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15 Chat Abbreviations on the Internet

LOL, OMG, BTW: The Internet speaks its own language - and that consists largely of chat abbreviations, which often arise from English phrases. As a user of forums and messenger apps, you should know Internet abbreviations. Below you will find translations and explanations of common terms used in online jargon.

1. Belustigt: LOL, ROFL, LMAO

These three common chat abbreviations have a similar meaning—all denote a hearty laugh from the chatter. As with many other Internet abbreviations, LOL, ROFL and LMAO are so-called acronyms, i.e. abbreviations made up of the first letters of a word combination.

LOL is short for "laughing out loud"; the Duden translates this sequence of words as "laughing out loud". There are numerous variations of the popular phrase, which has been listed in the renowned Oxford English Dictionary since 2011. For example, if LOL is written in lower case, it might mean the chatter didn't have to laugh quite as loud.

ROFL, sometimes also ROTFL, on the other hand is less recognizable as a laughing stock than LOL at first glance. The abbreviation stands for "rolling on the floor laughing"; the chatter laughs so loudly in a figurative sense and literally rolls on the floor.

The slightly more vulgar LMAO means "laughing my ass off" when written out. The user of this abbreviation laughs colloquially at the buttocks.

2. Amazed: OMG and WTF

The chat abbreviations OMG and WTF are now being used almost excessively – not only online and on smartphones, but also in direct conversations. With these Internet abbreviations, users express their astonishment and amazement.

OMG, which also appears in the Oxford dictionary, is short for "Oh my God". The acronym is used when something embarrassing or scandalous has happened to someone and the chatter wants to put the feeling of being ashamed of others into words.

WTF is one of the crude chat abbreviations and means "What the fuck?" when written out. According to Focus magazine, a suitable German translation would be, for example, "What the hell?".

3. Informative: BTW, FYI and Co.

Chat abbreviations are not only used in informal exchanges among friends. Even in serious chats and messages, the short words are finding more and more friends. Almost a classic is now BTW, short for "by the way". The German equivalent of BTW - "by the way" - is only five letters longer, but is increasingly being replaced by BTW in chats.

Other common chat abbreviations in this context include:

  • Internet Language: Chat Smileys - What the characters mean
  • Facebook etiquette: nudged! - Facebook Communication Rules
  • Danger of fraud: Facebook - This is how you recognize a fake profile
  • Living Online: Webaholic - These symptoms indicate internet addiction
  • FYI: "For your information" (Zur Information)
  • IMHO: "In my humble opinion"
  • AFAIK: "As far as I know"
  • AFK: "Away from keyboard"
  • ASAP: "As soon as possible"
  • FAQ: "Frequently asked questions"
  • IDK: "I don't know"
  • TBH: "To be honest"
  • TMI: "Too much information" (Zu viel Information)
4 Letters

FGGE

FARS

FARO

FARB

ESOC

ESMR

ERTS

ERIM

ERBE

ERBS

EMCO

EMEP

ELMR

ECVI

EAHC

DWBC

DSOG

DOCC

DODS

DMER

DISL

DIEB

DEIS

DEAD

DDIM

DBDB

DBCP

DAWS

DARE

DARC

CZMA

CWSU

CZCS

CWRA

CUEA

CTIP

CSTD

CSES

CRDC

CRRB

CPUE

CVIT

CPPT

COTR

COPS

COMB

COFI

COAP

CNSD

CITE

CIEA

CIEP

CGMW

CFRB

CERI

CEST

CERN

CEON

CCSR

CCRS

CCMA

CCIW

CCCO

CASC

CARD

CARB

BOFS

BODS

BNSC

BMRC

BMAP

BFAR

AXCP

AXBT

ATSR

ARPS

APEX

AQTX

AORF

AMSI

AGGG

AFWG

AFVP

AFSC

CPSW

AEDU

ADCP

ADFS

ACWS

ACOH

ACMP

ACFK

ACFR

ACCW

AAIW

ABOM

4DDA

AABW

AAAG

AARI

WYEC

WXRS

WWWO

WWRP

WWIS

WWOL

WWAS

WWAN

WVTR

WVTA

WVSS

WVPR

WVMS

WVHB

WVEL

WVDA

WUBA

WTWS

WTPM

WTNA

WSSF

WSPH

WSMR

WSMO

WSFO

WSDW

WRSS

WRPL

WRMA

WRIP

WRDC

WRCC

WPWP

WRAI

WPSH

WPRS

WPDN

WOUS

WODB

WOCE

WMFW

WLMC

WKPP

WISG

WIMS

WHWP

WIDS

WHIS

WGRS

WGMA

WGCP

WEAX

WDMP

WDIU

WCNP

WCFR

WBTM

WCAM

WBNM

WARN

WAOB

WADI

WABN

VILD

UVOC

UV-A

USRA

USNS

USCG

USAF

UKMO

UATD

TWLM

TWEB

TTMM

TRMM

TPEM

TOVS

TOTE

TESS

TDWR

TBSS

STHP

SRDC

SRBL

SORP

SORD

SOGS

SMOG

SMHI

SMBL

SHGC

SFMR

SETT

SEON

SELS

SDHS

SCOS

SBUV

RWIS

RSMC

RMTN

RAWB

RASS

RAFC

PSWC

POAM

PMEL

PHWM

PHNL

PDSI

ORAU

OFCM

OAML

NWCC

NVDS

NTSB

NSWP

NSSL

NRCS

NOWS

NMTN

NMHS

NMAS

NIFC

NHOP

NGIC

NFAF

NDFD

NDBC

NDAO

NCFR

NCAR

NCEP

NCDC

NAMS

NACW

NACS

MTSO

MTPE

MPDA

MMHG

MISR

MIMR

MEHS

MCWG

MDSD

MCIP

MCDW

M1FC

LWST

LTCS

LRGS

LMAO

LFCC

LASE

JTWC

JMOC

JMFU

JISM

JEDA

JASL

IWRS

ITWS

ISOS

IODC

IOCO

IOCI

IMGI

IMBO

IDCZ

ICSU

ICAO

HRPT

HPCC

HLBL

HFRB

HDSS

HCDT

GWIM

GWDS

GSOD

GSFC

GPDM

GPCP

GOES

GLOF

GLB3

GHCN

GDPS

GCRP

GCCN

FSAS

FLPP

FGDC

FFRA

ESMA

EROS

EELT

EDIS

DRWP

DRGS

DUAT

DMSP

DNMI

DISS

DMSO

DERM

DDTW

DAWN

DARN

CWOP

CWMP

CPWW

CPOL

CMMS

CINC

CMDL

CMAP

CIDE

CFIJ

CICS

CEOS

CENR

CDCL

CDAS

CAIT

BWER

BUFR

BLTI

AWSA

AWRS

AWDS

AVIM

ATWC

ASDC

ARSR

ARAD

APPI

AQHI

AOML

AMSR

AMSU

AFOS

AGFS

AGCM

AFDD

ADWF

ADWS

ADTS

ADAS

ADFC

ACVT

ACSG

ACIA

AASE

AAWO

SCRH

ZPDA

ZOLZ

ZELC

YDFA

XTEM

WXGA

WWVH

WWND

WWDM

WVDC

WTDX

WTSM

WTDM

WSXC

WSTG

WSNR

WSPW

WSPD

WRPT

WRTS

WRFA

WRIM

WQWT

WPSK

WPMM

WORM

WOSC

WOPC

WLEP

WLPA

WLAN

WIAL

WHAM

WGSE

WDRC

WFSM

WEPD

WDSP

WCVD

WCTS

WCCA

WBFH

WBFM

WBHF

WADM

VTVM

VTPC

VTID

VSWR

VSRM

VSPD

VRVQ

VSAG

VSAT

VRSM

VRSK

VRPP

VRMS

VRAM

VRAC

VMPS

VMOS

VLWI

VISC

VLIW

VITS

VIVO

VITC

VINP

VINA

VHYS

VHLL

VHDL

VGCI

VGCA

VFEI

VFAC

VERP

VEIL

VESA

VCXO

VCMT

VCMO

VCCO

VCCT

VASE

VBDA

VANA

VAIO

UV-B

USOP

UTFS

USRD

USNC

USFM

URSI

UNII

UMWV

ULPA

UFPT

UHCI

UBEC

UART

µTAS

TXRF

TVSS

TVFD

TSCU

TTSN

TSFZ

TQFP

TPTB

TPRS

TMDS

TMCR

TMDE

TIBA

TFMS

TFIF

TFED

TEVC

TEDS

TDDB

TDMS

TDPL

TDEV

TCXO

TCAD

TCDM

TBAH

TAFF

SXPS

SVCD

STIR

STLA

STHM

STDM

SSQA

SSRC

SSPN

SSPS

SSPT