Inigo Montoya
Origin
The line is from The Princess Bride (1987), where Inigo Montoya, exasperated by Vizzini’s repeated cries of ‘Inconceivable!’, tells him: ‘You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.’ The quote long outlived the film, and a screencap of Mandy Patinkin’s Inigo became a correction template, popular as an image macro reportedly around 2012. The scene’s dry delivery made it a natural fit for calling out misuse.
Meaning & usage
It is deployed to politely call out a misused word or concept — a favorite of grammar and pedantry humor. Rather than a blunt correction, the line lands as a wry, almost patient observation that someone has the wrong idea about what a word means. The quote is so beloved that it is recognizable even without the image, and it is often typed out verbatim to gently fact-check a friend or an internet stranger.
Notable examples
- Correcting someone who misuses a common word or term.
- Quoted verbatim in comment sections as a gentle ‘that’s not what that means.’
- Applied beyond words to any concept someone clearly misunderstands.
Examples & gallery
Frequently asked
What movie is the Inigo Montoya quote from?
It is from The Princess Bride (1987), where Inigo tells Vizzini, 'You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.'
What does the meme mean?
It is used to politely point out that someone is misusing a word or concept.
Do you need the image to use it?
No — the quote is so well known that it is recognizable and effective even typed out on its own.
Sources
Embed this meme
Drop this on your site — it links back here.
