American patriotism is at an all-time high in the weeks leading up to July 4th, as are memes that valorize quintessential American ways of life. After all, petty arguments and casual jesting between Americans and Brits have always been a part of American internet culture. These jokes range from TikToks that mock British people for only having one comeback (and looking ugly while doing it) to ironic trends like "My pronouns are U.S.A."

But there is no better indicator of American patriotism in meme terms than jokes that ask, "What the fuck Is a kilometer?"

While America may be one of the few countries that don't subscribe to the standard metric system mode of measurement, that hasn't stopped true patriots from sharing memes feigning ignorance about the kilometer. Here's where all the jokes started.

Where Did 'WTF Is A Kilometer' Jokes Originate?

It all started back in May 2021, when Twitter user @RetroFirearms posted a blurry moldy image of George Washington wielding an eagle and a large firearm. The image was paired with Impact font text that read, "WHAT THE FUCK IS A KILOMETER.

The image ended up getting reposted across the internet, appearing on meme subreddits and Instagram pages in the days leading up to July 4th, 2021.

How Did Jokes Asking 'WTF Is A Kilometer' Spread Online?

On July 4th, 2021, YouTuber ShanePatSmith posted a voiceover of the meme, adding gun noises and bald eagle sqawks to really give a feel for what it means to be an American. A few months later, YouTuber AltraNade posted a TF2 version of the voiceover.

What Are Some More Memes About 'WTF Is A Kilometer'?

The use of the phrase "WTF is a kilometer" as an indicator of American patriotism continued to spread to TikTok in 2022, especially after the U.S. men's soccer team was added to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

@eltoonz I SMELL FREEDOM 🫡🫡 #worldcup #worldcup2022 #qatar #england #usa #eltoonz #eltoons ♬ original sound – V3RM4CTS4N

@du_qu Replying to @alanfs_22 #fyp #viral #Du_qu ♬ original sound – V3RM4CTS4N

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For the full history of "WTF is a kilometer?" be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.