ELI5 Meaning

ELI5 is an abbreviation for “Explain Like I’m 5,” used to request a simple, easy-to-understand explanation of a complex topic, as if the speaker were explaining it to a five-year-old child.

For example, when trying to understand a scientific concept, you might say,

“can someone eli5 how quantum computers work? 🤯.”

If seeking clarification on a legal issue, you could say,

“eli5, what’s the difference between copyright and trademark?”

When discussing a complex political topic, you might say,

“i’m confused about the new tax policy, can anyone eli5?”

ELI5 is commonly used as a hashtag on social media platforms, such as “#ELI5” or “#ExplainLikeImFive,” to seek or provide simplified explanations.

Alternative expressions for requesting simple explanations include “In layman’s terms,” “Dumb it down for me,” “🤓” (Nerd Face emoji), “🧠” (Brain emoji), “🤔” (Thinking Face emoji), and “🙋‍♂️” (Man Raising Hand emoji).