Texting Abbreviations

If you’ve ever been into an online chat room, used an instant messenger, had a conversation via text message, or talked to a teenager, you are probably at least somewhat familiar with many of the following texting abbreviations. Although they tend to be grammatically incorrect and slightly confusing, they are commonly used and practical, making sending text messages quick and easier on your fingers. You don’t have to use them if they make you feel like you’re losing IQ points, but chances are that you will have to decipher them at some point if you haven’t already, so the least you can do is know what they mean.

Texting Abbreviations

2 - two/too/to

• A: What are you up 2?
• B: Work til 2.
• A: Me 2!
• B: Wanna go 2 the pool after? 

2nite - tonight

4 - four/for

• I have something 4 you. Actually, 4 things.

?4U - question for you

• ?4U. Can I borrow your lawn mower?

abt - about

b/c - because

bf/gf - boyfriend/girlfriend

• He’s going out with his gf 2nite.

btw - by the way

c - see

• I get 2 c my bf 2nite!

gnite - good night

idk - I don’t know

This can be used as a complete sentence, or you can follow it up with exactly what you don’t know.

• idk how 2 knit

Ima/Imma/I’ma - I’m going to

• I’ma go 2 the movies w/my bf. (I’m going to go to the movies with my boyfriend.)

imo/imho - in my opinion/in my humble opinion

• imo, your gf is 2 hot 4 you.

j/k - just kidding

This abbreviation is an addendum to a jocular or sarcastic statement. It is used to clarify that the statement prior was in fact meant in jest.

• I knitted your mom some lingerie. j/k

k - okay

l8r - later

Use as a stand-alone statement to bid farewell or in conjunction with “c u” (see you).

• cul8r (See you later)

lmao - laughing my a** off

Stronger than “LOL,” but not quite as exaggerated as “ROFL,” “lmao” is used to express hearty laughter.

lol - laughing out loud

Another stand-alone expression, “lol” can be intensified by using capital letters (LOL) or adding exclamation points.

msg - message

n - in

np/no prob - no problem

oic - Oh, I see.

orly? - Oh really?

omg - oh my gosh/oh my god

ppl - people

r - are

• What r u talking abt?

sup - What’s up?

thx - thanks

ttyl - talk to you later

u - you

ur - your/you’re

• thx, ur awesome
• u left ur camera at my house

w/ - with

w/o - without

wtf - What the f***?

A stand-alone expression conveying any combination of disbelief, frustration, anger, fear and/or confusion.

• A: I knitted ur mom some lingerie.
• B: WTF?!
• A: j/k

yf - wife

Of course, these texting abbreviations are not the only ones people use. There are tons more, from the obvious to the completely mystifying.

Emoticons

There are also what we call “emoticons” (emotional/emotive icons). Generally, emoticons are simply combinations of keyboard characters that, when combined, resemble an expressive human face. Here are a few examples:

• <3 - This is a heart. Tilt your head to the right, and you’ll see it. You can add more 3s to enlarge the heart, thus indicating stronger feelings of love.
• :)  :o)  :-)  :c)  =)  8-)  If you tilt your head to the left, you’ll see a series of happy faces.
• :( Conversely, any of the above can also be changed to a sad face.
• ;) By changing the colon to a semicolon, the happy face becomes a wink.
• (~_^) In this variation of a winking face, you don’t have to tilt your head to see it.
• :*  :-*  These two emoticons indicate a kiss.
• :’( Adding an apostrophe to a sad face causes it to appear as though it’s crying.

Maybe you are one of those people who can’t stand all these nonsensical texting abbreviations and symbols. Maybe you will insist on spelling out every word and using correct capitalization and punctuation until the day you die. That is perfectly acceptable, but at least now you’ll be able to decipher what everyone else is saying.