What Does 'SOS' Mean? Surprisingly, It's Likely Not What You Think

We live in a world driven by acronyms. Every day there seems to be another one invented. LOL, TGIF, BYOB, WYSIWYG (I had to look this one up!)... It only stands to reason that at first glance, SOS must stand for something too, right? Well, we'll fill you in on everything there is to know about what SOS means.
I am sure you have seen movies where people have laid out SOS in sticks or stones on a deserted island, desperate to draw attention to themselves. But why do they do this, and where did this idea come from?
Keep reading to learn more about how the surprising meaning of SOS, how SOS came to be and how it is still used today.
What does SOS mean?
Many people mistakenly believe the letters stand for "save our souls" or "save our ship." However, instead of individual words creating an acronym, the letters actually do not stand for anything! It is more like a symbol that just stands out as "send help."
SOS (pronounced as the letters S-O-S) is used as a distress call, signifying that someone needs assistance. 
So, what does SOS actually stand for?
SOS is just that—SOS. It was derived from Morse code and recognized as an international standard signaling danger, or the need for aid.
Using wireless telegraphy, it would sound like three-dits / three-dahs / three-dits. Morse code can be used visually as well, using the same series only with flashes of light.