Text message abbreviations and acronyms
Text abbreviations are shortened versions of a word or phrase used. The abbreviations and acronyms are used to save time, avoid typing and ensure a social media post stays within a certain character limit. Although many seem as if they are misspelled, grammatically incorrect or confusing, texting abbreviation and texting acronyms are commonly used and are meant to expedite communications by shortening them so that the user doesn't have to spell out phrases, expressions or sentences. The use of emoticons is also pervasive in online communications and texting.
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
| ?4U | I have a question for you |
| <3 | Love/friendship (more 3s is a bigger heart) |
| 121 | One to one |
| 2 | To (in texting) |
| 2EZ | Too easy |
| 2F4U | Too fast for you |
| 2G2BT | Too good to be true |
| 2M2H | Too much to handle |
| 2MORO | Tomorrow |
| 2NITE | Tonight |
| 4 | For (in texting) |
| 8L3W | Eight letters, three words (I love you) |
| AAMOF | As a matter of fact |
| AAQ | Assumed asinine question |
| AFK | Away from keyboard |
| ABC | Already been chewed |
| ABT | About |
| ADDY | Address |
| ADMIN | Administrator |
| AMIIC | Ask me if I care |
| AND | Any day now |
| AFAIK | As far as I know |
| AH | At home |
| AIGHT | Alright |
| AISB | As it should be/as I said before |
| AKA | Also known as |
| ALOL | Actually laughing out loud |
| APP | Application |
| ASAP | As soon as possible |
| A/S/L | Age/sex/location |
| ATB | All the best |
| AYDY | Are you done yet? |
| AYS | Are you serious? |
| AYT | Are you there? |
| B2W | Back to work |
| B4 | Before |
| BAE | Before anyone else/slang for "baby" |
| BAK | Back at keyboard |
| BAMF | Bada** motherf***** |
| BAU | Business as usual |
| BBL | Be back later |
| BBS | Be back soon |
| BC | Because |
| BCNU | Be seeing you |
| BD | Big deal |
| BDAY | Birthday |
| BFF | Best friends forever |
| BFD | Big freaking deal |
| BFN | Bye for now |
| BIF | Before I forget |
| BLNT | Better luck next time |
| BOL | Best of luck |
| BR | Best regards |
| BRB | Be right back |
| BRT | Be right there |
| BTDT | Been there, done that |
| BTW | By the way |
| BYOB | Bring your own beer |
| BYOC | Bring your own computer |
| BYOD | Bring your own device |
| BYTM | Better you than me |
| CHK | Check |
| CID | Consider it done |
| CLD | Could |
| CLK | Click |
| CMON | Come on |
| COB | Close of business |
| CRAY | Crazy |
| CRE8 | Create |
| CU | See you |
| DBEYR | Don't believe everything you read |
| DERP | Meaning stupid or silly |
| DGT | Don't go there |
| DILLIGAS | Do I look like I give a s***? |
| DIY | Do it yourself |
| DKDC | Don't know, don't care |
| DL | Download |
| DM | Direct message (Twitter) |
| DQMOT | Don't quote me on this |
| DUPE | Duplicate |
| EAK | Eating at keyboard |
| EOBD | End of business day |
| EOD | End of day/end of discussion |
| EOM | End of message |
| ETA | Estimated time of arrival |
| EZ | Easy |
| F2F | Face to face |
| FAF | Funny as f*** |
| FAQ | Frequently asked questions |
| FB | |
| FBM | Fine by me |
| FBOW | For better or worse |
| FF | Follow Friday (Twitter) |
| FIMH | Forever in my heart |
| FOAF | Friend of a friend |
| FOMO | Fear of missing out |
| FRT | For real though |
| FTBOMH | From the bottom of my heart |
| FTL | For the loss |
| FTW | For the win |
| FUBAR | F***** up beyond all recognition |
| FWB | Friend with benefits |
| FWIW | For what it's worth |
| FWM | Fine with me |
| FYA | For your amusement |
| FYEO/4YEO | For your eyes only |
| FYI | For your information |
| G2CU | Good to see you |
| G2G | Got to go |
| GB | Goodbye |
| GB2W | Get back to work |
| GD | Good |
| GFI | Go for it |
| GL | Good luck |
| GOI | Get over it |
| GR8 | Great |
| GRATZ | Congratulations |
| H8 | Hate |
| HAK/H&K | Hug(s) and kiss(es) |
| HAND | Have a nice day |
| H-BDAY | Happy birthday |
| HRU | How are you? |
| HW | Homework |
| IAE | In any event |
| IC | I see |
| ICBW | It could be worse |
| ICYMI | In case you missed it |
| IDC | I don't care |
| IDGAF | I don't give a f*** |
| IDK | I don't know |
| IFYP | I feel your pain |
| IGN | I've got nothing |
| ILY/ILU | I love you |
| IM | Instant message |
| IMHO | In my humble opinion |
| IMO | In my opinion |
| IMS | I am sorry |
| IMU | I miss you |
| IRL | In real life |
| ISO | In search of |
| ITYK | I thought you knew |
| IYKWIM | If you know what I mean |
| IYSS | If you say so |
| JIC | Just in case |
| JK | Just kidding |
| JW | Just wondering |
| K | OK |
| KK | Cool cool |
| KEWL | Cool |
| L8R | Later |
| LIC | Like I care |
| LMAO | Laughing my a** off |
| LMFAO | Laughing my f****** a** off |
| LMK | Let me know |
| LOL | Laughing out loud |
| LOTI | Laughing on the inside |
| LTD | Living the dream |
| LTNS | Long time no see |
| LULZ | LOL (slang) |
| LYSM | Love you so much |
| MEH | So-so or just OK |
| MHOTY | My hat's off to you |
| MKAY | Mmm, OK |
| MSG | Message |
| MYOB | Mind your own business |
| N00b | Newbie, novice |
| N2M | Not too much |
| NBD | No big deal |
| NGL | Not gonna lie |
| NFS | Not for sale |
| NFW | No f****** way |
| NIMBY | Not in my backyard |
| NLT | No later than |
| NM | Nothing much |
| NMU | Not much, you? |
| NOYB | None of your business |
| NP | No problem |
| NSFW | Not safe for work |
| NVM | Nevermind |
| NOW | No way out |
| OBV | Obviously |
| OH | Overheard |
| OG | Original gangster |
| OIC | Oh, I see |
| OMDB | Over my dead body |
| OMFG | Oh my f****** God |
| OMG | Oh my God |
| OMW | On my way |
| OP | Original poster/original post |
| OS | Operating system |
| OT | Off-topic |
| OTB | Off to bed |
| OTFL | On the floor laughing |
| OYO | On your own |
| PDA | Public display of affection |
| PEBCAK | Problem exists between chair and keyboard |
| PITA | Pain in the a** |
| PLS | Please |
| PM | Private message |
| POV | Point of view |
| PPL | People |
| PROLLY | Probably |
| PRT | Please Retweet (Twitter) |
| PTFO | Pass the f*** out |
| PTL | Praise the Lord |
| PTMM | Please tell me more |
| PWN | Own (slang) |
| Q4U | (I have a) question for you |
| QOTD | Quote of the day |
| Quick question | |
| R | Are |
| RBTL | Read between the lines |
| RLY | Really |
| ROFL | Rolling on the floor laughing |
| ROFLCOPTER | Rolling on the floor laughing and spinning around |
| ROFLMAO | Rolling on the floor laughing my a** off |
| RT | Retweet (Twitter) |
| RTM | Read the manual |
| RTFM | Read the f****** manual |
| SH | S*** happens |
| SH^ | Shut up |
| SITD | Sitting in the dark |
| SK8 | Skate |
| SLAP | Sounds like a plan |
| SMH | Shaking my head |
| SNAFU | Situation normal, all f***** up |
| SOB | Son of a b**** |
| SOL | Sooner or later |
| SRSLY | Seriously |
| SRY | Sorry |
| STBY | Sucks to be you |
| STFU | Shut the f*** up |
| STR8 | Straight |
| SUP | What's up? |
| SUX | Sucks or "it sucks" |
| SYL | See you later |
| SYS | See you soon |
| TBD | To be determined |
| TBH | To be honest |
| TBT | Throwback Thursday (Twitter/other social media sites) |
| TCB | Take care of business |
| TFTF | Thanks for the follow (Twitter) |
| TGIF | Thank God it's Friday |
| THX | Thanks |
| TIL | Today I learned |
| TL | Too long |
| TLC | Tender loving care |
| TL;DR | Too long; didn't read |
| TMB | Tweet me back (Twitter) |
| TMI | Too much information |
| TMOT | Trust me on this |
| TWSS | That's what she said |
| TTYL | Talk to you later |
| TTYS | Talk to you soon |
| TYT | Take your time |
| TYSO | Thank you so much |
| UFB | Un-f******-believable |
| UFN | Until further notice |
| UOK | Are you OK? |
| VM | Voicemail |
| VRY | Very |
| WAH | Working at home |
| WAYF | Where are you from? |
| WBU | What about you? |
| W/E | Whatever |
| WH5 | Who, what, when, where, why |
| WDYK | What do you know? |
| WDYT | What do you think? |
| WRK | Work |
| WTF | What the f***? |
| WTG | Way to go |
| WYSIWYG | What you see if what you get |
| WYD | What are you doing? |
| WYGAM | When you get a minute |
| WYWH | Wish you were here |
| Y | Why (?) |
| XOXO | Hugs and kisses |
| YHBW | You have been warned |
| YNK | You never know |
This was last updated in April 2019