Texting and Chat Abbreviations
215 abbreviations · part of Texting & Internet Slang Abbreviations
Classic shorthand from text messages, instant messengers and online chat, from LOL, BRB and BTW to IDK, SMH and TTYL. Most of these terms grew out of 1980s and 1990s bulletin boards, Usenet, IRC and AOL Instant Messenger, then spread through SMS, when a text was capped at 160 characters and typed on a number pad. Each entry explains the tone (friendly, sarcastic, rude), who tends to use the term and whether it is safe in a work message; strong profanity in full forms is partly censored.
| Abbreviation | Stands for | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 143 | I love you | Numeric code for "I love you" in which each digit gives the letter count of a word: I (1), love (4), you (3). |
| 2DAY | Today | Number-for-sound spelling in which the digit 2 replaces "to," saving keystrokes in the SMS era, when a text was capped at 160 characters and typed on a numeric keypad. |
| 2MORO | Tomorrow | Phonetic texting spelling built from 2 (for "to") plus "moro," a squeezed form of "morrow." Like other early SMS shortcuts it saved key presses on keypad phones, and it… |
| 2NITE | Tonight | Keypad-era spelling that swaps "to" for the digit 2 and "night" for the simplified "nite." It shows up in casual invitations, party flyers and nostalgic posts more than… |
| 420 | Cannabis (code from the time 4:20) | Code number for cannabis and cannabis culture. |
| 4EVER | Forever | Number spelling that replaces "for" with the digit 4, used in affectionate messages, yearbook signatures and social media captions. |
| ABT | About | Vowel-dropping shortcut for "about," used in quick texts and in social posts where space is tight, such as the 140-character tweets of Twitter's early years. |
| AFAIC | As far as I'm concerned | Marks what follows as the writer's own view or decision, often with a firm or dismissive edge, as in "AFAIC the matter is closed." Found mainly on forums, in comment… |
| AFAICT | As far as I can tell | Hedge used when a conclusion rests on what the writer has observed or tested so far, common in technical forums, code reviews and bug reports. |
| AFAIK | As far as I know | Hedge that marks a statement as true to the writer's knowledge but unverified, common in forums, team chat and technical discussions. |
| ASL | Age, sex, location | Stock opening question of 1990s and 2000s internet chat rooms, asking a stranger for their age, gender and where they live. |
| ATM | At the moment | Describes what is happening right now or a temporary state, as in "busy atm" or "no plans atm." Common in texts, chats and social posts across all age groups. |
| B4 | Before | Number-sound spelling that replaces "fore" with 4, used in texts, social posts and gaming chat. |
| B4N | Bye for now | Sign-off meaning the writer is leaving the conversation but expects to talk again soon. |
| BB | Bye-bye | Quick farewell typed at the end of a chat or online game session. |
| BBIAB | Be back in a bit | Tells others in a chat that the writer is stepping away briefly, usually for longer than BRB implies but not for the rest of the day. |
| BBL | Be back later | Leaving message in chats and games signaling the writer will return after a longer break, often hours. |
| BBS | Be back soon | Lets chat partners know the writer is stepping away but expects to return shortly. |
| BC | Because | Shortcut for "because" in texts, tweets and comments, usually lowercase. |
| BDAY | Birthday | Common shortening of "birthday" in texts, captions, invitations and hashtags, as in "bday party," "bday girl" or "happy bday." It is one of the most widely recognized… |
| BFF | Best friends forever | Label for a closest friend, used as a noun ("she's my BFF") and in captions, cards and merchandise. |
| BFFL | Best friends for life | Variant of BFF that swaps "forever" for "for life," used on social media, in yearbooks and on friendship merchandise to stress lasting loyalty. |
| BFN | Bye for now | Friendly sign-off in emails, chats and comment threads implying the conversation will continue later. |
| BRB | Be right back | Announces a brief absence from a live conversation, game or stream, such as answering the door or grabbing a drink. |
| BRT | Be right there | Tells someone the writer is on the way and will arrive in moments, used in texts between friends meeting up or between coworkers called into a room. |
| BS | Bulls*** | Mildly vulgar term for nonsense, lies or unfair treatment, used to call out a claim ("that's BS") or to complain ("this traffic is BS"). |
| BTDT | Been there, done that | Says the writer has already experienced something, either to sound unimpressed or to offer advice from experience. |
| BTW | By the way | Introduces an aside, a new topic or an afterthought, often at the start or end of a message ("btw, dinner is at 7"). |
| CBA | Can't be arsed | British and Irish slang meaning the writer cannot be bothered to do something, usually about chores, plans or effort. |
| CMB | Call me back | Request to return a phone call, typically sent after a missed call or when a topic is easier to handle by voice. |
| CTFU | Cracking the f*** up | Expresses intense laughter, like LMAO. |
| CU | See you | Farewell built from letter sounds, C for "see" and U for "you." Common in texts and chats, often as "cu later" or "cu soon." |
| CUL8R | See you later | Letter-and-number goodbye that spells out the sounds C-U-L-8-R. |
| CUZ | Because | Informal spelling of "because" or "'cause," used in texts, song lyrics and social posts. |
| CYA | See ya | Casual goodbye written the way it sounds, used in texts, chats and gaming lobbies. |
| CYT | See you tomorrow | Farewell confirming a meeting the next day, used in texts between classmates, teammates, coworkers and friends at the end of a school day, shift or practice. |
| DGAF | Don't give a f*** | Blunt statement of total indifference, often used as an attitude label ("DGAF energy") in captions and texts. |
| DW | Don't worry | Reassurance in casual texts and chats, telling someone a problem is minor or already handled, as in "dw about it." Especially common among British, Australian and… |
| F2F | Face to face | Describes meeting or talking in person rather than online or by phone. |
| FFS | For f***'s sake | Exclamation of frustration or exasperation when something is annoying, repetitive or stupid. |
| FML | F*** my life | Self-pitying exclamation after a bad or embarrassing event, usually used humorously about minor misfortunes such as spilled coffee or a missed bus. |
| FOMO | Fear of missing out | Anxiety that others are having rewarding experiences without you, often triggered by social media posts of parties, trips and events. |
| FTL | For the loss | Ironic tag marking something as a failure or a bad choice, the opposite of FTW. |
| FTR | For the record | Introduces a statement the writer wants clearly noted, often to correct a misunderstanding or to log a position before things go wrong. |
| FTW | For the win | Enthusiastic tag praising something as excellent, as in "pizza ftw" or "naps ftw." Used in comments, tweets and gaming chat, sometimes sarcastically. |
| FWIW | For what it's worth | Prefaces an opinion or a piece of information offered modestly, implying it may or may not help. |
| G2G | Got to go | Announces that the writer must leave the conversation, often abruptly because a parent, boss or bus has arrived. |
| GC | Group chat | Refers to a group conversation on apps such as iMessage, WhatsApp, Snapchat or Discord. |
| GL | Good luck | Short wish of luck before a test, match, interview or game, used in texts and online gaming. |
| GM | Good morning | Morning greeting in texts and group chats. |
| GMTA | Great minds think alike | Playful remark when two people have the same idea or say the same thing at the same moment. |
| GN | Good night | Bedtime farewell in texts and chats, often between friends, family or partners, and frequently followed by emojis, a heart or "sweet dreams." |
| GR8 | Great | Letter-and-number spelling of "great" from the SMS era, using 8 for the sound "ate." Mostly seen in older texts, ads and nostalgic or ironic memes. |
| GTFO | Get the f*** out | Crude exclamation with two senses: a hostile command to leave, or an expression of happy disbelief similar to "no way!" Tone and context decide which is meant. |
| GTG | Got to go | Announces that the writer must leave a conversation, used in texts, chats and gaming. |
| GTK | Good to know | Acknowledges useful information, typically in reply to a tip, schedule change or update. |
| HAGD | Have a good day | Friendly farewell at the end of morning messages, emails and customer chats. |
| HAGS | Have a great summer | Traditional end-of-year message in American school yearbooks, usually written next to a signature as "HAGS!" or "hags, stay cool." Students may write it dozens of times… |
| HAND | Have a nice day | Polite sign-off in emails, chats and customer support messages, closing a conversation on a friendly note. |
| HBD | Happy birthday | Short birthday wish on social media, in texts and in group chats, often accompanied by emojis, a cake GIF or a throwback photo of the birthday person. |
| HBU | How about you? | Turns a question back to the other person, as in "I'm good, hbu?" Common in texts between friends, new acquaintances and matches on dating apps who are still getting to… |
| HMB | Hit me back | Asks someone to reply or call back when they can, as in "busy now, hmb later." Rooted in hip-hop and African American slang for getting back in touch. |
| HMU | Hit me up | Invites someone to contact the writer by text, call or DM, often about plans, sales or favors, as in "hmu if you want to go to the game." |
| HNY | Happy New Year | New Year's greeting in texts, posts and cards, used heavily in the days around December 31 and January 1, often with fireworks or champagne emojis. |
| HRU | How are you? | Casual greeting in texts, chats and on dating apps, usually answered with "good, hbu?" It works as a friendly opener rather than a serious question about well-being. |
| HTH | Hope this helps | Closes a message that offers advice or answers, common on forums, help desks and in email threads where someone has asked a question publicly. |
| HW | Homework | Refers to school assignments in texts among students, parents and teachers, as in "math hw" or "hw due Friday." It is one of the first abbreviations children learn… |
| IC | I see | Acknowledges understanding, the chat equivalent of "oh, I see," often in reply to an explanation or a change of plans. |
| IDC | I don't care | Expresses indifference, which can be easygoing ("idc where we eat") or dismissive and rude depending on tone. |
| IDEK | I don't even know | Expresses confusion or bewilderment, often humorously about something absurd or overwhelming. |
| IDGAF | I don't give a f*** | Crude statement of complete indifference or defiance, aimed at rules, other people's opinions or criticism. |
| IDGI | I don't get it | Admits confusion, often about a joke, meme or set of instructions. |
| IDK | I don't know | Admits a lack of knowledge or indecision, and is the classic chat answer to questions like "what do you want to eat?" Used by every age group. |
| IDKY | I don't know why | Expresses puzzlement about a reason or cause, as in "idky but this song makes me cry." It often introduces a confession or a small mystery the writer cannot explain. |
| IDRC | I don't really care | Softened indifference that sounds more relaxed than a flat IDC, as in "idrc where we eat." It usually means the writer is happy to go along with someone else's choice. |
| IDRK | I don't really know | Hedged uncertainty suggesting partial knowledge or hesitation rather than total ignorance. |
| IDTS | I don't think so | Expresses doubt or a polite refusal in texts and chats. |
| IIRC | If I remember correctly | Signals that a fact is offered from memory and may be imprecise. |
| IKR | I know, right? | Enthusiastic agreement with what someone just said, as in "that test was brutal" / "ikr!" It conveys shared feeling and is not really a question, despite the full form. |
| ILY | I love you | Shorthand for "I love you" between partners, family and close friends, typically sent at the end of calls or texts. |
| ILY2 | I love you too | Reply to "ily" that returns the affection in the same short form. |
| ILYSM | I love you so much | Emphatic expression of love or gratitude, used with partners and family and, often hyperbolically, with friends who did something nice such as bringing coffee or… |
| IMHO | In my humble opinion | Presents an opinion with mock modesty, common on forums, in reviews and in work chat. |
| IMNSHO | In my not-so-humble opinion | Jokey intensifier of IMHO, used when the writer holds a strong opinion and openly admits it. |
| IMO | In my opinion | Marks a statement as personal opinion rather than fact, used across forums, reviews, social media and work chat. |
| IMY | I miss you | Affectionate message to someone who is away, common between partners, family members and close friends, especially in long-distance relationships and during college… |
| IOW | In other words | Introduces a restatement or summary, often to clarify a point or to put it bluntly. |
| IRL | In real life | Distinguishes the offline world from online spaces, as in "we met IRL" or "she's nicer IRL." Used across social media, gaming and forums. |
| IYKWIM | If you know what I mean | Hints at something implied or unspoken, often with a wink, a hint of gossip or an inside joke. |
| J4F | Just for fun | Labels an activity, post or question as casual and low-stakes, done for enjoyment rather than for money, competition or a serious purpose. |
| JIC | Just in case | Explains a precaution, as in "bringing an umbrella jic." Common in texts about plans, travel and packing, where the writer wants to cover an unlikely problem. |
| JK | Just kidding | Retracts or softens something said as a joke, often added after teasing to make sure it is not taken seriously. |
| JMO | Just my opinion | Hedge that presents a view as personal and non-binding, similar to IMO but more self-effacing. |
| JOMO | Joy of missing out | Contentment at skipping social events or online activity to rest, read or spend time alone. |
| JSYK | Just so you know | Introduces information the writer wants the reader to be aware of, ranging from a friendly heads-up about plans to a pointed warning about behavior. |
| JTLYK | Just to let you know | Opens an informational message, often about a change of plan, a delay or a small update the reader should not miss. |
| JW | Just wondering | Softens a question by signaling casual curiosity rather than pressure, as in "are you coming tonight? jw." Common in texts among teens and young adults. |
| K | Okay | One-letter acknowledgment meaning "okay," the shortest possible reply in a text conversation. |
| KIT | Keep in touch | Request to stay in contact after parting ways, common in yearbook signatures, farewell cards and goodbye messages to friends who are moving or coworkers who are leaving… |
| KK | Okay, okay | Friendly acknowledgment meaning "okay" or "got it," doubled to sound warmer and less abrupt than a single "k." Common in texts, gaming and workplace chat. |
| L8R | Later | Letter-and-number spelling of "later," usually as a goodbye ("l8r!") or inside phrases such as "talk l8r." The 8 represents the sound "ate," a trick from keypad-phone… |
| LMAO | Laughing my a** off | Signals strong amusement, a step up from LOL. |
| LMBO | Laughing my butt off | Clean variant of LMAO, used by writers who want to express big laughter without the profanity. |
| LMFAO | Laughing my f***ing a** off | Intensified form of LMAO signaling helpless laughter at something extremely funny. |
| LMK | Let me know | Asks the reader to reply with information or a decision, as in "lmk if you're coming." One of the most common closing requests in texts and casual work chat. |
| LOL | Laughing out loud | Signals amusement in text, the best-known internet abbreviation in English. |
| LTNS | Long time no see | Greeting when reconnecting with someone after a long gap, used in texts, comments and messages to old friends or former classmates who suddenly reappear online. |
| LYK | Let you know | Promises a later update, as in "I'll lyk when I'm free." It is the mirror image of LMK (let me know): the writer, not the reader, will supply the information. |
| LYL | Love you lots | Affectionate sign-off for family, partners or close friends, a warmer and more casual variant of "love you." Often ends calls, good-luck messages and goodnight texts. |
| LYLAS | Love you like a sister | Affectionate sign-off between close female friends, common on handwritten notes passed in school and in early texting and instant messaging. |
| LYSM | Love you so much | Emphatic affectionate message, a variant of ILYSM that drops the "I." Used between partners, family and close friends, often in response to a kind gesture. |
| M8 | Mate | Number spelling of "mate," the British, Irish and Australian word for a friend. |
| MB | My bad | Admits a small mistake and apologizes casually, as in "mb, wrong chat." Common in texting and especially in gaming, where it is typed after an error that hurt the team. |
| MF | Motherf***er | Highly profane word used as an insult, an intensifier or, in some slang, a neutral reference to a person or thing ("this mf really cut in line"). |
| MSG | Message | Shortens "message," as noun or verb: "got your msg," "msg me later." Common in texts, gaming chat and app notifications where space is tight. |
| MYOB | Mind your own business | Blunt request to stop prying or interfering, used in texts and comments. |
| NBD | No big deal | Downplays a problem, favor or achievement, as in "thanks!" / "nbd." Common in texts and casual work chat, where it reassures the other person that nothing is wrong. |
| NE1 | Anyone | Number spelling of "anyone," built from N-E (sounding like "any") plus 1 (one). |
| NM | Never mind | Retracts a question or comment, as in "where are my keys? nm, found them." Common in texts and chats when the writer solves a problem before anyone answers. |
| NMU | Not much, you? | Reply to "what's up?" that returns the question in one go, combining NM (not much) and "u." Popular in AIM-era chats and still used by teens in small talk. |
| NOYB | None of your business | Refuses to answer a nosy question, ranging from playful teasing to genuine annoyance. |
| NP | No problem | Casual reply to "thanks," meaning the favor was no trouble. |
| NTS | Note to self | Labels a reminder the writer is recording for future reference, often humorously after learning a lesson the hard way. |
| NTY | No thank you | Polite but brief refusal of an offer, usually playful, as in "want to try my kale smoothie?" / "nty." Common in texts among friends and in online marketplace chats. |
| NVM | Never mind | Withdraws a question or statement, usually because the writer found the answer or changed their mind. |
| NW | No worries | Reassuring reply meaning "it's fine" or "no problem," used after thanks or an apology. |
| OFC | Of course | Emphatic agreement or acceptance, as in "can I come?" / "ofc!" Common in texts and gaming chat, usually conveying warmth and eagerness. |
| OIC | Oh, I see | Acknowledges understanding, often after an explanation, as in "the bus was late" / "oic." Common in early instant messaging and still used occasionally. |
| OMDB | Over my dead body | Forceful refusal of a suggestion, usually humorous or theatrical. |
| OMFG | Oh my f***ing God | Intensified version of OMG expressing extreme surprise, shock or excitement. |
| OMG | Oh my God | Expresses surprise, excitement, shock or dismay, from "omg I passed!" to "omg no." One of the most widely recognized abbreviations in English, used in speech as well as… |
| OML | Oh my Lord | Exclamation of disbelief, frustration or amusement, similar to OMG. |
| OMW | On my way | Tells someone the writer has left and is heading to meet them. |
| OOC | Out of curiosity | Signals that a question is asked casually, not to judge or pressure. |
| ORLY | Oh, really? | Sarcastic or skeptical reply meaning "is that so?", used to mock an obvious or doubtful claim. |
| orz | Kneeling figure (despair or defeat) | Text emoticon showing a person kneeling with head bowed: o is the head, r the arms and body, z the legs. |
| OTOH | On the other hand | Introduces a contrasting point or counterargument, helping a writer weigh pros and cons in a single message. |
| OTP | On the phone | Tells someone the writer is currently in a call and cannot talk or reply quickly. |
| OTW | On the way | Indicates the writer is traveling toward a destination, similar to OMW. |
| PCM | Please call me | Request for a phone call, often urgent, sent by text when a topic is too complicated or sensitive for typing. |
| PITA | Pain in the a** | Describes a person or task that is annoying, tedious or difficult, as in "this tax form is a total pita." Common in forums, texts and casual work chat among adults. |
| PLS | Please | Shortcut for "please" in requests, from casual reminders to pleading. |
| PLZ | Please | Informal spelling of "please," with a Z mirroring the spoken sound. |
| POS | Piece of s*** | Crude insult for a person or object considered worthless, as in "this car is a pos." Used in texts, reviews and forums when venting about broken products or bad behavior. |
| PPL | People | Shortens "people," common in texts, comments and tweets. |
| R | Are | Single-letter homophone shortcut for "are," as in "r u ok?" Common in SMS-era texting, when each letter cost several key presses on a phone keypad. |
| RIP | Rest in peace (ironic internet use) | Online use of "rest in peace" to mourn a minor loss or failure, as in "rip my sleep schedule" or "rip my wallet." Separate from its sincere use for actual deaths. |
| RLY | Really | Vowel-dropped spelling of "really," used for emphasis ("rly good") or skepticism ("rly?"). |
| RN | Right now | Indicates the present moment, as in "busy rn" or "I need coffee rn." Very common among teens and young adults in texts and social posts. |
| ROFL | Rolling on the floor laughing | Expresses uncontrollable laughter, a big step up from LOL, as if the writer had literally collapsed laughing. |
| ROFLMAO | Rolling on the floor laughing my a** off | Combines ROFL and LMAO to signal extreme laughter. |
| RUOK | Are you OK? | Check-in question asking about someone's well-being, often sent after bad news, a missed meeting or unusual silence. |
| SM | So much | Intensifier in phrases like "thanks sm" or "love you sm," adding warmth to thanks and compliments. |
| SMDH | Shaking my damn head | Stronger version of SMH, expressing intense disappointment or disbelief at something foolish. |
| SMH | Shaking my head | Expresses disappointment, disapproval or disbelief at something foolish, like a head-shake in text. |
| SN | Screen name | Username on AOL Instant Messenger, chat rooms and early social networks, as in "what's your sn?" Exchanging screen names was a key part of early-2000s teen social life. |
| SOL | S*** out of luck | Describes being in a hopeless situation with no options left, as in "missed the last train, so I'm sol." Common in American slang, including military and workplace talk. |
| SOZ | Sorry | Casual British and Australian slang apology, usually for something minor such as a late reply or a small mistake. |
| SRSLY | Seriously | Emphasizes sincerity or disbelief, as in "srsly?!" or "srsly, thank you." The vowel-less spelling became an emblem of 2000s internet slang, alongside spellings such as… |
| SRY | Sorry | Casual apology, often for small mistakes, delays or missed calls. |
| STFU | Shut the f*** up | Crude command to stop talking, or, among friends, an expression of disbelief similar to "no way!" Tone and context decide which meaning is intended. |
| SUM1 | Someone | Number spelling of "someone," typical of SMS-era texting and early chat rooms. |
| SUP | What's up? | Casual greeting asking how someone is or what they are doing. |
| SYS | See you soon | Farewell expecting to meet again shortly, used in texts to friends and family before a visit, trip or event that is already planned, such as a weekend away or a holiday… |
| TBF | To be fair | Introduces a concession or a balancing point, often defending someone or admitting a weakness in one's own argument, as in "tbf, he did apologize." Common on Twitter… |
| TBH | To be honest | Flags a frank opinion or confession, often one the writer expects might be unwelcome, as in "tbh I didn't love the movie." One of the most common hedges on social media… |
| TBQH | To be quite honest | Intensified version of TBH, used when the writer wants to stress candor, frustration or a strongly held view. |
| TC | Take care | Warm farewell at the end of a call, chat or email, wishing the other person well. |
| TFTI | Thanks for the invite | Expresses thanks for an invitation, but is very often sarcastic, used when the writer was NOT invited and found out from photos or posts. |
| TGIF | Thank God it's Friday | Celebrates the end of the work or school week, posted on Friday mornings and afternoons on social media and in office chats. |
| THX | Thanks | Quick expression of gratitude in texts, comments, emails and gaming chat. |
| TMI | Too much information | Protests that someone has shared more personal detail than the listener wanted, typically about bodily functions, romance or medical issues. |
| TMRW | Tomorrow | Vowel-dropping shortcut for "tomorrow," common in texts, plans and reminders. |
| TN | Tonight | Shortens "tonight," common in texts making evening plans, as in "u free tn?" Popular with teens and young adults who are arranging hangouts, games or calls on short… |
| TOY | Thinking of you | Gentle message of support or affection, sent to someone who is grieving, unwell, far away or simply missed. |
| TTFN | Ta-ta for now | Cheerful, slightly old-fashioned goodbye meaning "bye for now," used in texts, emails and online comments. |
| TTLY | Totally | Shortens "totally," used to express strong agreement or emphasis, as in "ttly agree" or "ttly worth it." Common in teen texting since the 2000s. |
| TTYL | Talk to you later | Standard sign-off ending a conversation with the expectation of resuming it later. |
| TTYS | Talk to you soon | Sign-off implying the next conversation will come shortly, slightly warmer and more definite than TTYL. |
| TTYT | Talk to you tomorrow | Farewell confirming that the conversation will resume the next day, often used late at night or at the end of a workday when a topic is left unfinished. |
| TXT | Text | Shortens "text" as noun or verb, as in "txt me" or "got ur txt." A product of SMS-era spelling, when vowels were dropped to save characters. |
| TY | Thank you | Brief expression of thanks, used in texts, comments, gaming chat and quick work replies. |
| TYSM | Thank you so much | Emphatic thanks, more effusive than TY, popular in comments, DMs and texts. |
| TYT | Take your time | Reassures someone that there is no rush, as in "tyt, I'm early." Used in texts, work chat and gaming when a person apologizes for a delay or needs a moment. |
| TYVM | Thank you very much | Polite thanks, slightly more formal-sounding than TYSM. |
| U | You | Single-letter homophone for "you," one of the most common texting shortcuts since the SMS era. |
| UR | Your or you're | Shortcut for both "your" and "you're," as in "ur phone" or "ur so funny." Common in texts, comments and captions among all age groups. |
| UwU | Cute face (emoticon) | Text emoticon depicting a cute, happy or affectionate face, with the U's as closed eyes and the w as a mouth. |
| W8 | Wait | Number spelling of "wait," built on the sound "ate." Common in SMS-era texting and still used playfully, especially in "w8 4 me." |
| WB | Welcome back | Greets someone returning to a chat, game, stream or online space after an absence, often after they said "brb" or reconnected from a dropped connection. |
| WBU | What about you? | Turns a question back to the other person, as in "I'm good, wbu?" Interchangeable with HBU (how about you) and used to keep small talk going. |
| WBY | What about you? | Variant of WBU that uses Y for "you," common among Gen Z texters. |
| WDYM | What do you mean? | Asks for clarification, sometimes neutrally and sometimes with surprise or defensiveness, as in "wdym you sold my bike?" Common in texts among teens and young adults. |
| WDYT | What do you think? | Asks for someone's opinion, as in "new haircut, wdyt?" Common in texts, work chat and social media captions inviting feedback on outfits, plans or drafts. |
| WFM | Works for me | Agrees to a plan, time or proposal, used in texts, scheduling chats and technical discussions. |
| WRU | Where are you? | Asks for someone's location, often when they are late, missing from an event or out of contact. |
| WTF | What the f*** | Expresses shock, confusion, anger or disbelief, as in "wtf just happened?" One of the most widely recognized internet abbreviations, used in speech as well as writing. |
| WTG | Way to go | Congratulates someone on an achievement, or, sarcastically, mocks a mistake. |
| WTH | What the heck | Milder version of WTF expressing surprise, confusion or irritation. |
| WTV | Whatever | Shortcut for "whatever," expressing indifference, flexibility or dismissal. |
| WUU2 | What are you up to? | Classic SMS-era question asking what someone is doing, built from letter and number sounds: W, U (you), U, 2 (to). |
| WYA | Where you at? | Asks for someone's location, common among friends meeting up at a crowded event, party or mall. |
| WYD | What you doing? | Asks what someone is doing, often as a casual conversation starter among friends, partners and crushes. |
| WYM | What you mean? | Asks for clarification, similar to WDYM but without the "do." Writers use it when a message seems surprising, unclear or unfair. |
| WYWH | Wish you were here | Expresses missing someone during an experience, often in vacation posts, travel photos and texts from events. |
| XD | Laughing face (emoticon) | Sideways emoticon depicting a laughing face with eyes squeezed shut (X) and a wide-open mouth (D). |
| XO | Hug and kiss | Affectionate sign-off at the end of cards, letters, emails and texts, with X standing for a kiss and O for a hug. |
| XOXO | Hugs and kisses | Affectionate sign-off representing hugs and kisses, common in cards, letters, social posts and texts. |
| Y | Why | Single-letter homophone for "why," common in texts and comments, often in "y not?" or as a lone "y?" when something seems strange. |
| YKW | You know what | Introduces a sudden decision or realization, as in "ykw, let's just go." Also used to refer to someone the writer prefers not to name ("you know who"). |
| YMMV | Your mileage may vary | Disclaimer that results may differ for others, used in reviews, advice and tech forums. |
| YOLO | You only live once | Justifies a risky, impulsive or fun decision, as in "booked a trip to Bali, yolo." It became a rallying cry for spontaneous behavior among teens and young adults in the… |
| YT | You there? | Asks if someone is still present in a chat, often after a pause in conversation or before sending an urgent question. |
| YW | You're welcome | Replies to thanks, as in "ty" / "yw." Common in texts, gaming chat and quick work replies where a full sentence would feel excessive. |
| ZOMG | Oh my God (exaggerated) | Ironic, exaggerated form of OMG, with a Z that began as a typo when pressing Shift. |