The Use and Meaning of Internet Slang: Abbreviations and Acronyms
If you are a regular internet user you will no doubt have encountered various internet slang on forums, chat rooms, emails, blogs and instant messaging that use acronyms and some fancy abbreviations to bring across certain messages. Internet slang is a very casual speech in writing that uses certain words, phrases or expressions in the form of abbreviations to convey a message which may be vivid and concise, sarcastic, racy, humorous or even vulgar in meaning. Internet slang consists of a word formed from the initial letter or letters of a series of words in a phrase. This means it is an abbreviation of the first letters of a phrase or a long phrase that may form a word which may also convey a message. However, most of the internet slang are not actually acronyms since they don’t form a word which can be pronounced. Labels: Internet
Internet slang originated with the purpose of saving keystrokes and thus time. It uses common words or phrases that helps one to keep their message concise and to the point. In electronic communication this method of writing shorthand dramatically short-cuts various common words and phrases in text messaging using the cell phone. Also, the popular communication platform of instant messaging services such as AOL, ICQ, MSN, Yahoo and others have allowed this internet language of slang using acronyms and abbreviations by internet users to develop and spread rapidly over the years. This internet language developed by internet users over the years is very popular and needless to say quite is frequent in emails, forums, text messaging and chat rooms which is typically the environment (community) it is used in, and brevity of communication has a high place value. Internet slang is usually often written in lower case letters with capitals letters reserved for emphasis.
Internet slang is considered unsuitable for formal communication. They can be annoying and unprofessional in formal settings. They should therefore be used conservatively and in the right or appropriate setting such as amongst your friends and other similar groups.
Parents can find the meaning of internet slang helpful when monitoring their kids on the internet. Internet slang is a common language that is also used by many kids and teens to chat online. To the untrained eye internet slang may be difficult to interpret or decipher. Now however, you can know the meaning behinds these acronyms (slang) and word abbreviations. Your child might even be surprised that you know some of these “secret meanings” behind some of these internet slang.
The list below is by no means a comprehensive list but it should however help you to decipher many common internet slang thus, clarifying the meaning behind the acronyms (slang) and word abbreviations that you will come across on; blogs, forums, email, chat rooms and instant message. A AAMOF as a matter of fact ABFL a big fat lady ABT about ADN any day now AFAIC as far as I'm concerned AFAICT as far as I can tell AFAICS as far as I can see AFAIK as far as I know AFAYC as far as you're concerned AFK away from keyboard AISI as I see it AIUI as I understand it AKA also known as AML all my love ANFSCD and now for something completely different ASAP as soon as possible ASL assistant section leader ASL age, sex, location ASLP age, sex, location, picture A/S/L age/sex/location ASOP assistant system operator ATM at this moment AWA as well as AWHFY are we having fun yet? AWGTHTGTTA are we going to have to go trough this again? AWOL absent without leave AWOL away without leave AYOR at your own risk AYPI? and your point is? B B4 before B4N bye for now BAC back at computer BAG busting a gut BAK back at the keyboard BBIAB be back in a bit BBL be back later BBLBNTSBO... be back later but not to soon because of... BBR burnt beyond repair BBS be back soon BBS bulletin board system BC be cool B/C because BCnU be seeing you BEG big evil grin BF boyfriend B/F boyfriend BFN bye for now BG big grin BIH Burn In Hell BION believe it or not BIOYIOB blow it out your I/O port BITMT but in the meantime BM bite me BMB bite my bum BMTIPG brilliant minds think in parallel gutters BKA better known as BL belly laughing BOB back off bastard BOL be on later BOM bitch of mine BOT back on topic BRB be right back BRBB be right back ***** BRBS be right back soon BRH be right here BRS big red switch BS big smile BS bull **** BSF but seriously folks BST but seriously though BTA but then again BTAIM be that as it may BTDT been there done that BTOBD be there or be dead BTOBS be there or be square BTSOOM beats the **** out of me BTW by the way BUDWEISER because you deserve what every individual should ever receive BWQ buzz word quotient BWTHDIK but what the heck do I know BYOB bring your own bottle BYOH Bat You Onna Head B& Banned C C&G chuckle and grin CAD ctrl-alt-delete CADET can't add, doesn't even try CDIWY couldn't do it without you CD9 code 9 - parents are around CFV call for votes CFS care for secret? CFY calling for you CID crying in disgrace CLM career limiting move CM@TW catch me at the web CMIIW correct me if I'm wrong CNP continue in next post CO conference CRAFT can't remember a ******* thing CRS can't remember **** CSG chuckle snicker grin CTS changing the subject CU see you CU2 see you too CUL see you later CUL8R see you later CWOT complete waste of time CWYL chat with you later CYA see ya CYA cover your *** CYAL8R see ya later CYO see you online D DBA doing business as DCed disconnected DFLA disenhanced four-letter acronym DH darling husband DIIK darn if i know DGA digital guardian angel DGARA don't give a rats *** DIKU do I know you? DIRTFT do it right the first time DITYID did I tell you I'm distressed DIY do it yourself DL download DL dead link DLTBBB don't let the bed bugs bite DMMGH don't make me get hostile DQMOT don't quote me on this DND do not disturb DTC darn this computer DTRT do the right thing DUCT did you see that? DWAI don't worry about it DWIM do what I mean DWIMC do what I mean, correctly DWISNWID do what I say, not what I do DYJHIW don't you just hate it when... DYK do you know E EAK eating at keyboard EIE enough is enough EG evil grin EMFBI excuse me for butting in EMFJI excuse me for jumping in EMSG email message EOD end of discussion EOF end of file EOL end of lecture EOM end of message EOS end of story EOT end of thread ETLA extended three letter acronym EYC excitable, yet calm F F female F/F face to face F2F face to face FAQ frequently asked questions FAWC for anyone who cares FBOW for better or worse FBTW fine, be that way FCFS first come, first served FCOL for crying out loud FIFO first in, first out FISH first in, still here FLA four-letter acronym FOAD **** off and die FOAF friend of a friend FOB **** off ***** FOC free of charge FOCL falling of chair laughing FOFL falling on the floor laughing FOS freedom of speech FOTCL falling of the chair laughing FTF face to face FTTT from time to time FU ****** up FUBAR ****** up beyond all recognition FUDFUCT fear, uncertainty and doubt FUCT failed under continuous testing FURTB full up ready to burst (about hard disk drives) FW freeware FWIW for what it's worth FYA for your amusement FYEO for your eyes only FYE for your entertainment FYEO for your eyes only FYI for your information G G grin G2B going to bed G&BIT grin & bear it G2G got to go G2GGS2D got to go get something to drink G2GTAC got to go take a crap G2GTAP got to go take a pee GA go ahead GA good afternoon GAFIA get away from it all GAL get a life GAS greetings and salutations GBH great big hug GBH&K great big huh and kisses GBR garbled beyond recovery GBY god bless you GD&H grinning, ducking and hiding GD&R grinning, ducking and running GD&RAFAP grinning, ducking and running as fast as possible GD&REF&F grinning, ducking and running even further and faster GD&RF grinning, ducking and running fast GD&RVF grinning, ducking and running very GD&W grin, duck and wave GDW grin, duck and wave GE good evening GF girlfriend GFETE grinning from ear to ear GFN gone for now GFU good for you GG good game GGU2 good game you too GIGO garbage in garbage out GJ good job GL good luck GL&GH good luck and good hunting GM good morning / good move / good match GMAB give me a break GMAO giggling my *** off GMBO giggling my butt off GNBLFY got nothing but love for you GMTA great minds think alike GN good night GNOC get naked on cam (webcam) GOK god only knows GOWI get on with it GPF general protection fault GR8 great GR&D grinning, running and ducking GtG got to go GTSY glad to see you H H hug H8 Hate (H1 - H9 indicating levels of hate) H/O hold on H&K hug and kiss HAK hug and kiss HAGD have a good day HAGN have a good night HAGS have a good summer HAG1 have a good one HAHA having a heart attack HAND have a nice day HB hug back HB hurry back HDYWTDT how do you work this darn thing HF have fun HH holding hands HHIS hanging head in shame HHJK ha ha, just kidding HHOJ ha ha, only joking HHOK ha ha, only kidding HHOS ha ha, only seriously HIH hope it helps HILIACACLO help I lapsed into a coma and can't log off HIWTH hate it when that happens HLM he loves me HMS home made smiley HMS hanging myself HMT here's my try HMWK homework HOAS hold on a second HSIK how should i know HSWM have sx with me HTH hope this helps HTHBE hope this has been enlightening HYLMS hate you like my sister I IAAA I am an accountant IAAL I am a lawyer IAC in any case IC I see IAE in any event IAG it's all good IAG I am gay IAIM in an Irish minute IANAA I am not an accountant IANAL I am not a lawyer IBN I'm buck naked ICOCBW I could of course be wrong IDC I don't care IDGI I don't get it IDGARA I don't give a rat's *** IDGW in a good way IDI I doubt it IDK I don't know IDTT I'll drink to that IFVB I feel very bad IGP I gotta pee IGTP I get the point IHTFP I hate this ******* place IHTFP I have truly found paradise IHU I hate you IHY I hate you II I'm impressed IIT I'm impressed too IIR if I recall IIRC if I recall correctly IJWTK I just want to know IJWTS I just want to say IK I know IKWUM I know what you mean ILBCNU I'll be seeing you ILU I love you ILY I love you ILYFAE I love you forever and ever IMAO in my arrogant opinion IMFAO in my ******* arrogant opinion IMBO in my bloody opinion IMCO in my considered opinion IME in my experience IMHO in my humble opinion IMNSHO in my, not so humble opinion IMO in my opinion IMOBO in my own biased opinion IMPOV in my point of view IMP I might be pregnant INAL I'm not a lawyer INPO in no particular order IOIT I'm on Irish Time IOW in other words IRL in real life IRMFI I reply merely for information IRSTBO it really sucks the big one IS I'm sorry ISTM it seems to me ISTR I seem to recall ISWYM I see what you mean ITFA in the final analysis ITRO in the reality of ITRW in the real world ITSFWI if the shoe fits, wear it IVL in virtual live IWALY I will always love you IWBNI it would be nice if IYKWIM if you know what I mean IYSWIM if you see what I mean J JAM just a minute JAS just a second JASE just another system error JAWS just another windows shell JIC just in case JJWY just joking with you JK just kidding J/K just kidding JMHO just my humble opinion JMO just my opinion JP just playing J/P just playing JTLYK just to let you know JW just wondering K K OK K kiss KHYF know how you feel KB kiss back KISS keep it simple sister KIS(S) keep it simple (stupid) KISS keeping it sweetly simple KIT keep in touch KMA kiss my ass KMB kiss my butt KMSMA kiss my shiny metal ass KOTC kiss on the cheek KOTL kiss on the lips KPC keeping parents clueless KUTGW keep up the good work KWIM know what I mean? L L laugh L8R later L8R G8R later gator LAB life's a ***** LAM leave a message LBR little boys room LD long distance LG lovely greetings LGBNAF let's get butt nkd and f--- LGR little girls room LHM Lord help me LHU Lord help us LL&P live long & prosper LNK love and kisses LMA leave me alone LMABO laughing my *** back on LMAO laughing my *** off LMBO laughing my butt off LMHO laughing my head off LMIRL let's meet in real life LMFAO laughing my fat *** off LMK let me know LOL laughing out loud LOL lots of love LOL lots of luck LOLA laughing out loud again LOML light of my life (or love of my life) LOMLILY light of my life, I love you LOOL laughing out outrageously loud LSHIPMP laughing so hard I peed my pants LSHMBB laughing so hard my belly is bouncing LSHMBH laughing so hard my belly hurts LTNS long time no see LTR long term relationship LTS laughing to self LULAS love you like a sister LUWAMH love you with all my heart LY love ya LYK let you know LYL love ya lots LYLAB love ya like a brother LYLAS love ya like a sister M M male MB maybe MILF mother I'd like to **** MYOB mind your own business MWBRL More Will Be Revealed Later M8 mate N N in N2M not too much N/C not cool NALOPKT not a lot of people know that NE1 anyone NETUA nobody ever tells us anything NFI no ******* idea NIFOC Nude In Front Of Computer NL not likely NM never mind / nothing much N/M never mind / nothing much NMH not much here NMJC nothing much, just chillin' NOM no offense meant NOTTOMH not of the top of my mind NOYB none of your business NOYFB none of your ******* business NP no problem NTA non-technical acronym N/S no **** NVM nevermind O OBTW oh, by the way OIC oh, I see OF on fire OFIS on floor with stitches OK abbreviation of oll korrect (all correct) OL old lady (wife, girlfriend) OLL on-line love OM old man (husband, boyfriend) OMG oh my god / gosh / goodness OOC out of character OT Off topic / other topic OTOH on the other hand OTP on the phone OTTOMH off the top of my head P PAW parents are watching PDS please don't shoot PDOMA pulled directly out of my *** PEBCAK problem exists between chair and keyboard PLZ please PM private message PMJI pardon my jumping in (Another way for PMFJI) PMFJI pardon me for jumping in PMP peed my pants POAHF put on a happy face POOF I have left the chat pornado large amount of pornographic content POTB pats on the back POS parents over shoulder POTS parents over the shoulder - (My parents are watching, I can't really talk) PPL people PS post script PSA public show of affection P911 parent emergency Q Q4U question for you QSL reply QSO conversation QT cutie R RAT remote(ly) activated Trojan RCed reconnected RE hi again (same as re's) RIHAD rot in h--- and die ROFL rolling on floor laughing ROFLAPMP rolling on floor laughing and peed my pants ROFLMAO rolling on floor laughing my *** off ROFLOLAY rolling on floor laughing out loud at you ROFLOLTSDMC rolling on floor laughing out loud tears streaming down my cheeks ROFLOLWTIME rolling on floor laughing out loud with tears in my eyes ROFLOLUTS rolling on floor laughing out loud unable to speak ROTFL rolling on the floor laughing RTF read the FAQ RTF read the FAQ RTM read the manual RTSM read the stupid manual RUMOF are you male or female RUTTM are you talking to me RUUP4IT are you up for it? RVD really very dumb S S2R send to receive SAMAGAL stop annoying me and get a live SCNR sorry, could not resist SETE smiling ear to ear SH so hot SH same here SHICPMP so happy I could pee my pants SHID slaps head in disgust SHMILY see how much I love you SNAFU situation normal, all ****** up SO significant other SOHF sense of humor failure SOMY sick of me yet? SPAM stupid persons' advertisement SRY sorry SSDD same **** different day STBY sucks to be you STFU shut the **** up STW search the web sugarpic Suggestive or erotic picture of self SWAK sealed with a kiss SWALK sweet, with all love, kisses SWL screaming with laughter SIM sh*t, it's Monday SITWB sorry, in the wrong box S/U shut up SYS see you soon SYSOP system operator T TA thanks again TAW teachers are watching TCO taken care of TGIF thank god its Friday THTH to hot to handle THX thanks TIA thanks in advance TIIC the idiots in charge TJM that's just me TLA three-letter acronym TMA take my advice TMI to much information TMS to much showing TNSTAAFL there's no such thing as a free lunch TNX thanks TOH to other half TOY thinking of you TPTB the powers that be TSDMC tears streaming down my cheeks TT2T to tired to talk TTFN ta ta for now TTT thought that, too TTUL talk to you later TTYIAM talk to you in a minute TTYL talk to you later TTYLMF talk to you later my friend TU thank you TWMA till we meet again TX thanx TY thank you TYVM thank you very much U U2 you too UAPITA you're a pain in the *** U IZ A you is a hoe UMFRIEND 'intimate' partner UR your UW you're welcome URAQT! you are a cutie! V VBG very big grin VBS very big smile W W8 wait W8AM wait a minute WAY what about you WAY who are you WB welcome back WBS write back soon WDHLM why doesn't he love me WDYWTTA What Do You Want To Talk About WE whatever W/E whatever WFM works for me WNDITWB we never did it this way before WP wrong person WRT with respect to WTF what/who the ****? WTG way to go WTGP want to go private? WTH what/who the heck? WTMI way to much information WU what's up? WUD what's up dog? WUF where are you from? WUWT whats up with that WYCM? will you call me? WYMM will you marry me? WYRN What’s Your Real Name? WYSIWYG what you see is what you get X XTLA extended three letter acronym Y Y why? Y2K you're too kind YATB you are the best YBS you'll be sorry YG young gentleman YHBBYBD you'd have better bet your bottom dollar YKYWTKM you know you want to kiss me YL young lady YL you 'll live YM you mean YM young man YMMD you've made my day YMMV your mileage may vary YVM you're very welcom YW you're welcome YWIA you're welcome in advance YWTHM you want to hug me YWTLM you want to love me YWTKM you want to kiss me YOYO you're on your own YY4U two wise for you Z ZZZ sleeping, bored, tired
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10 Comments:
Finally, a translation of all those online acronyms! Thanks!
I've been looking for something like this for a long while. When I'm not writing Dummies books, I teach an online linguistics class and I've told my students about it. Thanks--this is something that the texts we use just haven't approached ye.
thanks for the list. Great job!
Canuckistani:
You are welcome :) Thanks for the kind comment and for stopping by :)
Matthew:
I'm glad that I could be of some help :) I guess there be a book on internet slang for dummies in the near future :) Thanks for stopping by and for the recommendation.
K:
You are welcome:) Thanks for the compliment and for stopping by :)
Jessada:
Thank you. I would pretty much say that there is a standard list. The reason for saying so is that these internet slang has consistently been used very regularly on the internet and text messaging for quite a long while now. Those listed at my site are frequently used and are thus popular slang with their related meanings. There will always be new slang that will be created as time goes by. However, those that are listed can only have one, two are more meaning using the same abbreviation. Similar to a dictionary having more than one meaning for a given word.
Teenagers dont even use all of those. Some of those i've never heard of and i am a teenager. And there are others that you still dont have on there. I thought i would comment and let you know. lol. ttfn.
Who knows where to download XRumer 5.0 Palladium?
Help, please. All recommend this program to effectively advertise on the Internet, this is the best program!
no they still don't have one: DWL, i came to find it here and i'm very disappointed, but seeing that i live in Jamaica maybe thats the case.
Thanks you. Very good post.Unless they can offer a really compelling reason for users to come back, it will be the next Bebo, MySpace
This Blog is going places, the people, the layout, amazing to see such dedication and focus.
This is the first article among other hundreds I've read that is worthy a read! It's my personal opinion, but it tends to be the truth! Our paper writers appreciate its author!
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