The phrase we’re the rats has become one of internet culture’s most recognizable chant-style memes. This joke mixes absurd confidence, catchy repetition, and a specific streamer origin.
If you have seen it in comments, clips, or remix audio, you probably noticed that it is less about literal rodents and more about a shared inside joke.
The meme stands out because it is easy to repeat and parody. Its weirdness makes it memorable right away.
To understand why people keep saying it, you need to know the original Jerma connection and how the line became a flexible meme.
What The Phrase Refers To
The phrase comes from Jerma-associated meme culture, where “rats” becomes a performative identity instead of a literal description. The joke works as a tiny anthem, equal parts silly and triumphant.
At its core, we’re the rats is a comedic declaration. It presents the speaker, or a group, as chaotic little creatures acting with confidence and mischief.
A 2025 WEBTOON entry described the concept as “little guys doing little guy things,” which captures that playful energy even outside the original audio.
The phrase borrows from rat imagery in English, where rats can symbolize sneakiness or disorder. In meme form, the meaning is lighter and meant as a ridiculous chant signaling an internet in-joke.
People recognize it quickly because the phrasing is simple and rhythmic. “Rats, rats, we’re the rats” sounds like a chorus, making it ideal for memes, remixes, and reactions.
The distinctive cadence helps too. Even if you only hear a few words, the pacing makes it easy to identify.
Origin In Jerma Culture
Jerma985’s surreal comedy style and the lore around Rat Movie: Mystery of the Mayan Treasure gave rise to the meme. Fans found the song’s offbeat delivery memorable and easy to repeat.
The line comes from Jerma’s rat-themed material, especially the opening of Rat Movie: Mystery of the Mayan Treasure, a 2014 short film documented by TV Tropes.
Jerma985 is known for surreal comedy and elaborate bits, according to his Wikipedia page, and this track fit that style.
Jerma’s community treats his jokes like living lore. Once a line feels quotable, fans remix and recontextualize it until it becomes larger than the original clip.
The lyrics helped the meme stick. They are repetitive and theatrical, funny in a way that feels almost too earnest.
A lyric like “celebrating yet another birthday bash” gives the chant a mock-ceremonial tone, making it easy to reuse for birthdays or announcements.
That flexibility helped the joke escape its original scene and become a reusable meme line.
How It Spread Across The Internet
The meme spread because it works in audio-first formats, especially where short sounds and clips travel quickly.
Once people could grab the chant and repost it, the joke became easy to circulate in new contexts.
Soundboards made the line even more usable, since a single tap could trigger the chant in streams or voice chats.
Reuploads and isolated audio files helped people share it without needing the full original video.
The memorable part is the instantly recognizable sound, which people drop into anything from a prank to a birthday edit.
Short-form platforms pushed the meme further because the chant fits neatly into brief edits.
A quick clip with the right caption can turn the line into a reaction, a punchline, or a looping joke.
GIFs and remix culture also helped, since visual repetition matches the audio repetition.
When you combine a silly rat image with the chant, the meme becomes even easier to recognize and reuse.
Why The Meme Still Gets Reused
The joke stays alive because it is simple, loud, and adaptable.
You can drop it into a birthday post, a gaming clip, or a comment thread, and people immediately understand the tone.
The repetition drives the meme. Once the chant starts, it feels sticky, making it perfect for parody and remixing.
The absurdity matters too. Calling yourselves “the rats” is such a strange boast that it becomes funny on contact, which is why the phrase keeps finding new life in memes.
Where People Still Encounter It Today
You still find it in Jerma fandom spaces. Meme repost accounts and random social posts that lean into ironic chaos also feature it.
Fan videos and audio edits include it as well. People spread these jokes because they enjoy repeating them.
