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I have seen, usually in internet meme jokes, the term "herp derp" being used in a derogatory sense, but I don't know what it mean exactly — apart from the fact it seems to be related with dumbness or irrelevant statements.

What does it mean exactly? Is it some kind of slang? What are its origins and meaning?

(Urban Dictionary doesn't help much in this case).

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-1 Inadequate background research effort? knowyourmeme.com/memes/harp-darp-herp-derp -- makes for interesting reading. – Kris Dec 14 '12 at 15:26

1 Answer

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According to Know Your Meme, "herp derp" is an expression used to indicate that someone is unintelligent or making ignorant statements.

It is derived from derp, which apparently was first used in a 1998 movie called Basketball.

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4  
...and further, derp is derived from der + excrescent /p/, where the excrescent /p/ is the same one found in yup,nope, and wellp. – Mark Beadles Dec 14 '12 at 15:47
1  
@MarkBeadles- I like excrescent. Let's see if I can remember it. – Jim Dec 14 '12 at 17:10

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