If you’re new to text messaging, you’ll find that people frequently use abbreviations and little icons known as Emoji to express themselves.
The abbreviations save time and since the number of characters in an SMS is limited space. Let’s check out some common abbreviations:
BTW By the way
B/C Because
BION Believe it or not
BF Best friend
BFF Best friend forever
BFN By for now
BRB Be right back
BRO Be right over
BSF But seriously, folks
BTD Bored to death
BTDT Been there, done that
CID Consider it done
CMIW Correct me if I’m wrong
CU See you
DEF Definitely
DGMW Don’t get me wrong
DH Dear husband
DM Direct message
DW Dear wife
DWH During work hours
EFT Electronic funds transfer
FB Facebook
FYI For your information
HB Happy birthday
HF Hope this helps
IDK I don’t know
IGWS It goes without saying
IHNC I have no clue
IKR I know, right?
IMHO In my humble opinion
IMO In my opinion
JK Just kidding
LHK Love, hugs, kisses
LOL Laughing out loud (also used for lots of love)
LY Love you
LYLAB Love you like a brother
LYLAS Love you like a sister
NP No problem
NOYB None of your business
NSFW Not safe for work
NTW Not to worry
OMG Oh my God
OT Off topic
OTOH On the other hand
POV Point of view
ROTFL Rolling on the floor laughing
ROTFLO Rolling on the floor laughing out loud
THX Thanks
TIA Thanks in advance
TY Thank you
TYVM Thank you very much
TYT Take your time
WTH What the he**?
WTF What the #$*!?
This is far from a complete list. Individuals make up their own as they go, so don’t be afraid to ask if you don’t know what something means.
You might also see an F or an AF inserted to just about anything. That F stands for the old F f-bomb and the AF is for “as f***. I know many of you don’t like to curse, but I’m cluing you in on this one so you don’t accidentally pick it up and use salty language without knowing what it means.