How to Understand Your Kids' Text Messages

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Text messages are a popular way to communicate using a cellular phone. Since it can take too much time to type a complete sentence, a form of shorthand known as "text lingo" or "chat lingo" has developed. For parents who are unfamiliar with this new language, how to understand your kids' text messages will help you learn the basics.
Understanding Text Message Tips
1. Words are rarely spelled out in text messages.
2. Vowels are often removed from words.
3. Numbers and symbols can replace words or sounds.
4. Popular phrases often become acronyms.
5. Phrases such as "G2G" and "GFY" can mean more than one thing.
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Some content on this page could be considered offensive; it has only been provided for informational purposes.
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Understanding Text Message Tips
1. Words are rarely spelled out in text messages.
2. Vowels are often removed from words.
3. Numbers and symbols can replace words or sounds.
4. Popular phrases often become acronyms.
5. Phrases such as "G2G" and "GFY" can mean more than one thing.
Introduction
- If you have ever looked at your kids' cell phone or chat conversations, you've probably wondered when they learned a second language.YouTube Video: idk my bff rose (Time: 0:31) More importantly, you may have pondered just what they're talking about. If not, you might want to start. Text messaging has become the latest way to keep up with activities and events, and if you want to be able to communicate effectively with your kid, you need to learn the lingo.The San Diego Union-Tribune: More parents turn to text messaging to keep up with kids (April 12, 2008) Add in concerns about online safety (like a 35-year-old man exchanging explicit text messages with a 14-year-old girl), and you can see how important understanding texts can be.MSNBC.com: Teens' Online Lingo Leaves Parents Baffled (February 9, 2005) Fortunately you'll soon be conversant in this new language—it seems much harder than it really is.
- WARNING: Some of the content on this page could be considered offensive. We have included some suggestive phrases for safety/informational purposes.
Step 1: Getting Down the Basics
- When teens text message, their goal is to say as much as possible in as few letters as possible. Rarely are words completely typed out. If you are good at deciphering vanity plates, you will probably be good at deciphering text messages. Here is how basic phrases are determined:
1. Acronyms: Acronyms are often used for common phrases. Examples are LOL for "laughing out loud" and OMG for "oh my god."
2. Abbreviated words: Words are often abbreviated, such as GF for girlfriend and PPL for people. Sometimes silent letters and vowels are removed, such as PLS for please and XLNT for excellent.
3. Numbers, letters and symbols for sounds: In such cases as 121 for "one to one," CUL for "see you later" and B4 for before, sounds are shortened to single letters/numbers.
4. Popular and random phrases: Some phrases have become popular for various reasons. Common terms include 420 for "marijuana", 143 for "I love you" (the number of letters in each word) and 459 for "I love you" (the corresponding numbers for the letters I, L and Y).Snopes: 420 Urban Dictionary: 143
5. Known abbreviations: Terms such as @ for at are frequently used.AT&T: AT&T Text2Connect with Teens
6. Combination of any of the above.
- In order to understand some phrases, you need to look at the context. Otherwise, the results could be disastrous. For example:
1. U can mean "How are you?" or "You do it."
2. G2G can mean "Get together" or "Got to go"
3. GFY can mean "Good for you" or "Go f--- yourself"
4. BF can mean "boyfriend" or "best friend"
5. WB can mean "Welcome back" or "Write back"
- It may seem confusing, but you'll start to get the hang of it soon enough. Even normal English has homographs, or words that are spelled the same, yet have different meanings (e.g. "desert," "lead" and "refuse").
Step 2: Most Popular Phrases
- Let's start with some of the most popular phrases used. This will help give you some of the basics before we move on to phrases you might want to use and phrases you need to watch out for in your kids' text messages.
- Basic Abbreviations:
- <td align="left" valign="top" width="150px">
- 1 – One/Won/Want
- 2 – To/Too
- 2day – Today
- 2moro – Tomorrow
- 2nite – Tonight
- 4 – For
- 4evr – Forever
- </td>
- <td align="left" valign="top" width="175px">
- 8 – ate or oral sex
- C – See
- cos – Because/Cousin
- cuz – Because/Cousin
- ez – Easy
- K – Okay
- </td>
- <td align="left" valign="top" width="130px">
- L8R – Later
- ne1 – Anyone
- luv – Love
- n – And
- ppl – People
- qt – Cutie
- </td>
- <td align="left" valign="top" width="225px">
- R – Are
- U – You/How are you?/You do it.
- ur – Your/You're
- wknd – Weekend
- y – Why
- yr – Your/You're
- </td>
- </tr></table>
- Greetings/Closings:
- <td align="left" valign="top" width="200px">
- BRB – Be right back
- TTYL – Talk to you later
- B4N or BFN – Bye for now
- BAK – Back at keyboard
- BBIAF – Be back in a few
- BBL – Be back later
- </td>
- <td align="left" valign="top" width="253px">
- BCNU – Be seeing you
- BRB – Be right back
- CU – See you
- CUL – See you later/Call you later
- CYA – See you
- CYL – See you later
- </td>
- <td align="left" valign="top" width="233px">
- G2G or GTG – Got to Go/Get Together
- TTFN – Ta Ta for now
- TTYL – Talk to you later
- TTYS – Talk to you soon
- WB – Welcome back/Write back
- </td>
- </tr></table>
- Laughter:
- <td align="left" valign="top" width="349px">
- LOL – Laugh(ing) out loud
- LAFFO – Laughing out loud
- LHO – Laughing my head off
- LMAO – Laugh(ing) my a-s off
- LMFAO – Laughing my f------ a-s off
- LMSO – Laughing my socks off
- LOLZ – Laugh(ing) out loud
- </td>
- <td align="left" valign="top" width="349px">
- LQ2MS – Laughing quietly to myself
- LQTS – Laughing quietly to self
- ROFL – Rolling on floor laughing
- ROFLMAO – Rolling on floor laughing my a-s off
- ROTFL – Rolling on the floor laughing
- ROTFLOL – Rolling on the floor laughing out loud
- </td>
- </tr></table>
- Popular Phrases:
- <td align="left" valign="top" width="349px">
- BFF – Best friend forever
- BFFL – Best friends for life
- BTW – By the way
- FYI – For your information
- GAL – Get a life
- GTG or G2G – Got to go or Get together
- Homg – Oh my God/gosh
- IDC – I don't care
- IDK – I don't know
- IMHO – In my humble/honest opinion
- IMNECTHO – In my not-even-close-to-humble opinion
- IMNSHO – In my not so humble opinion
- IMO – In my opinion
- IWYWH – I wish you were here
- JC – Just chilling
- JK – Just kidding
- JP – Just playing
- JW – Just wondering
- KWIM – Know what I mean?
- MYOB – Mind your own business
- </td>
- <td align="left" valign="top" width="349px">
- NM – Not much/Nothing much/Never mind
- NMU – Not much, you?
- Noob – Newbie (often an insult)
- OMG – Oh my God/Gosh
- OMFG – Oh my f------ God/Gosh
- PITA – Pain in the a-s
- PLS or PLZ – Please
- PlzKThx – Please. Okay? Thanks. (Thanks In Advance)
- RUOK – Are you Okay?
- THNKS, THNX or THX – Thanks
- TTLY – Totally
- TY – Thank you
- UW – You're welcome
- W/E – Whatever
- W8 – Wait
- WTF – What the f---?
- WYSIWYG – What you see is what you get
- XLNT – Excellent
- ZOMG – Oh my God/gosh
- ZZZ – Sleeping/Bored/Tired
- </td>
- </tr></table>
Online Text Message Dictionaries
- Since text lingo has become almost a second language, it would be impossible to list all the terms on one page. However, there are a number of online resources available to help you translate a message. Here are a few of them:
1. Abbreviations.com
2. WebWasp: Text Messaging Dictionary
3. Netlingo: The Largest List of Text Message Shorthand
4. Netlingo: The Top 50 Acronyms Every Parent Needs to Know
5. Dictionary of English slang and colloquialisms of the UK
6. ComputerUser: High-Tech Dictionary
7. Lingo2Word: Texting Lingo
8. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Chat Abbreviations
9. Tech Dictionary

Step 3: Emoticons

Emoticons, or the use of a combination of symbols to represent a word, phrase or emotion, are common in emails, instant messages and chat conversations. They also show up in text messages. Sometimes they are quite simple, such as the basic smile :-), while others are more complex. Here are a few of the basic emoticons you might see or want to use:

:-) Smile, happy
:-( Sad, depressed
;-) Wink
:-D Big grin or laugh
:-P Sticking tongue out

:-* Kiss
:-/ Uncertain
:-| Waiting, indifferent
:-S Smirk
:-O Shocked, surprised

>:( Angry
:-? Confused
:'( Crying
:-X My lips are sealed
o:-) Angelic

For a larger list of emoticons, you can check out some of the following sources:

Wikipedia: List of Common Emoticons
ComputerUser: High-Tech Dictionary: Emoticons
Emoticons & Smilies: Emoticons Explained
Lingo2Word: Emoticon List

Step 4: Things You'll Want to Say
- The best way to learn "text lingo" is to start using it yourself. Texting your kids can be a great way to pass along messages. Here are a few text phrases that you might find useful.
- <td align="left" valign="top" width="349px">
- 143 – I love you
- 459 – I love you
- AEAP – As early as possible
- ASAP – As soon as possible
- AWGTHTGTTA – Are we going to have to go through this again?
- CYR MA – Call your mother
- CYR PA – Call your father
- CYT or SYT – See you tomorrow
- DBL84DNR – Don't be late for dinner
- Dnt b L8 – Don't be late
- EM? – Excuse me?
- EOD – End of discussion
- GJ – Good job
- GL – Good luck
- GM – Good morning
- gr8 – Great
- GUDLUK – Good luck
- H&K – Hugs and kisses
- HAGN – Have a good night
- HAND – Have a nice day
- HF – Have fun
- </td>
- <td align="left" valign="top" width="349px">
- ILU or ILY – I love you
- ILUL – I love you lots
- ISS – I said so
- JK – Just kidding
- JstCllMe – Just call me
- K – Okay
- KIT – Keep in touch
- L8 – Late
- LMK – Let me know
- MU – Miss you
- PTB – Please text back
- RINGL8 – Running late
- RUOK – Are you Okay?
- THX – Thanks
- TTYL – Talk to you later
- TY – Thank you
- WDYMBT – What do you mean by that?
- WFM – Works for me
- WTG – Way to go
- WYCM – Will you call me?
- YW – You're welcome
- </td>
- </tr>
- </table>
Step 5: Warning Signs
- There are some codes that every parent should keep his/her eyes open for. These are codes that kids use to warn others that their parents are around or that they use to talk about sex, drugs, or to arrange a meeting.
Parent Warning Codes
- These are codes that kids use to let whomever they are talking to know that it is not safe to talk. If you see these codes, you should instantly be suspicious.
- <td align="left" valign="top" width="349px">
- CD9 – Code 9 means parents are around
- KPC – Keeping parents clueless
- MOS – Mom over shoulder
- P911 – Parent alert (Parents are coming)
- PAL – Parents are listening
- PAW – Parents are watching
- </td>
- <td align="left" valign="top" width="349px">
- PIR – Parent in room
- POS – Parent over shoulder (can also mean "piece of s--t")
- PRW – Parents are watching
- TAW – Teachers are watching
- TOS – Teacher over shoulder
- </td>
- </tr>
- </table>
Meeting Codes
- These codes are used by strangers to gain information about people they don't know or to arrange a first meeting. They can be used between friends, but most are more commonly used in other circumstances.
- <td align="left" valign="top" width="349px">
- ADR or addy – Address
- ASLRP or A/S/L/R/P – Age, sex, location, race and/or picture)
- f2f – Face to face
- FanC a d8? – Fancy a date?
- IRL – In real life
- LMIRL – Let's meet in real life
- </td>
- <td align="left" valign="top" width="349px">
- MorF – Male or female
- RL – Real life
- S2R – Send to receive (pictures)
- wan2 c a moV? – Want to see a movie?
- WUF – Where are you from?
- WYRN – What's your real name?
- YMMV – Your mileage may vary
- </td>
- </tr>
- </table>
Sex Terms
- Of course, one of the things parents need to be aware of is if sexually explicit conversations are occurring. Here are a few basic terms to get you started:
- <td align="left" valign="top" width="349px">
- 8 – Oral sex (or ate)
- banana – Penis
- DUM – Do you masturbate?
- DUSL – Do you scream loud?
- FB – F--- buddy
- FMLTWIA – F--- me like the whore I am
- FOL – Fond of leather
- GNOC – Get naked on webcam
- GYPO – Get your pants off
- IAYM – I am your master
- IF/IB – In the front or in the back
- IIT – Is it tight?
- ILF/MD – I love female/male dominance
- </td>
- <td align="left" valign="top" width="349px">
- IMEZRU – I am easy, are you?
- IPN – I'm posting naked
- IWSN – I want sex now
- J/O – Masturbating
- kitty – Vagina
- NIFOC – Naked in front of computer
- OLL – Online love
- PRON – Porn
- Q2C – Quick to cum
- RP – Roleplay
- SorG – Straight or gay
- TDTM – Talk dirty to me
- WTGP – Want to go private?
- </td>
- </tr>
- </table>
Drug Terms
- Drug terms change with the seasons, and it would be impossible to list them all here. The Office of National Drug Control Policy has a more complete list of street terms for drugs on its website. Parents can also get more information by checking out Parents: The Anti-Drug. Here are a few drug terms to keep in mind.
- <td align="left" valign="top" width="329px">
- #-) – Wiped out, partied all night
- %*} – Inebriated
- %\ – Hangover
- :-d~ – Heavy smoker
- 420 – Marijuana
- Blue Boogers – Snorting Adderall or Ritalin
- Blunt – Type of marijuana cigarette
- Bong – A pipe for smoking marijuana
- Bud – Marijuana
- E – Ecstasy
- Ganja – Marijuana
- </td>
- <td align="left" valign="top" width="369px">
- Kind Bud – A type of marijuana
- Lean – Combining prescription cough syrup with painkillers and soda
- Mary Jane – Marijuana
- O – OxyContin
- Pharming – Raiding medical cabinets for prescription drugs to use to get high
- Pot – Marijuana
- Robotripping – Drinking cough syrup to get high
- Tweaking – High on amphetamines
- Weed – Marijuana
- </td>
- </tr>
- </table>
Other Terms
- These terms are ones you need to be aware of as well.
- <td align="left" valign="top" width="349px">
- (( )):** – Hugs and kisses
- BF – Boyfriend/ Best Friend
- GF – Girlfriend
- IWYWH – I wish you were here
- LDR – Long distance relationship
- LTR – Long-term relationship
- MOOS – Member(s) of the opposite sex
- MOSS or MOTSS – Member(s) of the same sex
- NALOPKT – Not a lot of people know that
- PCM – Please call me
- SMEM – Send me an email
- SMIM – Send me an instant message
- </td>
- <td align="left" valign="top" width="349px">
- SO – Significant other
- txtme – Text me
- WYCM – Will you call me?
- HAK – Hugs and kisses
- KFY – Kiss for you
- KOTL – Kiss on the lips
- LULAB – Love you like a brother
- LULAS – Love you like a sister
- PDA – Public display of affection
- x – Kiss
- xoxoxo – Hugs and kisses
- :-* – Kiss
- </td>
- </tr>
- </table>
Conclusion
- Text messages are one of the main ways kids communicate with each other, and it can be a great way for you to communicate with them. So, even if it makes your kids LOL, take the time to learn the lingo.
Online Text Message Dictionaries
1. Abbreviations.com
2. WebWasp: Text Messaging Dictionary
3. Netlingo: The Largest List of Text Message Shorthand
4. Netlingo: The Top 50 Acronyms Every Parent Needs to Know
5. Dictionary of English slang and colloquialisms of the UK
6. ComputerUser: High-Tech Dictionary
7. Lingo2Word: Texting Lingo
8. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Chat Abbreviations
9. Tech Dictionary
Emoticon Resources
1. Wikipedia: List of Common Emoticons
2. ComputerUser: High-Tech Dictionary: Emoticons
3. Emoticons & Smilies: Emoticons Explained
4. Lingo2Word: Emoticon List

How to Understand Your Kids' Text Messages

Understanding Text Message Tips

Disclaimer

Related Mahalo Pages

Categories

Recent Contributors

Understanding Text Message Tips

Introduction

Step 1: Getting Down the Basics

Step 2: Most Popular Phrases

Online Text Message Dictionaries

Step 3: Emoticons

Step 4: Things You'll Want to Say

Step 5: Warning Signs

Parent Warning Codes

Meeting Codes

Sex Terms

Drug Terms

Other Terms

Conclusion

Online Text Message Dictionaries

Emoticon Resources

References

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