Text message language. Close up of mobile phone with the words C U L 8 R typed on the screen

A quick list of some of the most common social media language

Text message/social media language has its own logic, but it can be difficult to understand at first. It also has new additions all the time. However, there are some basic words that are useful to know:

  • B = be
  • BFF = best friend forever
  • BRB = be right back (back soon)
  • BTW = by the way
  • CU = see you
  • ETA = estimated time of arrival
  • DM = direct message
  • FFS = for f**k’s sake (means ‘this is stupid!’)
  • FYI = for your information
  • GR8 = great
  • GTG = got to go (must leave)
  • ICYMI = in case you missed it
  • IMO = in my opinion
  • IKR: I know, right? (means ‘yes, I think it’s strange too!’)
  • IRL = in real life
  • HTH: hope that helps
  • LOL = laugh out loud* (means ‘that’s funny’)
  • JMO = just my opinion
  • K = short for ‘OK’
  • L8R = later
  • MSG = message
  • NBD = no big deal (means ‘not important’)
  • OMG = oh my God (means ‘you’ll never believe this’)
  • OMW = on my way
  • PLZ or PLS = please
  • Q = short for ‘thank you’
  • ROFL or ROTFL = roll on the floor laughing*
  • SYS = see you soon
  • TTFN = ta-ta (bye) for now
  • TTYL = talk to you later
  • THX = thanks
  • TY = thank you
  • U = you
  • V = very
  • W = with
  • WTF = what the f**k? (means ‘that’s crazy’)
  • X = kiss (used to make the tone of a message more friendly)
  • Y = why
  • 2 = too

*Might be used sarcastically, for example because something isn’t funny.

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