Text acronyms used by teens

Texting abbreviations guide for parents

If you're looking for a guide to teen text acronyms, you've come to the right place!

At luna, we stay up-to-date with the latest teen texting trends, thanks to our dedicated team of teen ambassadors.

This means we have the inside scoop on the text acronyms your teen is using every day in messages, social media captions, and DMs.

Just before we get into it, if you're curious about teen emojis and their hidden meanings, check out our teen emoji dictionary for even more insights! 

And you can also explore our teen slang dictionary to decode the language teens use every day.

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Scroll down for a list of text abbreviations – we’ve organised this guide alphabetically for easy reference, and we’ll keep it updated as new texting acronyms emerge from the ever-evolving world of teen conversation.

ABT: About; "We’re talking abt the test tomorrow."

ABT2: About to; "I’m abt2 leave for school."

ACC: Actually; "I acc enjoyed that maths lesson."

ADD: Address; "Drop me your add, we'll pick you up on the way."

AFAIK: As far as I know; "AFAIK, the test is next Tuesday."

AFK: Away from keyboard; "Going AFK for a bit."

AKA: Also known as; "Dave AKA the biggest Swiftie ever."

ASAP: As soon as possible; "Reply ASAP, it’s urgent!"

ASF: As [expletive]; "That movie was boring ASF."

ASL: Age, sex, location; "He asked me ASL in the chat, so I ignored him."

ATM: At the moment; "Can’t talk, busy ATM."

B: Bisexual / Babe; "That’s my B."

B4: Before; "Never seen that B4."

BC: Because; "Not going out BC I’m broke."

BDAY: Birthday; "It’s my bday next week!"

BF: Boyfriend/Best friend; "Going to the cinema with my bf."

BF4L/BFFL: Best friends for life; "We’ve been BFFL since year 7."

BFF: Best friends forever; "Me and Emily are total BFFs."

BFFR: Be f***ing for real; "You think you can finish that project in one night? BFFR."

BLATES: Obviously; "She’s blates into him."

BMS: Broke my scale (used to rate something highly); "Your outfit? 10/10 BMS."

BOYF: Boyfriend; "Met my boyf’s parents today."

BRB: Be right back; "BRB, getting a snack."

BTW: By the way; "BTW, did you see that new show?"

CBA: Can’t be bothered; "CBA to revise tonight."

CEO: Used to indicate someone is the "best" at something; "She’s the CEO of dance trends."

CMB: Call me back; "Left you a message, CMB!"

CMON: Come on; "Cmon, just tell me!"

CTN: Can’t talk now; "CTN, I’m in school."

CU: See you; "CU tomorrow at school."

CYA: See ya; "CYA later!"

DA F/DAFUQ?: What the [expletive]?; "Dafuq was that noise?!"

DC: Dance credit (used on TikTok); "DC: @username."

DISS: Disrespect; "He dissed my outfit."

DKDC: Don’t know, don’t care; "What’s for dinner? DKDC."

DL: Download; "I need to DL that new app."

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DM: Direct message, a form of private messaging; "DM me the details."

DNT: Don’t; "DNT tell mum I skipped class."

DW: Don’t worry; "DW, I got this."

EZ: Easy; "That test was EZ."

'FIT: Outfit; "Fit check!"

FTW: For the win; "Pizza FTW!"

FYP: For You Page (on TikTok); "Hope this makes it to the FYP!"

FR: For real; "That test was hard FR."

GEN: Genuinely; "That was so cool GEN."

GF: Girlfriend; "Met my GF’s parents today."

GG: Good game; "GG, that match was crazy!"

GLHF: Good luck, have fun; "Starting a new game, GLHF!"

GOAT: Greatest of all time; "Taylor Swift is the GOAT."

GRWM: Get ready with me (trend on TikTok); "GRWM for prom!"

GTFO: Get the [expletive] out; "GTFO, you’re kidding me!"

GTG: Got to go; "GTG, dinner time."

HBU: How about you?; "I’m good, HBU?"

HBD: Happy birthday; "HBD bestie!"

HMU: Hit me up; "HMU when you’re free!"

IB: Inspired by (used in TikTok captions); "IB: @creatorname."

ICYMI: In case you missed it; "ICYMI, the concert date changed."

IDC: I don’t care; "IDC what film we watch."

IG: I guess or Instagram; "IG we could go to town later", "Follow me on IG!"

IGS: Instagram stories; "Posted on IGS!"

IKR: I know, right?; "That test was so hard", "IKR?"

ILY: I love you; "ILY bestie!"

ILYSM: I love you so much; "ILYSM, bestie!"

IIRC: If I remember correctly; "IIRC, the test is on Monday."

IMHO: In my humble opinion; "IMHO, that was the best movie ever."

ITSL: I took so long; "ITSL, but I finally finished the coursework."

IYKYK: If you know, you know; "That joke is elite, IYKYK."

JK: Just kidding; "I failed the test… JK, I got an A!"

KMS: K** myself ( often used to express frustration hyperbolically); "Ugh, that test made me wanna KMS."

L: Loss (opposite of W); "That test was an L."

LDR: Long-distance relationship; "Urgh it's so hard being in an LDR"

LMK: Let me know; "LMK when you’re free."

LMAO: Laughing my [expletive] off; "LMAO, that meme is hilarious!"

LTR: Long-term relationship; "Not looking for anything serious, no LTR."

LOL: Laugh out loud; "LOL, I can’t believe that happened!"

LOLLL: Laugh out loud a lot; "LOLLL that’s hilarious!"

LUV YA: Love you; "Luv ya bestie!"

LY: Love you; "LY bestie!"

MCM: Man crush Monday; "MCM goes to Timothée Chalamet."

MFW: My face when; "MFW I forgot my homework 😭"

MID: Mediocre; "That movie was MID"

MOS: Mom over shoulder; "Gotta be careful, MOS"

MUAH: Kissing sound; "MUAH, love ya!"

NGL: Not gonna lie; "NGL, that was kinda fun"

NPC: Non-player character; often used to describe people acting robotic or awkward; "He’s acting like an NPC"

OOMF: One of my followers; "OOMF just posted the funniest video"

OML: Oh my Lord; "OML, I forgot my homework"

OMW: On my way; "OMW to your house"

OOTD: Outfit of the day; "OOTD check"

PAW: Parents are watching; "Can’t talk now, PAW"

PFP: Profile picture; "Changed my PFP today"

PLS: Please; "Pls pick me up soon, this party is so bad"

POV: Point of view; "POV: You're the only one who studied for the test"

RIZZ: Charisma; ability to flirt; "He’s got mad rizz"

RN: Right now; "Busy RN, talk later"

SRS: Serious (used online to indicate tone); "Please reply this is SRS"

SMH: Shaking my head; "SMH, why would they do that?"

STFU: Shut the [expletive] up; "STFU, you’re lying!"

TBH: To be honest; "TBH, I didn’t like that movie"

TBF: To be fair; "TBF, he did warn you"

TBT: Throwback Thursday or throwback to; "TBT to our summer trip"

TFW: That feeling when; "TFW Friday finally arrives"

TMI: Too much information; "TMI, I did NOT need to know that"

TT: TikTok; "Saw this trend on TT"

TTM: Talk to me; "Bored, TTM"

TTYL: Talk to you later; "Gotta go, TTYL!"

TTYLXOX: Talk to you later, hugs and kisses; "Gotta go, TTYLXOX!"

TYS: Thank you so much; "TYS for the help"

V: Very; "That was V funny"

W: Win (used as a reaction); "That’s a W"

WAY: What about you?; "I’m free later, WAY?"

WB: Welcome back; "WB! We missed you!"

WBU: What about you?; "I’m good, WBU?"

WC: Who cares or water closet (bathroom); "WC about his opinion?"

WCW: Woman crush Wednesday; "My WCW is Zendaya"

WFM: Works for me; "Food at 8? WFM!"

WTH: What the heck?; "WTH just happened?!"

WU: What’s up?; "WU, haven’t seen you all day!"

WUU2: What you up to?; "Hey, WUU2 tonight?"

WYCM: Will you call me?; "WYCM later tonight?"

WYD: What (are) you doing?; "WYD later?"

WYRN: What’s your real name?; "WYRN? I don’t think I caught it."

W8: Wait; "W8 a sec, I’m almost done."