YMMV: Definition and explanation of the Internet term

If you spend a lot of time on the English-language Internet, you may have already seen the term YMMV. Our guide explains what the four letters stand for and what they mean.

Unambiguously ambiguous: In YMMV, mileage does not refer to cars.

At times, the online language is difficult for outsiders to understand. Cryptic-sounding abbreviations like YMMV contribute to this, but the explanation is not complicated.

YMMV: What's behind it?

YMMV stands for "Your Mileage May Vary." Literally translated, this means "Your mileage may differ", however, in this case, a sensible transfer is necessary:

• It means that the opinion or experience may differ from that of the speaker.
• A fitting German translation would thus be "Your opinion may be different".
• YMMV is used in just about all areas of online communication, such as in forums, social media or chat.

The abbreviation is not new: Already in the early 2010s YMMV was seen online, over time it established itself in common (English) usage and is now firmly anchored there.