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ASAP, FYI, FTW, LOL: What do these and other acronyms mean?
In a scenario of globalization, the culture of the United States is very present in our routine, including in language. It is not uncommon to come across expressions in English, or even abbreviations and acronyms. They are present in instant messaging services, social networks, movies, series, among others.
Some are well known and even easy to assimilate for those who already have contact with the language, such as OMG, ASAP and LOL. However, others can be a little “messy”. In view of this, we decided to prepare a glossary with the meaning of the most known and used acronyms in English on the web.
Web acronyms and their meanings
ASAP: Originated from the expression "As Soon As Possible", which means "as soon as possible", the acronym is used for something urgent and that, as the translation itself says, must be solved as soon as possible.
BRB: Abbreviation for the phrase "Be Right Back" which, in Portuguese, means "I'll be back soon".
BTW: It's the acronym for the phrase "By the Way", used to say "By the way", "Before I forget", "By the way", or something like that.
FTW: Refers to the phrase "For The Win" which, in literal translation, means "For the victory". It is worth noting that the acronym FTW is used at the end of sentences to indicate enthusiasm. Generally speaking, it means "I recommend". But depending on the context, it can also indicate sarcasm.
FYI: In the corporate email world, this is the most famous abbreviation. It is an acronym for "For Your Information" which, in good old Portuguese, means "For your information". In other words, it indicates that the content of that message is new or something of interest to the recipient.
LMAO: This is a reference to the phrase "Laughing My Ass Off" which means something like "I broke down with laughter".
LOL: Cousin of LMAO, the acronym LOL is also very famous and has its origins in the now “deceased” MSN. In English, it means “Laughing Out Loud”, which can be translated as “Laughing out loud”. Practically, this acronym is used in reaction to something very funny.
NSFW: Lesser known, this is an abbreviation for "Not Safe for Work" or "Not Safe for Work" and is often associated with messages with content inappropriate to be viewed in public places or work environments, often with a sexual content.
OMG: It means "Oh My God" or "Oh My God" and is one of the most well-known acronyms in this glossary, usually used to show surprise or amazement.
RLY: This abbreviation comes from the English “Really” and was best known for the owl meme with the words "O RLY?". Generally, it is used to express sarcasm or irony and means something like "Oh, really?".
ROFL: Another acronym used to react to funny content, ROFL stands for "Rolling On The Floor Laughing" in Portuguese.
TKS: This is a short and quick way to say "Thanks" or "Thank you".
RSVP: This expression, unlike the others, does not come from English, but from the French language. We decided to add it to the list because it is also very popular. It is the abbreviation of the phrase "Répondez S'il Vous Plaît" which, translated into our language, means "Please answer". It usually appears at the end of messages with invitations to an event, for example, and indicates that you should respond confirming or not your presence.
