Decoding what instant messaging abbreviations mean may seem like you’re learning a foreign language. If your IM, text, or BBM savvy ends with the ability to cast a vote for “American Idol,” you are out of touch with a language that is growing organically by the day. Such a techno-imitation could keep you out of the know. Make you sound like a Luddite when you ask for a translation. Show your un-coolness in a flash.
Decoding What Instant Messaging Abbreviations Mean
Today, if you have kids who were born IM-ing, you could easily be the recipient of an instant message or text that reads: BTW ROTFL. GFY!! LTL NYO BFN.
Don’t know what it means? Your server has not exploded. Your messages have not been converted to code by an alien hacker. You’ve simply gone down the Rabbit Hole into instant message hell. Worry not, you can get out!
The message above, when decoded, reads: “By the way, rolling on the floor laughing. Good for you! Let’s talk later. Need your opinion. Bye for now.” After a while, your interpretation skills go up and you can begin to figure acronyms out. For those just starting on the text talk journey, I offer up these mainstays.
So Many Ways to Sign Off
B4N – Bye For Now
G2G – Got To Go
GTGB or G2GB – Got To Go Bye (for instance, when your boss is approaching)
POS – Parents Over Shoulder. This one gets a lot of use!
BRB – Be Right Back
BBL – Be Back Later
CUL – See You Later
KIT – Keep In Touch
ILU – I Love You
TTYL – Talk To You Later
. . . Or Resume a Conversation
BAK – Back at Keyboard
WB – Welcome Back
. . . And Keep it Going
IOW – In Other Words
AFIK – As Far as I Know
FC – Fingers Crossed
IRL – In Real Life
IAC – In Any Case
IMHO – In My Humble Opinion
IMNSHO – In My Not-So-Humble Opinion
OIC – Oh, I See
OTOH – On The Other Hand
Some Personal Favorites
WYSIWYG – What You See is What You Get
MOTO – Master Of The Obvious
MOTOS – Members Of The Opposite Sex
And The Homonyms, Which do Require Context
MOM – Moments Of Madness, or – My Own Mother, or – More of a Moron
MS – Missing Something, or – Mighty Special
This is but a mere taste of a language that to my mind and my hands take longer to type than the actual words! Oh, and one last acronym:
COGGBN – Check Out GourmetGiftBaskets.com Now.