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Dictionaryinternet slang

What does 411 mean?

411 = Information

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

411 takes its meaning from the United States telephone number for directory assistance — dialling 4-1-1 used to put you through to an operator who would look up a number for you. The slang sense (“give me the 411” = “give me the information”) emerged in the 1990s and survives today.

It’s more common in millennial-and-up usage than Gen Z slang. You’ll still see it in podcast titles, lifestyle blog headlines and the occasional caption (“here’s the 411 on our summer menu”), but it’s rare in DMs between teens.

Written as digits (“411”), never spelled out.

Examples

How 411 reads in the wild.

  • “give me the 411 on what happened at trivia last night”
  • “the full 411 on our new bakery hours — link in bio”

Where you’ll see it

InstagramFacebookBlogsPodcasts

Common questions

What does 411 mean?

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

How is 411 used?

411 takes its meaning from the United States telephone number for directory assistance — dialling 4-1-1 used to put you through to an operator who would look up a number for you. The slang sense (“give me the 411” = “give me the information”) emerged in the 1990s and survives today. It’s more common in millennial-and-up usage than Gen Z slang. You’ll still see it in podcast titles, lifestyle blog headlines and the occasional caption (“here’s the 411 on our summer menu”), but it’s rare in DMs between teens. Written as digits (“411”), never spelled out.

Where will I see 411?

411 is commonly used on Instagram, Facebook, Blogs, Podcasts.

For business owners

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