by Judy Dahl

Introduction

Ten-year-old Grace Palmer, of Minneapolis, loves to exchange online instant messages (IMs) with her friends. The free IM service she uses automatically opens her account when she logs on to the Internet, and she can type and send messages to friends whose screen names she's included in her "buddy list." The messages pop up on their screens immediately, and they can text back just as quickly. Palmer often IMs and plays computer games or even (gasp) does homework simultaneously. She can block "buddies" she no longer wants to hear from.

Palmer often uses "IM lingo," abbreviations made up of numerals and letters that make her messages incomprehensible to the prying eyes of little brothers—and parents. Many kids even use the lingo in spoken conversation ... have you seen Cingular's ad, "bff Jill," in which a young girl has an entire conversation with her mother in IM lingo?

Common in ordinary conversation

Instant messaging has been a crucial part of teen and tween (ages eight to 12) communication for several years now, indicates Anna D'Agrosa of market research firm the Zandl Group in New York. She's editor of its youth and young adult trends report, the Hot Sheet. "They're definitely IMing nonstop," she says.

Sending text messages via cell phone, or texting, also has become basic. "In a recent interview, one teen girl told us that 'talking is so inconvenient' when she can text instead," D'Agrosa says.

As a result, IM or text lingo has become common in everyday language, and the Zandl Group doesn't anticipate it falling out of favor in the near future. "Our annual Hot Sheet consumer panel of 2,000-plus tweens and teens reports on the newest slang they're using, and in recent months we've seen an increase in mentions of 'text talk,' as one panelist put it," D'Agrosa explains.

LOL (laugh out loud) and OMG (oh my gosh) are by far the most popular terms with the Zandl Group's panel. "POS (parent over shoulder) is also common," D'Agrosa notes. "Although teens were the first to use it, tweens are now peppering their speech with abbreviations at the same rate."

Most of the abbreviations are harmless, like BRB for "be right back," or CUL8R for "see you later," but some kids use the lingo to secretly discuss things like sex and drugs via IM or text message. If you're a parent, you'll probably want to talk to your tween or teen about how they're using IM and texting, and lay down some ground rules. You may want to brush up on your IM lingo too, KWIM (know what I mean)?

New abbreviations are invented and become popular all the time, so it's hard to keep up with the latest ones—BCNU (be seein' you) is, like, so yesterday—but you can find a pretty comprehensive list at Techdictionary.com. Teen Chat Decoder lets you type in an abbreviation and translates it for you.

Beginner's glossary

And here's a glossary of some useful texting terms to get you started. We'll stick with G-rated ones—no cursing—but you can find the whole gamut online.

Techdictionary.com lists as new terms:

• PCT – Podcasting
• PEBCAK – Problem exists between chair and keyboard
• RTWT – Read the whole thing (used with blogs – online entries, often on a particular topic, often interactive)

Some terms start with numerals:

• 10x – thanks (tenx)
• 2 – too or to
• 4 – for
• 4COL – For crying out loud

Here's a smattering of other terms, listed alphabetically. Note how many serve as warnings that parents are nearby.

A

• AFAIK – As far as I know
• ASAP – As soon as possible
• ASL – Age/sex/location
• ATM – At the moment
• AWOL – Absent without official leave

B

• B4N – Bye for now
• BBL – Be back later
• BF - Boyfriend, best friend
• BRB – Be right back
• BTW – By the way

C

• CD9 – Code 9 (means parents are around)
• CID – Crying in disgrace
• CU – See you (later)
• CU2 – See you too

D

• D8 – Date
• DIKU? – Do I know you?
• DTRT – Do the right thing

E

• EG – Evil grin
• ESAD – Eat stuff and die

F

• F2F – Face to face
  "Talking is so inconvenient" when you can text instead.
• FITB – Fill in the blank
• FOMC – Fell off my chair
• FYA – For your amusement

G

• G1 – Good one
• GF – Girlfriend
• GTG or G2G – Got to go, or good to go
• GR8 – Great

H

• H8 – Hate
• H&K or HAK – Hugs and kisses
• HHOK – Ha ha only kidding
• HHOS – Ha ha only serious

I

• IC – I see
• IDK – I don't know
• IDR – I don't remember
• ITYM – I think you mean

J

• J4F – Just for fun
• JAS – Just a second
• JIC – Just in case
• JK – Just kidding

K

• K – OK
• KHYF – Know how you feel
• KIT – Keep in touch
• KPC – Keep parents clueless

L

• L8R – Later
• LMHO – Laughing my head off
• LOL – Laughing out loud
• LTNS – Long time no see

M

• MYOB – Mind your own business
• MOF – Matter of fact
• MOS – Mom over shoulder
• MOTD – Message of the day

N

• NAC – Not a clue
• NBD – No big deal
• NM – Not much, never mind, or no message

O

• OAUS – On an unrelated subject
• OBTW – Oh, by the way
• OMG – Oh my gosh
• ONNTA – Oh no, not this again

P

• PAW – Parents are watching
• PIR – Parents in room
• POS – Parents over shoulder
• PPL – People
• PRON or pr0n – intentional misspelling of porn

Q

• QT – Cutie

R

• R – Are
• RAEBNC – Read and enjoyed, but no comment
• REHI – Hi again
• ROTFL – Rolling on the floor laughing

S

• SCNR – Sorry, could not resist
• SEC – Wait a second
• SMH – Shaking my head
• SOB – Stressed out bigtime

T

• TBH – To be honest
• TGIF – Thank God it's Friday
• THX, TNX or TX – Thanks
• TIA – Thanks in advance
• TMI – Too much information
• TTFN – Ta ta for now
• TTYL, TTUL, T2UL or T2YL – Talk to you later
• TY – Thank you
• TYT – Take your time

U

• U – You
• UOK – [Are] you OK?
• UOM – You owe me
• UR – You're or your

W

If you're a parent, talk to your kids about how they're using IM and texting, and lay down some ground rules.
• WAEF – When all else fails
• WTH – What the heck
• W8 – Wait

X

• XOXO – Hugs and kisses

Y

• YABA – Yet another bloody acronym
• YGLT – You're gonna love this
• YKW – You know what
• YW – You're welcome

No abbreviations beginning with the letters V or Z were listed. Well, G2G. GL (good luck) learning text talk!

Published November 12, 2007