Texting Abbreviations List: 100+ Text Slang Meanings A–Z (2026)

Texting abbreviations are short forms of words and phrases, like LOL, BRB, NGL and HYD, that people use to type faster in chats. This guide lists 100+ of the most common texting abbreviations from A to Z, with their meaning and a real example for each one, so you’ll never be confused by a text again.

Each abbreviation with a link has its own full guide on MeaningFussion, covering origin, tone and how to reply. Can’t find one? Type it into our free Text Abbreviation Decoder or paste a whole message into the Slang Translator.

What Are Texting Abbreviations?

Texting abbreviations (also called text slang, chat abbreviations or internet acronyms) are shortened versions of common phrases. Most use the first letter of each word, so “be right back” becomes BRB and “how you doing” becomes HYD. Others sound like the word, such as “L8R” for later.

They started with SMS language in the early days of mobile phones, when messages had strict character limits and keypads made typing slow. Today texting abbreviations are everywhere: WhatsApp, Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok, Discord and even work chats. Gen Z keeps inventing new ones, which is why lists like this need regular updates.

Texting Abbreviations A–D

Abbreviation	Meaning	Example
AFK	Away from keyboard	“brb, going afk for 10 min”
ASAP	As soon as possible	“reply asap pls”
ATM	At the moment	“busy atm, call you later”
ATP	At this point	“atp I’m just tired”
BBL	Be back later	“gotta eat, bbl”
BC	Because	“can’t come bc of work”
BD	Birthday / big deal	“happy bd!! 🎉”
BFF	Best friends forever	“my bff since 5th grade”
BRB	Be right back	“brb, charging my phone”
BTW	By the way	“btw I saw your post”
CYA	See ya	“ok cya tmrw”
DM	Direct message	“check your dm”
DWS	Dealing with stuff	“sorry, been dws lately”
DYK	Did you know	“dyk cats sleep 15 hrs a day?”

Texting Abbreviations E–I

Abbreviation	Meaning	Example
FOMO	Fear of missing out	“going bc of fomo lol”
FR	For real	“that was so good fr”
FTW	For the win	“pizza ftw”
FWM	Support me / hang out with me	“if you fwm, show up”
FYI	For your information	“fyi class is canceled”
G2G	Got to go	“g2g, mom’s calling”
GG	Good game	“gg everyone”
GN	Good night	“gn, sleep well”
GOAT	Greatest of all time	“Messi is the goat”
GTB	Go to bed / going to bed	“gtb, early class”
GTFO	Get the f*** out (shock or disbelief)	“you won?? gtfo 😂”
HBD	Happy birthday	“hbd queen 🎂”
HBU	How about you?	“good, hbu?”
HMG	Hit me up	“hmg when you’re free”
HMU	Hit me up	“hmu this weekend”
HY	Hell yeah	“pizza tonight? hy”
HYD	How you doing?	“hey hyd?”
ICL	I can’t lie	“icl that fit is fire”
ICYMI	In case you missed it	“icymi, new episode is out”
IDC	I don’t care	“idc, you choose”
IDEK	I don’t even know	“idek what happened”
IDGAF	I don’t give a f***	“idgaf what they say”
IDK	I don’t know	“idk, you pick”
IJBOL	I just burst out laughing	“that video 😂 ijbol”
IKR	I know, right?	“ikr it was crazy”
ILY	I love you	“ily, good night”
IMO	In my opinion	“imo the book was better”
IMY	I miss you	“imy, come back soon”
IRL	In real life	“let’s meet irl”
ISTG	I swear to God	“istg I didn’t take it”
IYKYK	If you know, you know	“that party… iykyk”

Texting Abbreviations J–O

Abbreviation	Meaning	Example
JK	Just kidding	“you’re weird jk 😂”
JP	Just playing	“relax, jp”
L8R	Later	“talk l8r”
LMK	Let me know	“lmk if you’re coming”
LML	Love my life	“beach day, lml”
LMS	Like my status	“lms for a rate”
LOK	LOL, okay	“lok, if you say so”
LOL	Laughing out loud	“lol same”
MF	Male or female	“new account, mf?”
NBD	No big deal	“forgot it? nbd”
NGL	Not gonna lie	“ngl that was fun”
NM	Not much	“nm, wbu?”
NP	No problem	“np, anytime”
NVM	Never mind	“nvm, found it”
OBO	Or best offer	“$300 obo”
OFC	Of course	“ofc I’ll be there”
OMG	Oh my God	“omg no way”
OMM	On my mama	“I didn’t do it omm”
ONG	On God (I swear)	“best burger ong”
OOMF	One of my followers	“oomf posted again”
OSNS	On some nonchalant stuff / Oh shoot, not sure	“just vibing, osns”
OTG	On the go	“texting otg, sorry”

Texting Abbreviations P–Z

Abbreviation	Meaning	Example
PLS	Please	“send it pls”
PMO	Pisses me off	“slow wifi pmo”
POV	Point of view	“pov: it’s Monday”
RN	Right now	“busy rn”
ROFL	Rolling on the floor laughing	“rofl 😂😂”
SMH	Shaking my head	“he forgot again smh”
SRSLY	Seriously	“srsly?? 😂”
SS	Screenshot	“send me the ss”
SUS	Suspicious	“that’s kinda sus”
TBH	To be honest	“tbh I’m tired”
TFW	That feeling when	“tfw it’s Friday”
TMW	That moment when	“tmw you forget your password”
TP	Toilet paper (prank)	“they tp’d the house”
TS	True story	“I met him once, ts”
TTYL	Talk to you later	“gtg, ttyl”
TTYS	Talk to you soon	“bye, ttys”
TY	Thank you	“ty so much!”
W / L	Win / loss	“that’s a W”
WBU	What about you?	“chillin, wbu?”
WDYM	What do you mean?	“wdym you’re not coming?”
WSG	What’s good?	“yo wsg”
WTW	What’s the word / what’s the wave?	“wtw tonight?”
WUT	What	“wut 😂”
WYA	Where you at?	“wya? I’m here”
WYD	What you doing?	“wyd rn?”
WYF	Where you from?	“wyf originally?”
WYO	What you on?	“wyo tonight?”
XD	Laughing face (big laugh)	“that meme XD”
YOLO	You only live once	“skydiving? yolo”
YW	You’re welcome	“yw!”

Popular Slang Words and Emojis Used in Texts

Not all text slang is an abbreviation. These words and emojis show up in chats just as often:

Word / Emoji	Meaning	Example
Delulu	Delusional in a hopeful, fun way	“he’ll text back, I’m delulu”
Rizz	Charm, flirting skill	“he’s got rizz”
Period	End of discussion, that’s final	“she’s the best. period.”
Sneaky link	A secret hookup or crush	“he’s her sneaky link”
Racks	$1,000 (money)	“spent two racks”
💀 (skull)	“I’m dead” = that’s hilarious	“that video 💀”

For hundreds more, browse our full Gen Z slang dictionary and our guide to Gen Z meaning in text.

Texting Abbreviations by Category

It’s easier to remember texting abbreviations when you group them by what they do. Here are the main types:

Greetings and check-ins

HYD (how you doing?), WSG (what’s good?), WTW (what’s the word / what’s the wave?), WYD (what you doing?), HBU (how about you?), WBU (what about you?), WYA (where you at?), WYO (what you on?).

Honesty and agreement

NGL (not gonna lie), ICL (I can’t lie), TBH (to be honest), FR (for real), ONG (on god (i swear)), ISTG (I swear to God), OMM (on my mama), IKR (I know, right?).

Laughing and reactions

LOL (laughing out loud), IJBOL (I just burst out laughing), ROFL (rolling on the floor laughing), XD (laughing face (big laugh)), SMH (shaking my head), OMG (oh my god), WUT (what), GTFO (get the f*** out (shock or disbelief)).

Goodbyes and breaks

BRB (be right back), BBL (be back later), TTYL (talk to you later), CYA (see ya), GTB (go to bed / going to bed), G2G (got to go), AFK (away from keyboard), GN (good night).

Feelings and love

ILY (I love you), IMY (I miss you), LML (love my life), PMO (pisses me off), DWS (dealing with stuff), IDEK (I don’t even know), ATP (at this point), IDGAF (I don’t give a f***).

Social media and gaming

DM (direct message), SS (screenshot), LMS (like my status), POV (point of view), OOMF (one of my followers), GG (good game), W / L (win / loss), IRL (In real life).

20 Most Common Texting Abbreviations in 2026

If you only learn a few texting abbreviations, start with these. You’ll see them in almost every group chat:

1. LOL: Laughing out loud
2. BRB: Be right back
3. IDK: I don’t know
4. NGL: Not gonna lie
5. FR: For real
6. WYD: What you doing?
7. HBU: How about you?
8. TBH: To be honest
9. SMH: Shaking my head
10. IKR: I know, right?
11. ILY: I love you
12. BTW: By the way
13. IMO: In my opinion
14. TTYL: Talk to you later
15. LMK: Let me know
16. HYD: How you doing?
17. WSG: What’s good?
18. ICL: I can’t lie
19. IRL: In real life
20. OFC: Of course

How to Use Texting Abbreviations the Right Way

• Know your audience: friends and classmates will get “ngl” or “wyd,” but parents, teachers and older relatives may not.
• Keep work chats clean: in emails, Slack or job messages, write full words. “Let me know” looks more professional than “lmk.”
• Watch the tone: a one-letter “k” or a full stop after “ok.” can feel cold. Our guide to the period meaning in text explains why.
• Don’t overdo it: a message made only of abbreviations is hard to read. Mix them with normal words.
• Check before you send: some acronyms have rude meanings (like GTFO or IDGAF). Make sure the person won’t take it the wrong way.
• When unsure, ask or look it up: it’s totally fine to reply “wdym?” or use our Abbreviation Decoder.

Why Do People Use Texting Abbreviations?

• Speed: typing three letters is faster than a full phrase, especially on a phone.
• Tone: abbreviations like “lol” or “ngl” make messages feel friendly and relaxed.
• Belonging: using the same slang as your friends shows you’re part of the group.
• Space: short forms fit captions, bios, comments and gaming chats with limits.
• Fun: new acronyms spread fast on TikTok and become part of online culture.

Language experts see this as a normal part of how internet slang grows. New texting abbreviations appear, become popular, and some (like LOL and OMG) even end up in dictionaries.

FAQs About Texting Abbreviations

Conclusion

Texting abbreviations make chats faster and more fun, but only if you know what they mean. Bookmark this A–Z list of texting abbreviations and come back whenever a new one confuses you. We update it as new Gen Z slang appears, and every linked term has a full guide with examples and replies.

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