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Slang and abbreviations, explained
What 219 common terms mean in Instagram and Facebook comments, DMs and captions, with real examples and ways to answer.
Texting abbreviations · 94
- SMHSMH means “shaking my head”: a quick way to show disbelief, disappointment or mild annoyance.
- NGLNGL means “not gonna lie”: it introduces something honest, often a compliment, a complaint or a confession.
- SYBAUA profane way of saying “shut up” that adds an insult; friends may joke with it, but from a stranger it is hostile.
- PMOShort for “pisses me off”: a mildly crude way to say something is annoying you, most often written “ts pmo.”
- TBHShort for “to be honest”: it flags a frank opinion, a small confession or a compliment that is meant sincerely.
- FOMOThe fear of missing out: worry that other people are having a better time, or getting a better deal, without you.
- TL;DR“Too long; didn't read”: once a complaint about long posts, now mostly a label for a quick summary of one.
- WYD“What (are) you doing?”: a casual opener asking what you're up to, sometimes a hint that they'd like to meet up.
- WTVTexting shorthand for “whatever”: easygoing when it means “any option works,” cold when it means “I'm done.”
- OFCShorthand for “of course”: a warm yes or “no problem,” or a dry nod to bad luck that was bound to happen.
- bcShort for “because”: people type bc to give a reason fast, as in “late bc traffic.”
- tsSlang for “this,” with a swear behind it: ts pmo means this annoys me, and ts tuff means this is cool.
- ISTGA typed “I swear to God,” used to add force to a promise, a complaint or an unlikely story.
- TTYL“Talk to you later”: a friendly sign-off that ends the chat for now and implies you'll pick it up again.
- LMAOA bigger laugh than LOL: it stands for “laughing my ass off” and often gets stretched to lmaooo.
- HMU“Hit me up”: an invitation to message or call, whether to make plans, buy something or just keep talking.
- ICLIt means “I can't lie”: the writer is admitting something, often a compliment or opinion they give a little reluctantly.
- IMOA way of saying “in my opinion”: it marks what you say as your own view rather than a fact, softening advice and disagreement.
- LOLLaughing out loud, in theory; in practice, usually a friendly softener that stops a message sounding too serious.
- BTWBy the way: it adds an aside, switches topic, or slips in a reminder as if it were an afterthought.
- IMYA shortened “I miss you,” sent to someone you haven't seen or talked to in a while, usually with real warmth.
- YOLO“You only live once”: once a motto for daring choices, now mostly a self-mocking excuse for small risks.
- dwTwo letters for “don't worry”: it's fine, no problem, or now and then a tight-lipped “forget it.”
- IYKYK“If you know, you know”: a wink at something that only people with the same memory or inside knowledge will get.
- IDKAn honest shrug, a cushion before an opinion, or a quiet way out of a question: idk is “I don't know.”
- TMIShort for “too much information”: a reaction to an overshare, or a heads-up that one is coming.
- OPUsually “original poster,” whoever started a post or thread; in gaming it's “overpowered,” and in anime an opening song.
- BSFYour best friend, in three letters: the person you'd tag in every meme. In India, BSF is also the Border Security Force.
- LMKIt means “let me know”: a casual request for a reply, a decision or an update once the other person has one.
- WSGA short form of “what's good?”: a laid-back way to say hello or ask what's going on.
- ILYShorthand for “I love you,” sent between partners, friends and family, often as a quick, warm sign-off.
- ywA short “you're welcome”: the usual answer to ty, and now and then a cheeky nudge when nobody has said thank you.
- FYIFor your information: a heads-up that passes on a useful fact, and sometimes a pointed way to correct someone.
- WYMA clipped “what do you mean?”: it asks for an explanation or reacts in disbelief, and in “ik wym” it means you agree.
- GOATGreatest of all time: the best ever at something, often shown as the 🐐 emoji, and casual praise for a friend who helped.
- IIRCA hedge meaning “if I recall correctly”: the writer is going on memory and admits they might be wrong.
- tyA quick “thank you”: friendly in casual chat, but a bit curt when something bigger deserved the full words.
- HRUA quick “how are you?”, usually a hello that expects a short answer, sometimes a sincere check-in after something has happened.
- ightA relaxed spelling of “alright”: it means okay, sure or got it, though a flat “ight.” can sound far from keen.
- STFUA swear-word way to say “shut up”; between friends it often means “no way, really?” instead.
- TTYSA warm way to say “talk to you soon,” suggesting you'll be back in touch shortly.
- frShort for “for real”: it agrees, asks “seriously?”, or stresses that the writer means what they've just said.
- NVMNVM means “never mind”: forget what I just said or asked, because it is solved or no longer matters.
- WDYMWDYM means “what do you mean?”: a request to explain, which can sound curious, confused or defensive.
- IKRIKR means “I know, right?”: a quick, enthusiastic way of agreeing with something someone just said.
- WBUWBU means “what about you?”: a short way to ask the other person the question they just asked you.
- IRLIRL means “in real life”: in person and offline, as opposed to on the internet.
- BRBBRB means “be right back”: a note that someone is leaving the chat briefly and will return soon.
- GNGN means “good night”: a short sign-off sent when someone is heading to bed or closing the chat for the evening.
- SBSB usually means “somebody” in texts and “snap back” on Snapchat. It can also stand for “small business”.
- LMFAOLMFAO means “laughing my f***ing ass off”: a rude, stronger version of LMAO for something very funny.
- FWIWFWIW means “for what it’s worth”: a modest way to add an opinion, tip or fact without pushing it on anyone.
- NPNP means “no problem”: a fast, friendly reply to thanks, an apology or a favour.
- GMGM means “good morning”: a quick, friendly hello, also used as a daily ritual greeting in crypto communities.
- TWTW means “trigger warning”: a note at the top of a post that warns it deals with upsetting subjects.
- kkKK is a quick way to say “okay”, and in some languages it is typed as laughter.
- TFWTFW means “that feeling when”: it introduces a relatable moment that you finish with the situation itself.
- ICYMIICYMI means “in case you missed it”: a label for something shared earlier that you are bringing back.
- TILTIL means “today I learned”: it opens a fact or discovery you have just come across.
- RNRN means “right now”: at this moment, or straight away. In a bio it can also mean registered nurse.
- BFFBFF means “best friend forever”: your closest friend, though it is sometimes used sarcastically too.
- NBDNBD means “no big deal”: it says something is fine, easy or not worth worrying about.
- JWJW means “just wondering”: it softens a question so that it sounds casual rather than demanding.
- TBFTBF means “to be fair”: it introduces a fair point, often one that excuses someone or admits the other side has a case.
- HBUHBU means “how about you?”: you answer a question, then ask the same one back.
- IDCIDC means “I don’t care”: either “I’m happy with whatever” or, less kindly, “this doesn’t matter to me.”
- IDGAFIDGAF is a profane way to say “I really don’t care,” far stronger and ruder than IDC.
- IKIK means “I know”: a quick way to agree, to admit something, or to say you’re already aware of it.
- ATMATM means “at the moment”: a short way to say how things are for now, as in “busy atm” or “no plans atm.”
- JKJK means “just kidding”: it tells the reader you were joking and didn’t mean what you just said.
- IDTSIDTS means “I don’t think so”: a mild no, or doubt that something is true or will happen.
- HBDHBD means “happy birthday”: a short birthday greeting for comments, Stories and DMs.
- TBCTBC means “to be continued” on stories and series, or “to be confirmed” when a plan or detail isn’t settled yet.
- uU means “you”: a one-letter shortcut used in texts, DMs and comments, as in “thank u” or “where r u?”.
- BFFRBFFR is a blunt, mildly rude way to say “be serious,” aimed at something that sounds exaggerated or unbelievable.
- IJBOLIJBOL means “I just burst out laughing”: a quick reaction to something unexpectedly funny.
- HYDHYD means “how you doing”: a quick, casual way to ask how someone is, often as a DM opener.
- IDEKIDEK means “I don’t even know”: a stronger IDK for when something is baffling or hard to explain.
- thoTho is texting shorthand for “though”: it adds a contrast, a twist or a soft “but” at the end of a message.
- rR is a one-letter shortcut for “are”: “r u coming?” means “are you coming?”
- OMWOMW means “on my way”: you are travelling to meet someone, or about to set off.
- AFAIKAFAIK means “as far as I know”: a hedge that marks a statement as the writer’s best understanding, not a guarantee.
- kK is a short form of “OK”: a quick yes that can sound curt, and also “thousand” after a number.
- MFWMFW means “my face when”, a caption that sets up a situation and shows your reaction to it.
- ILYSMILYSM means “I love you so much”: a warm, stronger version of ILY for friends, family or partners.
- YKWIMYKWIM means “you know what I mean”: a tag that checks you follow, or hints at something left unsaid.
- IDRCIDRC means “I don’t really care”: a mild way to say you have no strong preference or interest.
- URUR is texting shorthand for “your” or “you’re,” depending on the sentence it sits in.
- plsPls is a short way of writing “please”, used for polite requests, begging or a dramatic “oh, come on.”
- cuzCuz is a casual short form of “because”, and is also short for cousin or a friendly way to address someone.
- OBVOBV means “obviously”: a shorthand for something that is clear, expected or hardly worth asking.
- ILYTILYT means “I love you too”: a quick reply to someone who has just said they love you.
- QOTDQOTD means “question of the day”: a single prompt posted for followers to answer, sometimes “quote of the day.”
- WBKWBK means “we been knew”: a quick reply saying something was already known, a bit like “yeah, obviously.”
Gen Z slang · 80
- 6 7A meme with no set meaning: kids say “six seven,” often with a seesaw hand gesture, to show they're in on the joke.
- uncFrom “uncle”: slang that teases someone for being, or acting, older and a little out of touch.
- sigmaSlang for someone cool and independent who ignores the crowd; among younger kids, often just praise or an in-joke.
- rizzCharm or flirting skill: having rizz means you can win someone over, and to rizz someone up is to flirt with them.
- basedPraise for someone who says or does what they think without worrying about approval; roughly the opposite of cringe.
- glazingOver-the-top praise: so many compliments for one person that they stop sounding sincere.
- auraSlang for someone's cool or magnetic presence, often scored as “+1000 aura” or “-1000 aura” depending on what they just did.
- simpSomeone who tries far too hard to win over a person they fancy; usually a teasing put-down, sometimes worn proudly.
- lowkey“A little” or “quietly”: it plays a feeling down or keeps something private, as in “lowkey nervous” or “keep it lowkey.”
- choppedTeen slang for ugly, said about faces, haircuts and outfits; by 2025 kids were also using it for anything bad.
- zestyFlamboyant or camp, often hinting that a man seems gay; playful from friends, a jab from strangers, and tangy on a menu.
- slaySlang for doing something brilliantly or looking amazing, as in “you slayed” or “that outfit slays.”
- skibidiA nonsense word from the Skibidi Toilet videos that kids use for cool, bad or nothing at all, mostly as a joke.
- goatedExtremely good or top-tier: an adjective made from GOAT (“greatest of all time”), used for people and things alike.
- oppAn enemy, rival or hater, from “opposition”; usually said as “the opps,” and often as a joke.
- no cap“No lie” or “I'm serious”: added to show a statement is true, not an exaggeration.
- cringeEmbarrassing to watch: something so awkward or try-hard that it makes you wince for the person doing it.
- ASFASF is a crude abbreviation of “as f***” that makes an adjective stronger: “tired asf” means “extremely tired.”
- ionIon is slang spelling for “I don't”: “ion know” means “I don't know,” “ion wanna” means “I don't want to.”
- capCap is slang for a lie or exaggeration: “that's cap” means “I don't believe it,” and “no cap” means “honestly.”
- susSus means suspicious: a casual way to say something or someone seems shady, fake or not quite right.
- ratioRatio means replies are beating likes on a post, a public sign that people dislike it; “ratioed” is the result.
- crash outCrash out means to lose control of your emotions and act rashly; it can also mean to fall asleep or lose a contest.
- demureDemure means modest and reserved; the 2024 trend made “very demure, very mindful” a joke about careful, polite behaviour.
- ONGONG means “on god”: a quick way to swear that something is true or that you really mean it.
- AFAF means “as f***”: a mildly rude intensifier that makes the word before it stronger, as in “cold af”.
- WW is short for “win”: a one-letter way to say that was good, well done or a good result, with L as its opposite.
- touch grassTouch grass means go outside and spend less time online, said to someone who is taking the internet too seriously.
- yeetYeet means to throw something hard and carelessly, or a shout of excitement as you do it.
- tuffTuff is slang for “tough”: it means cool or impressive, is often said ironically, and can also mean “that's unlucky.”
- betBet is slang for “okay, deal, I'm in”; sometimes it means “go on then, prove it.”
- midMid means average or mediocre: not bad, but not as good as people say. In games it also means the middle lane.
- bussinBussin is slang for really, really good, most often used to praise food that tastes outstanding.
- finnaFinna means “about to” or “going to”: a quick way to say you are about to do something.
- eraIn my ___ era means you are in a phase of life or taste defined by one thing, such as a mood or a habit.
- gatekeepGatekeep means keeping something good to yourself, or deciding who is allowed in. Online it is often a joke about not sharing a find.
- deluluDelulu means delusional: a playful label for hopeful, unrealistic thinking, often said about yourself.
- gyatGyat (or gyatt) is a crude exclamation, from “goddamn,” about someone’s backside. Kids also use it as a meme shout.
- bruhBruh is a flat reaction to something silly or disappointing, and a casual way to address a friend, like “bro.”
- snatchedSnatched means looking flawless: a sharp outfit, a sculpted face or a narrow, cinched waist.
- cheugyCheugy means dated or trying too hard: something that was fashionable once and now feels slightly off the pace.
- saltySalty means bitter or irritated, often over a small loss or slight, and usually said with a smirk.
- tweakingTweaking is slang for acting wild, overreacting or being obviously wrong, as in “bro is tweaking.”
- LL means a loss or failure; “take the L” means accept it, and a bare “L” under a comment is a put-down.
- broBro is short for brother: a casual, friendly way to address someone, or a sarcastic or exasperated aside.
- mewingMewing is a tongue-posture trend that claims to reshape the jaw; online it is also a joke about posing.
- moodMood is a one-word reply meaning “I relate”: the post or message captures exactly how the writer feels.
- cookedCooked means doomed, beaten or exhausted: someone expects a bad result, or has nothing left in the tank.
- hot takeA hot take is a bold, often deliberately provocative opinion shared to get a reaction.
- KarenA Karen is a meme stereotype of an entitled, complaining person, typically a woman who demands to see the manager.
- vibeA vibe is the mood or feeling something gives off, and “vibing” means being relaxed and enjoying it.
- deadassDeadass means “seriously” or “for real”, said to stress that you are not joking.
- say less“Say less” means no more explanation is needed: I understand, and I’m in or I’ll do it.
- highkeyHighkey means openly or very much, the loud opposite of lowkey: “I highkey love this.”
- boujeeBoujee means fancy or a bit posh, used as a tease or a compliment for expensive tastes.
- flexFlex means showing off something you are proud of, whether that is money, results, a purchase or a skill.
- litLit means exciting, fun or excellent. It is used for parties, music, outfits and anything with good energy.
- brainrotBrainrot means junk online content, and the muddled feeling after too much scrolling. It can be a joke or a worry.
- dripDrip means style or swagger, especially fashionable or expensive clothes. “Got drip” is a compliment on a look.
- spill the teaSpill the tea means to share the gossip or the full inside story about something that happened.
- fanum taxFanum tax is the joking “fee” of taking a bite or a few chips from a friend’s plate.
- sheeshSheesh is an exclamation of disbelief or exasperation, and online also a way to say “wow, impressive.”
- ateAte means someone did something brilliantly, and “left no crumbs” means they did it with nothing to improve.
- rizzlerA rizzler is someone who is exceptionally good at charming or flirting, someone with plenty of rizz.
- caught in 4KCaught in 4K means caught red-handed, with evidence so clear it could be filmed in ultra-high definition.
- flopA flop is something that fails or falls flat, such as a post, a launch or a film that nobody wanted.
- basicBasic describes a person or taste as mainstream and unoriginal, following popular trends with no personal twist.
- famFam is short for family: a friendly word for close friends, used as a greeting or a warm way to address someone.
- shookShook means shaken up: shocked, surprised or rattled by something, sometimes in a good way.
- on godOn god means “I swear, I’m telling the truth,” and it is also a way to agree strongly with someone.
- extraExtra means over the top: doing more than the situation needs, usually with drama or flair.
- bestieBestie means best friend, and it is also a casual, friendly way to address someone online.
- it’s giving“It’s giving ___” means something gives off the vibe of whatever word follows it.
- shadeShade is a subtle, indirect insult; “throw shade” means to dig at someone, and “no shade” means no offence.
- hellaHella means “very” or “a lot of”: “hella good” is very good, and “hella people” is plenty of people.
- periodtPeriodt is an emphatic “period”: it ends a statement and says there is nothing more to argue.
- FR FRFR FR means “for real for real”: a stronger, doubled version of FR for agreeing or stressing you are serious.
- main characterMain character means acting like the star of your own story: confident when kind, self-absorbed when it is a dig.
- vibe checkA vibe check is a quick judgement of someone’s mood, attitude or atmosphere, or a prompt asking how people feel.
- rent freeRent free means a person, song or thought keeps occupying your mind without effort, from “living rent free in my head.”
Instagram terms · 21
- POV“Point of view”: in a Reel, “POV:” sets a scene and casts you in it, as in “POV: you just moved to a new city.”
- DMA direct message: a private chat with one person or a small group, as in “DM me” or “check your DMs.”
- IGMost often Instagram (“what's your IG?”), but in a casual reply, ig usually means “I guess.”
- OOTDA post showing what someone is wearing today; OOTD is short for “outfit of the day,” and the caption often says where it's from.
- FYPThe For You page: TikTok's feed of videos picked for you, and by extension any app's stream of suggested posts.
- PFPShort for “profile picture”: the photo or image shown next to your name on an account.
- mutualsMutuals are accounts that follow each other, or the friends and followers two people have in common.
- DNIDNI means “do not interact”: a bio note asking certain people to stay away from the account's posts and DMs.
- OOMFOOMF means “one of my followers”: a way to mention someone you know online without saying who they are.
- IBIB usually means “inspired by” when it credits someone, “in bio” when it points to a link, or “inbox” in “ib me.”
- TBTTBT means Throwback Thursday: the habit of posting an old photo or memory on a Thursday, often with #tbt.
- cloutClout is influence or online status, and “for clout” means doing something mainly to get attention.
- SFSSFS means “shoutout for shoutout”: two accounts agree to promote each other, usually in Stories.
- thirst trapA thirst trap is a photo or video posted to draw admiring, often flirty, attention.
- NFSNFS most often means “not for sale”: the item in the post belongs to the owner and is not up for purchase.
- finstaA finsta is a secondary, usually private Instagram account for unpolished posts shared with a few close friends.
- MCMMCM means “man crush Monday”: a weekly post or tag celebrating a man you admire or fancy.
- WCWWCW means “woman crush Wednesday”: a weekly post or hashtag celebrating a woman you admire.
- CFCF usually means Close Friends, Instagram’s private list for sharing Stories with a chosen few.
- FBFFBF means Flashback Friday: a caption or hashtag for posting an old photo or memory on a Friday.
- L4LL4L means “like for like”: I’ll like your posts if you like mine. It is a likes-trading request.
Dating and relationships · 13
- WYLLA clipped “what do you look like?”: usually a request for a selfie from someone who hasn't seen you yet.
- love bombingLove bombing is intense, over-the-top affection early on, used to win someone’s trust and then gain control.
- catfishA catfish is a person who invents a fake online identity to deceive someone, most often in a romantic situation.
- ghostingGhosting means suddenly cutting off all contact with someone, with no explanation and no goodbye.
- baeBae is an affectionate nickname for a partner, crush or someone you care about a lot.
- soft launchA soft launch hints at a new partner without showing their face or tagging them: a hand, a shadow, two drinks.
- breadcrumbingBreadcrumbing means dropping small bits of attention to keep someone interested with no intention of a real relationship.
- red flagA red flag is a warning sign that something, often a person or deal, may be a bad idea.
- ickThe ick is a sudden turn-off: you were into someone, then one small thing made the attraction vanish.
- BFBF usually means “boyfriend,” though it can also mean best friend, Black Friday or the game Battlefield.
- situationshipA situationship is a romantic or sexual connection with no label, no clear future and no agreed rules.
- GFGF most often means girlfriend, but in food and café posts it usually means gluten-free.
- beige flagA beige flag is a harmless, slightly odd or boring quirk in a partner, too minor to be a red flag.
Fandom and online communities · 6
- OTPIn fandom, the couple you root for above every other; on a login screen, a one-time password.
- mootsSlang for “mutuals”: two accounts that follow each other, often with a hint of online friendship.
- OCUsually “original character,” a character someone created themselves; on meme pages, “original content” made by the poster.
- OwOOwO is a text face showing wide-eyed, cutesy surprise or curiosity, now often used ironically or as a cringe joke.
- shipTo ship two people is to root for them as a couple; a ship is the pairing itself, like a fan’s favourite couple.
- stanStan means being a devoted, enthusiastic fan of someone or something; as a noun, it is the fan.
Gaming and streaming · 5
- GG“Good game”: a sporting sign-off at the end of a match, and in everyday chat a shrug that means “it's over.”
- GGsGGs means “good games”: a sporting sign-off after more than one match, usually friendly and sometimes sarcastic.
- NPCNPC means “non-player character”: in slang, someone who acts on autopilot or seems to have no mind of their own.
- WPWP means “well played”: a quick, sporting way to say that someone’s move or match was good.
- EZEZ is a short spelling of “easy”: it says something took no effort, and after a game it can sound like boasting.