txt & internet slang hz bcum so complicated dat ppl R UzN translators, jst 2 undRstNd it. It’s lIk learning o NothA lngwij. If you had trouble reading this sentence; you need a quick guide to text slang. This article gives you some basics, plus a few extras.

Let’s start by decoding the sentence above:

 

 

 

 

 

Interestingly, The Oxford English Dictionary states that the 20 most used words are all under 4 letters. Text slang abbreviates 12 of them.

 

 

 

 

 

Some of the most used words in text message are for organising meetings, touching base with loved ones, congratulating or well wishes, and letting others know what is going on. This list has been complied to help abbreviate the most common type of text messages.

Organising meetings:

English	Text slang	English	Text slang	English	Text slang
Monday	mon.	Saturday	s@RdA	Time	tym
Tuesday	tues.	Sunday	sun.	Day	dA
Wednesday	wed.	Tomorrow	2moro	Later	L8r
Thursday	thur.	Today	2day	tonight	2nt
Friday	fri.	Next week	NXT wk	Tomorrow night	2moro nyt

 

Touching base with loved ones:

English	Text slang	English	Text slang
I love you	I luv U 0r 143	How are you?	How r u?
I miss you	I ms U	At the moment	ATM
We should catch up	We shud catch ^	Thank you	10q or TY
What have you been up to?	wot hav U Bin ^ to?	Mates	m8s
How is the family?	How iz d family?	Hugs and kisses	88

 

Congratulating or well wishes:

English	Text slang	English	Text slang
Happy birthday	🙂 bday	Well done!	weL done!
Congratulations!	cg, gratz, congrats	Good job!	gud job!
Merry Christmas	Merry xbo	Great to hear you are doing so well.	gr8 2 hEr U R doin so weL.
Happy Easter	🙂 Easter	Get well soon	GWS
Happy New Year	🙂 nu yr.	You’re welcome	YW

 

Letting others know what is going on:

English	Text slang	English	Text slang
I’m going to be late	I’m goin 2 b l8	What time are you going to be home?	wot tym R U goin 2 b home?
I’m not feel great	I’m not fEl gr8	Sorry	soz
I won’t be able to make it	I won’t b abL 2 mAk it	What time do we need to be there?	wot tym do we nEd 2 b there?
Can you please get some…	cn U pls git som.	Are you ready?	rur

 

There are literally thousands of abbreviations, and it would be implausible to list them all in a single article. Just a word for the wise, if you don’t know what someone is saying; look it up, before you respond. You could be congratulating someone on the death of a pet or something worse! For like everything else in this world; there’s an app for that.

 

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