107 Text Abbreviations Every Parent Should Know
What does your teenager’s text mean?
Teenagers today, just like in our day, are trying to find their individuality. And, with teachers and parents and many other role models telling them what they can and cannot do, they often find ways to communicate with their peers that will fly under the radar of adults. So, how can we keep track of our children when they have their own lingo?
Be aware and arm yourself with knowledge!
Everything about technology screams a need for education, especially for those of us who were born during a time when the world didn’t rely on technology. Instead, we came running home when the street lights came on or before curfew. However, our children know technology like it’s second nature—innate—or they were born with the skills. Have you ever seen a six-year-old handle a video game as if they were in an astronaut flight simulator? It’s amazing.
That’s why we need to be one step ahead of our preteens and teenagers! Here is a list of acronyms that kids have developed to be covert when texting with their peers. Not all are bad, but there are some very important ones here that should give you a moment’s pause if you see them—and provide you with an opportunity to talk to your child about the dangers associated with some of the acronyms of concern. Do you recognize any of these abbreviations? Well, now you know what they mean.
*Please note that some may have other meanings, so don’t jump to accuse. Just allow this to open the door to a meaningful conversation with your teenager.
(L)MIRL: Let’s meet in real life.
1174: Party meeting place
143: I love you.
420 Marijuana
4COL: For crying out loud
4EAE: Forever and ever
53x: Sex
8: Oral Sex
9: Parent watching
99: Parent gone
ADDY: Address
ADN: Any day now
AF: Acronym for “as f#c%” and it means extremely. Example: “I’m tired AF.”
AFAIK: As far as I know
AFK: Away from keyboard
AMEZRU: I am easy, are you?
ASL: Age, sex, location
ATM: At the moment
ATM: At this moment
B/C: Because
B4: Before
Bae: Baby or babe in a romantic way
Banana: Part of male anatomy
BF / GF: Boyfriend / Girlfriend
BRB: Be right back
Broken: Hungover from alcohol
BTW: By the way
CD9: Parents around (code 9)
CID: Acid, LSD (the drug)
CU46: See you for sex.
DOC: Drug of choice
F2F: Face-to-face meeting
FWB: Friends with benefits
FWIW: For what it’s worth
FYEO: For your eyes only
FYI: For your information
GNOC: Get naked on camera
GYPO: Get your pants off.
HAK: Hugs and kisses
HAND: Have a nice day.
Hooking up: This usually means having sex with someone.
IDK: I don’t know.
IKR: I know, right?
ILY / ILU: I love you.
IMHO: In my honest opinion / In my humble opinion
IMO: In my opinion
IPN: I’m posting naked.
IRL: In real life
IWSN: I want sex now.
J/K: Just kidding
J4F: Just for fun
JIC: Just in case
JSYK: Just so you know
KOTL – Kiss on the lips
KPC: Keeping parents clueless
LH6: Let’s have sex.
Lit: Drunk or stoned. Example: “I got lit at that party.”
LMK: Let me know
LOL: Laughing out loud
MOS: Mom over shoulder
NAZ: Name/address/ zip
Netflix and chill: Modern way to invite someone in for a nightcap. This is another way to invite someone to hook up.
NIFOC: Naked in front of computer
NM: Never mind
NMU: Not much, you?
NP: No problem
NTS: Note to self
OH: Overheard
OMG: Oh my God
ORLY: Oh, really?
P911: Parent alert
PAL: Parents are listening.
PAW: Parents are watching.
PIR: Parent in room
PLS or PLZ: Please
POS: Parent over shoulder
PPL: People
PRON: Porn
PTB: Please text back.
QQ: Crying
RL: Real life
ROFL: Rolling on the floor laughing
RU/18: Are you over 18?
RUH: Are you horny?
SMH: Shaking my head
SRSLY: Seriously
SSDD: Same stuff, different day
SUGARPIC: Suggestive or erotic photo
SWAK: Sealed with a kiss
SWYP: So, what’s your problem?
TBH: To be honest
TDTM: Talk dirty to me.
THOT: That hoe over there
TIA: Thanks in advance
TMI: Too much information
TMRW: Tomorrow
TTYL: Talk to you later.
TWD: Texting while driving
TY: Thank you
VSF: Very sad face
WB: Welcome back
WTH: What the heck?
WTTP: Want to trade pictures?
WUF: Where are you from?
WYCM: Will you call me?
YW: You’re welcome
ZOMG: Oh my God (sarcastic)