Web slang spreads like wildfire and generally appears to return out of nowhere. Some are short-lived, some are utilized in area of interest communities, however some go as far as to be included in dictionaries.
Whether or not you spend time on-line as an off-the-cuff consumer or a marketer enacting a social media technique, you need to know what totally different slang and abbreviations imply.
On this submit, we’ll focus on how web slang originates and spreads, outline 81 slang phrases you would possibly come throughout, and description what it takes for slang to be added to our dictionaries.
Desk of Contents
Is the Web to Blame?
As we spend much less time listening to the radio or watching TV and extra time on-line, the latter has probably the most affect on our day-to-day dialogue.
The quick tempo of the web additionally means we undertake phrases a lot sooner than ever earlier than. “Language itself adjustments slowly, however the web has sped up the method of these adjustments so that you discover them extra rapidly,” David Crystal, honorary professor of linguistics on the College of Bangor, told BBC Information. You possibly can think about how for much longer it took new phrases to unfold by word-of-mouth than it does at the moment with the web.
How Slang Spreads on the Web
Linguistics and anthropologists have studied how slang spreads for many years, nevertheless it was solely doable to measure with precision as soon as public social media networks emerged.
Platforms assist linguists precisely and simply search and report language exchanges. For instance, Jacob Eisenstein and his colleagues on the Georgia Institute of Expertise examined 30 million tweets from the U.S. to pinpoint the origin of common slang phrases and their unfold. The picture beneath is the ensuing map that reveals how phrases migrated and their route of affect.
Slang now strikes round inside weeks and months as an alternative of years, says Julia Coleman, writer of The Lifetime of Slang. “It isn’t essentially that language is altering extra rapidly, however applied sciences have developed and so they permit the transmission of slang phrases to move from one group to a different rather more rapidly.”
Web Slang Across the World
The web impacts the event of language all internationally.
In Ukraine, Svitlana Pyrkalo says the force-quit strategy of urgent management+alt+delete is called Дуля (dulya). A dulya is a Ukranian gesture utilizing two fingers and a thumb, utilized in the identical conditions through which we‘d give “the finger.” “And also you want three fingers to press the buttons,” says Pyrkalo. “So it’s like telling any individual, a pc on this case, to get misplaced.”
Different international locations have their very own variations of “LOL.” In France, “mdr” stands for “mort de rire,” that means dying of laughter. The Swedish write “asg” as an abbreviation of Asgarv, that means intense laughter. The quantity 5 in Thailand signifies the letter “h,” so 555 is “hahaha.”
It’s vital to notice that a whole lot of common web slang comes from African-American Vernacular English (AAVE), a type of English spoken by Black People. Usually, Black folks have conversations on-line, different folks use the phrases, and so they change into a part of on a regular basis web converse.
With all of this in thoughts, let’s overview a few of the hottest web slang phrases, lots of that are acronyms and others full phrases and phrases.
Web Slang Phrases
Common Web Slang
1. Acct
Acct is brief for account.
2. BC
BC stands for as a result of.
3. Wager
Wager has a number of meanings, one being a easy “sure” or a response of settlement, however it will possibly additionally imply “It’s on” as a response to one thing you don’t consider is true.
For instance, somebody says, “I can do that higher than you,” and somebody responds, “Alright, wager.”
4. BRB
BRB stands for be proper again.
5. BTW
BTW stands for by the best way.
6. Down
Down means “sure,” or a response demonstrating that you just’re up for or all in favour of one thing.
For instance, “Who needs to go to the flicks?” “Down.”
7. Flex
Flex means exhibiting off. Sometimes folks say, “Bizarre flex however okay,” to react to somebody exhibiting off or bragging about one thing in poor style.
8. FOMO
FOMO stands for concern of lacking out, and that i’ts used when somebody is anxious about not being invited someplace or isn’t a part of an expertise.
It’s additionally used as an lively verb, like “Everybody’s on the live performance, and I’m having FOMO.”
9. FYI
FYI stands in your info.
10. Goat
Goat means biggest of all time. Folks additionally say goated to imply the identical factor. For instance, “Messi is the goat,” or “Messi is goated.”
11. GTG or G2G
GTG and G2G stand for obtained to go.
12. Highkey
Highkey describes one thing manifestly apparent and true that doesn’t must be hidden. It’s the alternative of lowkey.
For instance, “That was highkey one of the best meal I’ve ever had,” or “I highkey want tickets to the present.”
13. IKR
IKR stands for I do know, proper?
14. IMHO
IMHO stands for in my sincere opinion or in my humble opinion.
15. IRL
IRL stands for in actual life.
16. Iykyk
Iykyk stands for “If you recognize, you recognize,” and it’s a descriptor for an inside joke or one thing area of interest that applies to a selected group of individuals.
17. JK
JK stands for simply kidding.
18. JOMO
JOMO stands for pleasure of lacking out, and it is used when somebody is unbothered by not being invited someplace/lacking an expertise or is blissful as a result of they weren’t to start with. The alternative of FOMO.
19. Okay
Okay means okay, however can also be used when somebody is pissed off and is placing an finish to a dialog.
20. L
L means loss or loser, and it’s normally stated when somebody has failed at one thing or a scenario hasn’t gone their approach, like “I took an L final evening.”
If folks don’t agree with one thing they see on-line, they could remark “L” to convey their level.
21. LMK
LMK stands for let me know.
22. LOL
LOL stands for chuckle out loud.
23. Lowkey
Lowkey has a number of meanings.
- When somebody is barely or reasonably bothered by one thing, nevertheless it isn’t a giant deal: “I’m lowkey unhappy I missed the present, however there’s at all times subsequent time.”
- When one thing ought to be stored secret, discreet, and never shared exterior of the dialog: “Lowkey, I’d stop.”
- To explain a mellow or low-stakes scenario: “It was a lowkey social gathering with my closest mates.”
24. Mid
Mid means common or beneath common. It’s normally a dig at somebody or one thing, like, “That film was mid.”
25. NBD
NBD stands for no massive deal.
26. OOTD
OOTD stands for outfit of the day.
27. Photobomb
Photobomb means coming into somebody’s image or video uninvited, normally on function.
28. Prolly
Prolly is slang for in all probability.
29. Salty
Salty means upset or bothered.
30. TFW
TFW stands for that feeling when.
31. TBH
TBH stands for to be sincere.
32. TL;DR
Folks use it earlier than giving a abstract when telling a narrative or sharing info. Folks additionally remark TL;DR to say they gained’t learn one thing as a result of it’s too lengthy.
33. TGIF
TGIF stands for thank god it’s Friday.
34. TMI
TMI stands for an excessive amount of info.
35. Troll
A troll is somebody who purposely sparks controversy on the web. Somebody would possibly say, “Ignore that remark; he’s only a troll.”
36. W
W stands for win, and it’s used when somebody has gained one thing, or one thing good has occurred, like “How was your recreation final evening?” “It was nice we obtained the W!”
The alternative of L.
Social Media Web Slang
1. AMA
AMA stands for asking me something. It originated on Reddit, the place somebody well-known has an AMA session the place discussion board audiences can submit questions for them to reply.
2. Anon
Anon is brief for nameless.
3. ASMR
ASMR stands for autonomous sensory meridian response, and it’s any video or audio content material that gives a soothing and satisfying feeling to viewers.
4. Bot
A bot is an account that shares spammy and undesirable content material or an individual who shares undesirable content material or is unhealthy at one thing.
5. Bump
Somebody says “Bump” to push a remark or submit again to the forefront of a thread or remark part.
6. Caught in 4K
Caught in 4K means to catch somebody red-handed.
7. DM
DM stands for direct message.
8. Doomscrolling
Doomscrolling describes spending limitless time scrolling by your social media feeds, normally by grim information tales.
It could actually additionally imply getting caught scrolling by content material for a big period of time.
9. FB
FB stands for Fb.
10. Deal with
A deal with is a username on any social media.
11. Hashtag
Hashtag (#) is a approach that individuals discover content material on social media. Typically folks say hashtag out loud in an ironic method, like “Hashtag yummy” whereas consuming.
12. Icon
An icon is an image on social media, normally a profile image.
13. IG
IG stands for Instagram.
15. Lurker
A lurker is lively on social media or particular channels however by no means feedback or participates within the dialog.
16. N00b
N00b is slang for beginner, and it’s a descriptor for somebody who’s a newbie or new to one thing. Folks name themselves a n00b, and saying it to another person means they’re ignorant or unhealthy at one thing.
It’s additionally spelled noob or newb.
17. OP
OP stands for unique poster, and it’s the one who began a dialog on social media or was the primary to share one thing.
18. QRT
QRT stands for quote retweet, and it’s when somebody reshares a Tweet to their profile and provides their commentary above it.
19. Ratio/Ratioed
Ratio and ratioed are used as a dig when somebody doesn’t agree with what somebody has stated. They could remark “Ratio” with full confidence that they’ll get extra likes than the unique submit as a result of extra folks agree with them.
20. RT
RT stands for retweet, and it’s while you reshare another person’s Tweet to your timeline.
21. @me
@me is usually used when somebody sees one thing somebody has stated, assumes it’s about them, and tells the unique poster to tag them straight.
22. Shook
Shook means to be extraordinarily shocked by one thing or an expertise you’ve had.
23. Spam
Spam is content material shared on social media that’s annoying and unwelcome.
24. Stan/stanning
Stan means fiercely supporting somebody or one thing
25. TBT
TBT stands for throwback Thursday.
26. Tea
Tea is gossip. When folks share it, it’s referred to as “Spilling the tea,” or folks could say, “What’s the tea?”
27. TW
TW stands for Twitter.
28. Vibe
Vibe has a number of meanings. It could actually describe chilling (enjoyable), or how a scenario would possibly really feel.
Somebody would possibly say, “What’s the vibe?” or “This offers me a superb vibe,” or “I’m vibing proper now.”
29. Vibe test
Vibe test is a query folks ask to see how somebody is feeling or how a present scenario goes.
Enterprise Web Slang
1. ASAP
ASAP stands for as quickly as doable.
2. YT
YT stands for YouTube.
3. B2B
B2B stands for enterprise to enterprise.
4. B2C
B2C stands for enterprise to client.
5. CTA
CTA stands for name to motion.
6. DNB
DNB stands for don’t e book, meant to specify a timeframe while you aren’t obtainable for conferences.
7. EOD
EOD stands for finish of day.
8. EOW
EOW stands for finish of week.
9. FAQ
FAQ stands for continuously requested questions.
10. MOM
MOM stands for month over month.
11. OOO
OOO stands for out of workplace.
12. TBA
TBA stands for to be introduced.
13. WFH
WFH stands for earn a living from home.
14. WOM
WOM stands for phrase of mouth.
15. YOY
YOY stands for yr over yr.
16. Zoombomb/Zoombombing
Zoomboming is a disruption to a Zoom assembly by somebody who hasn’t been invited to the assembly.
How New Phrases Make It Into the Dictionary
As soon as new phrases have grown and change into a part of the overall lexicon, how do acronyms like “LOL” make it to the dictionary? Longevity.
To make it into the dictionary, the overall inhabitants should use it and maintain utilizing it. Fiona McPherson, Senior Editor, Oxford English Dictionary, says 5 years is an effective size to change into eligible for a spot within the massive e book.
Dictionary editors additionally look to us when voting on whether or not a phrase ought to have a spot of their dictionary. “Dictionaries are implausible sources, however they’re human and they don’t seem to be timeless,” Language Historian Anne Curzan reminds us. “In case you ask dictionary editors, what they‘ll let you know is that they’re simply attempting to maintain up with us as we modify the language. They‘re watching what we are saying and what we write and attempting to determine what’s going to stay and what’s not going to stay.”
So, regardless of whether or not you assume web slang vitalizes or destroys language, there isn’t any denying how revealing it’s of the tradition that invents and makes use of it — and the convenience with which we adapt our language to new applied sciences and ideas.
