There’s a whole new generation of kids growing up with their very own lingo and it’s called Text Speak. If you’re not acquainted with it, you could surely be forgiven for wondering what foreign speaking planet you were on. I work with teens, have two of my very own at home and often I too need a reference guide to decipher what on Earth it is they’re saying.
Text Speak is a new world language that’s not just confined to electronic hand held devices though, ohhh no, you’ll see it in print media, on billboards and it’s even crept stealthily into High School English essays … but let’s not go there.
If you’re feeling a little intimidated by this lingo, I’ve compiled a neat little summary of the more commonly used Text Speak terminology so you can either (a) join in the convo and be super sick too (sick is good) or (b) continue the pretense but with at least the capacity to effectively spy on the young folk near by.
Here then – according to Sync - are the 50 most common texting terms. It’s a comprehensive list that should stand you in very good stead should you stumble across a teen’s Stumble Upon (that would be another blog post, for another day!)
Teens’ Text Talk – 50 of the best!
2moro – Tomorrow
2nite – Tonight
BRB – Be Right Back
BTW – By The Way
B4N – Bye For Now
BCNU – Be Seeing You
BFF – Best Friends Forever
CYA – Cover Your Ass
DBEYR – Don’t Believe Everything You Read
DILLIGAS – Do I Look Like I Give A Sh**
FUD – Fear, Uncertainty, and Disinformation
FWIW – For What It’s Worth
GR8 – Great
ILY – I Love You
IMHO – In My Humble Opinion
IRL – In Real Life
ISO – In Search Of
J/K – Just Kidding
L8R – Later
LMAO – Laughing My Ass Off
LOL – Laughing Out Loud -or- Lots Of Love
LYLAS – Love You Like A Sister
MHOTY – My Hat’s Off To You
NIMBY – Not In My Back Yard
NP – No Problem
NUB – it stands for a new person
OIC – Oh, I See
OMG – Oh My God
OT – Off Topic
POV – Point Of View
RBTL – Read Between The Lines
ROTFLMAO – Rolling On The Floor Laughing My Ass Off
RT – Real Time
RTM – Read The Manual
SH – Sh** Happens
SITD – Still In The Dark
SOL - Sh** Out of Luck
STBY – Sucks To Be You
SWAK – Sealed With A Kiss
TFH – Thread From Hell
THX – Thanks
TLC – Tender Loving Care
TMI – Too Much Information
TTYL – Talk To You Later
TYVM – Thank You Very Much
VBG – Very Big Grin
WEG – Wicked Evil Grin
WTF – What The F***
WYWH – Wish You Were Here
XOXO – Hugs and Kisses
If you are heading in the general direction of midlife (ahem, like moiself) don’t despair. By the time the zimmerframe calls, I’m anticipating that arthritic fingers will be a thing of the past as nifty texting techniques (and a decent dose of krill oil) will keep those joints supple AND then, my friends, we shall have a Text Speak language of our very own …..
Texting for Seniors – That’ll show ‘em!!
ATD- At the Doctor’s
BFF – Best Friend’s Funeral
BTW- Bring the Wheelchair
BYOT – Bring Your Own Teeth
CBM- Covered by Medicare
CUATSC- See You at the Senior Center
DWI- Driving While Incontinent
FWIW – Forgot Where I Was
GGPBL- Gotta Go, Pacemaker Battery Low
GHA – Got Heartburn Again
HGBM – Had Good Bowel Movement
LMDO- Laughing My Dentures Out
TTYL – Talk to you Louder
IMHO – Is my Hearing Aid On?
WAITT – Who Am I Talking To?
GGLKI – Gotta Go, Laxative Kicking in!
