ELI5

Texting & Internet Slang abbreviation · Social Media

ELI5
Stands forExplain like I'm 5
CategoriesTexting & Internet Slang

ELI5 stands for Explain like I'm 5, a social media abbreviation.

Request to explain a complex topic in very simple terms, as if to a young child. Popularized by Reddit's r/explainlikeimfive, created in 2011.

Example: ELI5: why does the moon look bigger near the horizon?

Usage notes

Despite the name, the subreddit's rules ask for explanations a layperson can follow, not literally a five-year-old. The format spread to journalism, tech blogs and workplace chat ("can someone ELI5 the new pricing model?"). Polite and widely understood among younger professionals.

More social media abbreviations

  • DITL – Day in the life
  • DM – Direct message
  • DNI – Do not interact
  • DP – Display picture
  • DYK – Did you know?
  • DYOR – Do your own research
  • ESH – Everyone sucks here
  • ETA – Edited to add
  • EUC – Excellent used condition
  • F4F – Follow for follow
  • FB – Facebook
  • FBF – Flashback Friday

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Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.