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The most used internet abbreviations for text messages and tweets in 2022

In the world of messengers and chat rooms, using shortcuts is as common as a selfie stick on the street. These catchy shorthands have evolved into an entirely distinct language used primarily by Millennials and Generation Zero. Even if you've been learning English for a while, you probably don't know them all!

Some people call it internet slang, as most of the abbreviations are used in informal conversations on social media. However, the typical slang of British English, American English or Australian English occurs in certain places, while Internet acronyms are universal and used by all people who enjoy chatting.

You're almost as likely to be able to name ten common Internet abbreviations as you are to chat with friends every day. It doesn't matter how much you use the Internet, you probably still sometimes happen that you don't know one or the other abbreviation. That's why we've rounded up 100+ of the most popular internet abbreviations in 2021 for you in this article: With this list, you can test yourself and see if you're up to speed on internet lingo.

Even if you don't use many abbreviations yourself, you will find that FYI, ASAP, as well as other abbreviations like BTW (By the way), IMO (In my opinion), LMK (Let me know), PRB (Please reply by) are now more solid have become part of business emails and English classes.

What are the Most Popular Internet Shortcuts in 2021?

Here is a selection of the best known and most used internet shortcuts in 2021:

• LOL (laughing out loud)
• ASAP (as soon as possible)
• FYI (for your information)
• G2G (good to go - finished, ready to send)
• FB: Facebook
• MSG (Message)
• TTYL (talk to you later)
• IMO (in my opinion)

Why do people abbreviate words?

Maximum number of characters. People started using abbreviations for the simple reason that text messages and tweets have a limited number of characters. Until 2017, a tweet could only be 140 characters long and 20 characters for the username. There are now 280 characters, but the abbreviations are still used. People want to save time and effort, especially when they are on the go.
Additionally, one reason for abbreviations in text messaging is the generally fast pace of life. We want to say more in less time.
People have stopped using nice transitional words like nevertheless or notwithstanding the fact thatto use because it takes too long to type them. Therefore, the second reason is human convenience and impatience to write complete words. However, this should not be viewed solely negatively, as these factors have fueled progress over the past few centuries.
Communicating with acronyms can be likened to a secret language between users in online chats, on social media, or instant messaging services like Skype, WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook Messenger, etc. In fact, acronyms are also a perfect way to keep private conversations in front of outsiders protect. One assumption is that many shortcuts came about as teens wanted to keep their chats away from their parents' eyes. And there are very specific examples that confirm this:

• PAW (Parents are watching)
• PITR (Parent in the room)
• PBB (Parent behind back)
• POMS (Parent over my shoulder)
• KPC (Keeping parents clueless)
• PAH (Parent at home).

That's crazy, though, considering our parents use shortcuts to chat with their friends too. Sometimes our parents' texts make us blush, sometimes we can't help but fofl (falling on the floor laughing).

List of Internet Shortcuts for Chats: Over 100 of the most popular Internet abbreviations

Millennials were the ones who made chat shortcuts famous on the internet. Abbreviated words, word combinations and even whole sentences are now part of tweets and instant messages.
Of course you can join a chat and write the variants Talk to you later / Oh my God instead of TTYL or OMG. Twitter won't break down and other users won't curse you. However, after a while, you will most likely take shortcuts to keep up with the others.

To help you remember abbreviations and acronyms, we've grouped them according to specific patterns. You can then easily incorporate these into your daily English exercises so that you can quickly remember them all.

emotions and feelings

HIFW - How I feel when
HIFW is one of the most popular abbreviations in funny, sarcastic memes and gifs on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. And there are thousands of gifs with hashtag HIFW on Imgur, GIPHY, GIFER, etc.

TFW – That feeling when
MFW – My face when
MRW – My reaction when
IFYP – I feel your pain
LOL – Laughing out loud
TNTL – Trying not to laugh
JK – Just kidding
ILY – I love you
IMU – I miss you
ADIH – Another day in hell
IDC – I don’t care
ZZZ – Sleeping, bored, tired
WYWH – Wish you were here
TIME – Tears in my eyes
BAE – Before anyone else
You can use this abbreviation when referring to people who are very close to you. For example: Me and my BAE have just watched another episode of Game of Thrones!

SSDD – Same stuff, different day
QQ – Crying

For me, the origin of the QQ acronym came as a shock. According to the Urban Dictionary, QQ initially meant quitting the Warcraft II game by pressing Alt+QQ. When a player started winning, the others offered him a QQ. QQ quickly became associated with crying eyes and was used in text messages and tweets.
FIMH - Forever in my heart
BSAAW - Big smile and a wink
BWL - Bursting with laughter
CSL - Can't stop laughing

opinion and reaction

IMOIMHO – In my opinion In my humble opinion
OMDB – Over my dead body
POV – Point of View
TBH – To be honest
FTW – For the win

This and the following examples are Internet slang abbreviations that describe either best or worst quality. When you say something like FTW it can be great, wonderful, perfect etc.
FTL - For the loss
YNK - You never know
SMH - Shaking my head

Describes the reaction to something stupid, aggressive, hostile, or unfair.
SRSLY - Seriously
YGTR - You got that right
GMTA - Great minds think alike

This acronym is sometimes confused with GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test). However, anyone who has prepared for this difficult test knows the difference. The abbreviation, which refers to a standard thought, is now mainstream and even printed on mugs, pillows or T-shirts.

AYMM – Are you my mother?
CWOT – Complete waste of time

Disclaimer

IANAL – I am not a lawyer

The next time you give legal advice in a public chat, write IANAL or TINLA (This is not legal advice) with it so you can't be accused of providing unlicensed legal advice. In the United States, even a small suggestion about how to manage one's wealth or a divorce can be considered unauthorized legal advice.
AFAIK - As far as I know
AFAIR - As far as I remember
AFAIC - As far as I'm concerned
AAMOF - As a matter of fact
IIRC - If I remember correctly
AFAICT - As far as I can tell

TL;DR – Too long; didn't read

You can use this abbreviation not only to emphasize how long the post was, but also that you were too lazy to read it in its entirety. Therefore TL;DR also means Too lazy; didn't read. It later became ToS; DR (Terms of service; didn't read). Many people do not read this part of the site because of the complicated legal terms and long sentences.

I found a few more gifs and memes with this abbreviation.

get attention

IRL – In real life
TIL – Today I learned
SOML – Story of my life
EMBM – Early morning business meeting
J4F – Just for fun
JSYK – Just so you know
FAWC – For anyone who cares
RLRT – Real life retweet
OH – Overheard
WUZUP – What’s up?
CS – Career suicide
DWH – During work hours

warning and recommendation

NSFW – Not safe for work

If you see this abbreviation next to a specific link, do not click on it. Most likely the link will lead to explicit, nudity, violent or similar content.
NSFL —Not safe for life

This refers to even more violent content that can cause mental damage.
SFW – Safe for work
GRAS – Generally recognized as safe
NBD – Not big deal
OC – Original content
4AO – For adults only
OP – Original poster

This refers to someone who wrote a certain post first.
ICYMI – In case you missed it

JIC – Just in case
NAGI – Not a good idea
GOI – Get over it
RBTL – Read between the lines
AYOR – At your own risk
DIY – Do it yourself
E123 – Easy as one, two, three
GAHOY – Get a hold of yourself

Asking for a favor or advice

TMB – Tweet me back
WTPA – Where the party at?
DAE – Does anyone else?
PRT – Please retweet
PTB – Please text back
TIA – Thanks in advance
BUMP – Bring up my post

Notifications, wishes, greetings

OMW – On my way
GRATZ – Congratulations
GL – Good luck
IDK – I don’t know
TTYL – Talk to you later

IBRB – I’ll be right back
W8 – Wait
NFS – Not for sale
B4N – Bye for now
B@U – Back at you
BBBG – Bye bye be good
BBIAS – Be back in a sec
RUOK – Are you OK?
CYT – See you tomorrow
DBMIB – Don’t bother me I’m busy
DM – Direct message
GFN – Gone for now

Ready to use these shortcuts in chat?

You can always find an even longer list of Internet abbreviations and acronyms on the Internet. However, with the above examples, you can safely appear in a public chat. Before using the above shortcuts, look at the chat history. If only reaction abbreviations (lol, omg, etc.) are used, then it's better if you don't write too many abbreviations. And one final piece of advice: don't use acronyms or abbreviations when starting a formal chat with your CEO in corporate chat.