleedPurple11: “What’s with all the exploding heads? A running joke that I’m missing? And besides, shouldn’t it be a’splode?…” rancidPlasma: “when i said my ‘head exploded,’ it was a euphemism for fapping…this story is just too damn erotic for me.” 2004 [Mark Ross] Usenet: alt.games.mame (Feb. 28) “Re: My Reply”: Ill buy household items from IKEA and sell them on line…and then I can make a website wih lots of spelling mistakes, and then also make sure I POST USING JUST CAPITALS…Your head a splode. retard. 2004 [Jorad] Fark (Apr. 6) “Photoshop Al Franken taking a break from spreading liberal propaganda”: Al Franken’s Head-A-Splode.

Posted 22 Dec 04 | Permalink | Tell a Friend

Reader comments:

I think a big part of the recent popularity of “asplode” or “a splode” comes from its extensive use in the popular Homestar Runner web cartoons. Google the Homestar Runner Wiki for “a splode” and “asplode” to see what I mean.

by Ironwolf 22 Dec 04, 0659 GMT

I agree that the site is probably responsible for popularizing the word, but not for coining it. The earliest use I could find on the site was July 2004.

by Grant Barrett 22 Dec 04, 0701 GMT

After a little bit of work, I found that the original “video games” Strong Bad Email from January 2004 was the first to use “a splode.” It was hard to work out because the emails are not dated on the Homestarrunner site and the modified date for that episode’s page (no. 94) is dated July. However, a Fark forum for the episode was created on Jan. 12, 2004, which is probably also the date the Strong Bad Email was released.

by Grant Barrett 22 Dec 04, 1117 GMT

Um, not to be a pedant or anything, but I’m pretty sure that the Cuban actor you’re referring to was named Desi Arnaz. Ricky Ricardo was the character who made him famous. Not to be a pedant…

by sgazzetti 25 May 05, 0542 GMT

Pedants welcome, as long as they’re right! You are right, so I have made the change.

by Grant Barrett 25 May 05, 1226 GMT

A SPLODE!!!!

by The asploder 11 Dec 06, 0252 GMT

my head a-splode.

by durka 21 Feb 07, 0844 GMT