by Carol Cutler
Just when you are starting to feel confident about your English-speaking skills, you come across a new challenge:
texting acronyms from native-speaker friends. Even when you have deciphered the usual letters (like LOL), some texting expressions can still be confusing. You asked, “Can I bring a friend to the party?”, and your roommate replied “Bet”. What does he mean? Was that a yes or no? As it turns out, “bet” means “yes”, or “you bet” (For sure! It’s so certain that you can “bet” on it). These expressions and acronyms are mostly found in text messages, but sometimes they find their way into emails, too. Please be aware that they are INFORMAL and should only be used with close friends and people you know very well. They are most commonly used by teenagers or young adults and also may vary by geographic location in the US. Here is a list of 25 common texting expressions and acronyms with short explanations:
- WDYM – What do you mean? (Please explain yourself)
- OMW – On my way (I’m coming)
- WTM – What’s the matter? (What’s wrong? What is the problem?)
- Ight (or aight) – Alright (Ok or I agree)
- Bet – You bet (It sounds good to me, or for sure)
- ALR – Alright (Okay, or it sounds good to me)
- CU – See you (I will see you later)
- LMK – Let me know (Please give me an answer soon)
- IDK – I don’t know
- IG – I guess (I’m not sure, but I think so)
- RN – Right now
- OMG – Oh my God (Or oh my “gosh”. Some native speakers are sensitive to using the word “God”)
- IMO – In my opinion
- IMHO – In my humble opinion (Or in my honest opinion)
- BTW – By the way (Incidentally)
- TBH – To be honest
- LOL – Laughing “out” loud (That was very funny)
- ROFL – Rolling on the floor laughing (That was very funny)
- BRB – (I will) Be right back
- BBL – (I will) Be back later
- TTYL – (I will) Talk to you later
- GR8 – Great (Wonderful)
- NVM – Never mind (Forget it, ignore it)