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Media Glossary: Online and Texting Acronyms

Because of their rapid-fire nature, instant messages (IMs) and text messages (TXTs) often include abbreviations and slang. Although some of these may seem obvious (e.g., cu = see you, and l8 = late), others are not.

The following list of abbreviations and explanations with take the mystery out of your child’s messages:

afk

= away from the keyboard

afc

= away from the computer

atm

= at the moment

ayt

= are you there?

ayor

= at your own risk

b

= be

b4

= before

bbfn

= bye-bye for now

b4n

= bye for now

bcuz

= because

b/c

= because

bf

= boyfriend

bff

= best friends forever

brb

= be right back

bs

= big smile 

c

= see

cul8r

= see you later

cuz

= because

d8

= date

da

= the

dc

= don't care

dk

= don't know

dos

= dad over shoulder

dnt

= don't

dwb

= don't write back

dznt

= doesn't

eod

= end of discussion

eva

= ever

fb

= Facebook

ff

= friends forever

foaf

= friend of a friend

f2f

= face to face

fyeo

= for your eyes only

g2g

= got to go

gal

= get a life

gf

= girlfriend

gl

= good luck

gmta

= great minds think alike

grr

= a sign of anger or frustration

haha

= a sign of laughter/happiness

hth

= hope this helps

h&k

= hugs and kisses

hw

= homework

hs

= high school

idk

= I don't know

idc

= I don't care

iykwim

= if you know what I mean

ilu

= I love you

imo

= in my opinion

irl

= in real life

jk

= just kidding

jj

= just joking

jw

= just wondering

k

= okay

kc

= keep cool

l8

= late

l8r

= later

lol

= laugh out loud or lots of love (depending on context)

lyk

= like

lyl

= love you lots

lylas

= love you like a sister

lylab

= love you like a brother

mos

= mom over shoulder

nething

= anything

nm or nvm

= never mind

np

= no problem

ntm

= not too much

nvr

= never

nw

= no way

omg

= oh my god/oh my goodness

ot

= off topic

otp

= on the phone

p911

= parent alert

pal

= parents are listening

pict. or pic

= picture

plz or pls

= please

pm

= private message 

pos

= parent over shoulder

ppl

= people

prw

= parents are watching

prolly

= probably

r

= are

rents

= parents

rite

= right/write

rly

= really

rotf

= rolling on the floor

rme

= rolling my eyes

ruok

= are you okay?

skewl

= school

sry

= sorry

st2moro

= same time tomorrow

sum1

= someone

sup

= what’s up

swak

= sealed with a kiss

tmb

= text me back

tmi

= too much information

ttfn

= ta ta for now

ttyl

= talk to you later

ttys

= talk to you soon

ty

= thank you

txt

= text

ur

= your, you are

ugh

= expression of frustration

wanna

= want to

w8

= wait

wb

= write back / welcome back

w/o

= with out

w/e

= whatever

wu

= what's up

ur

= your, you're

v

= very

xo

= kiss and hug

y

= why?

yt

= you there?

yw

= you're welcome

@hm

= at home 

@schl

= at school

2l8t

= too late

4evr

= for ever

<33

= (double heart) double love

<3

= (heart) love

</3

= (broken heart) sad

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