Social media slang, decoded.

Slang for “information” or “the scoop” — from the US directory-assistance phone number.

A casual phonetic spelling of “alright” or “okay”.

Short for “Also Known As” — used to introduce an alternative name, nickname or alias.

Slang for an excellent song, post, take or anything else of unusually high quality.

Short for “because” — a one- or two-letter substitution in casual writing.

Short for “be right back” — a quick signal that you’re stepping away from the chat.

Short for “by the way” — the casual way to add a side note or afterthought.

A phonetic spelling of “catch me outside” — a confrontational invitation popularised by a 2016 Dr Phil clip.

The number of characters (letters, numbers, spaces and symbols) in a piece of text.

Short for “direct message” — a private one-to-one message on a social platform.

Short for “do not interact” — used in bios to ask certain people not to follow, like or reply.

Short for “did you know” — used to lead into a fun fact or surprising piece of information.

An expression of frustration — “for f***’s sake”, used when something goes wrong.

Short for “for real” — used to confirm or emphasise.

Short for “for what it’s worth” — a softener before offering an opinion or piece of info.

Short for “for your information” — used to share an informational note.

Short for “hat tip” — a polite credit when you share information you got from someone else.

Short for “I don’t care” — used dismissively or playfully depending on tone.

Short for “I don’t get it” — used when a joke or post goes over your head.

Short for “I don’t know” — the most-used non-answer on the internet.

Short for “I love you” — a casual or sincere expression of affection.

Short for “in my humble opinion” — a softer version of IMO.

Short for “in my opinion” — a quick way to flag a personal take.

Short for “in real life” — contrasting offline reality with online interaction.

Short for “just kidding” — used to walk back something that wasn’t meant seriously.

Short for “okay” — the slightly warmer cousin of a one-letter “k”.

A portmanteau of “lit” and “situation” — used to describe an exciting, vibrant event.

An intensifier of LOL — used to signal something is genuinely, painfully funny.

Short for “let me know” — the most-used phrase in DMs and group chats.

Short for “laughing out loud” — the original internet acronym for amusement.

Short for “love of my life” — a tender (or playfully exaggerated) caption.

Short for “my face when” — the setup line for a relatable reaction meme.

A one-word caption meaning “that’s relatable” or “that’s me”.

On X (formerly Twitter), short for “modified tweet” — used when sharing a tweet you’ve edited or shortened.

Short for “not gonna lie” — a softener before a frank opinion.

Short for “no problem” — a casual reply that means “you’re welcome” or “it’s fine”.

Short for “not too much” or “nothing much” — a low-key reply to “what’s up?”

Short for “never mind” — a retraction or dismissal of what you just said.

Short for “original content” on Reddit and TikTok — or “original character” in fandom and art communities.

Short for “of course” — an enthusiastic agreement or confirmation.

Short for “oh my god” — the most-used exclamation on the internet.

Short for “on my way” — the text you send when you’re heading somewhere.

Short for “one of my followers” or “one of my mutuals” — a vague reference to someone you follow online.

Either “private message” (online) or “post meridiem” (after noon, time). Context decides.

Short for “right now” — used for things happening in the immediate present.

Short for “rolling on the floor laughing” — stronger than LOL, less common than it used to be.

Short for “shaking my head” — expresses disappointment or disbelief.

Short for “to be honest” — the original softener before an opinion.

Short for “Thank God It’s Friday” — the end-of-week sigh of relief.

Short for “too long; didn’t read” — a one-line summary at the top or bottom of a long post.

Short for “talk to you later” — a casual sign-off in DMs and texts.

Short for “thank you” — the casual two-letter version.

A single letter meaning “win” — used to celebrate a good outcome. Opposite of “L”.

Short for “Way Back Wednesday” — the Wednesday cousin of #ThrowbackThursday for old photos.

Short for “Woman Crush Wednesday” — a long-running Instagram tradition of posting about a woman you admire on Wednesdays.

Short for “what do you mean” — a quick way to ask for clarification.

Short for “working from home” — the post-2020 staple of professional shorthand.

Short for “you only live once” — the justification for spontaneous or risky choices.