As parents in the digital age, it’s not just about keeping up with the latest gadgets and gizmos. It’s also about understanding the cryptic codes our kids use in their online chats. From baffling abbreviations to quirky emojis, the digital playground is filled with a lingo that can leave many of us scratching our heads. Fear not! We’ve got you covered with this comprehensive guide to kids’ text codes, modern slang, and emojis. Dive in and become the cool, tech-savvy parent you’ve always wanted to be!
From Dial-Up to DMs: The Digital Language Evolution
Think back to a time when the internet was still a novelty, and AOL Messenger was the peak of online communication. Fast forward to today, and it’s a whirlwind of Snapchats, TikToks, and WhatsApp chats. As communication evolved, so did its language. From the simple ‘TTYL’ to the trendy ‘Bussin’, the digital lingo has expanded, and it’s here to stay.
Cracking the Code: Text abbreviations explained
Afaik – As far as I know
Example: “Afaik the dance is still on for Saturday night despite the pranks done by the seniors.”
B4 – Before
Example: “Let’s go out for lunch b4 the movie!”
Bae – Before anyone else; can also be a shortened form of “baby” or “babe”, indicating a significant other
Example: “I have to get ready bae.”
Example: “My bae is the best!”
Bc – Because
Example: “I enjoyed that movie bc the lead was such a fabulous actress.”
Bf – boyfriend
Example: “My bf is extremely good-looking!”
Brb – Be right back
Example: “Need a snack brb”
Btw – By the way
Example: “Btw I need a ride home from school today please.”
DM – Direct Message
Example: “Send me a DM so we can talk more about the business proposal.”
Dtr – Define the relationship
Example: “We need to have a DTR because I’m confused about where our relationship is going after going on 3 dates with you.”
FB – Facebook
Example: “Hey, get on FB to see that post I did about unicorns.”
Fomo – Fear of missing out
Example: “My kids are sick, so I have to miss the party. Serious fomo over here.”
Ftw – For the win
Example: “Hey I’m bringing pizza home tonight. Any preferences?”
Response: “Yeah supreme ftw!”
G2g or Gtg – Got to go
Example: “Running late for my workout, g2g!”
Gf – Girlfriend
Example: “I met my gf on a dating app.”
H8 – Hate
Example: “I H8 my new shoes because they don’t fit.”
Hbd – Happy Birthday
Example: “I hope you have the best day today! HBD!”
Hmu – Hit me up
Example: “Hmu when you get back from your trip!”
Icymi – In case you missed it
Example: “Icymi my dad got a new job”
Idc – I don’t care
Example: “Idc if there is a snow day because I like hanging out with my friends at school.”
Idk – I don’t know
Example: “Idk when One Direction will get back together.”
IG – Instagram
Example: “IG has hilarious reels right now; you should check it out!”
Ikr – I know right
Example: “That test was so hard.”
Response: “Ikr”
Ily – I love you
Example: “You are my best friend ily.”
Imho – In my honest opinion
Example: “Imho, Olive Garden is the best Italian restaurant!”
Imo – In my opinion
Example: “Imo, the chocolate ice cream is way better than the vanilla ice cream.”
Irl – In real life
Example: “We’ve been texting, but I want to meet him irl.”
Iso – In search of
Example: “Iso my lost dog, Rory, who I last saw running by your house last night.”
Iykyk – If you know you know
Example: “The Taylor Swift concert was amazing, iykyk!”
Jk – Just kidding
Example: “Jk I don’t need any lunch money, I still have some in my account.”
Lmao – Laughing my a** off
Example: “Lmao did you see the look on her face!”
Lmk – Let me know
Example: “Lmk when the party starts on Friday night”
Lol – Laughing out loud
Example: “I can’t believe what the teacher said today in class lol.”
Ltr – Longterm relationship
Example: “Did you hear that Braden and Ashley have a ltr?”
Lysm – Love you so much
Example: “Can’t wait to see you next week lysm!”
Nbd – No big deal
Example: “Nbd if you don’t like milk in your cereal, more for me!”
Nvm – Never mind
Example: “Nvm I don’t need your help with the shopping for dinner.”
Omg – Oh my god/gosh
Example: “Omg I can’t believe that happened!”
Pda – Public display of affection
Example: “Did you see the pda between Jack and Gina?! They were holding hands at lunch today.”
PM – Private Message
Example: “Send me a PM so we can discuss the group project.”
Pov – Point of view
Example: “My pov is that McDonald’s is not the best fast-food restaurant.”
Rn – Right now
Example: “Come over to my house rn for a movie night!”
Rofl – Rolling on floor, laughing
Example: “I made a joke and milk came out my sister’s nose.”
Response: “Rofl”
Smh – Shaking my head
Example: “My brother just ran outside in the snow with no shoes on smh.”
Tbd – To be determined
Example: “Dinner plans for Saturday TBD.”
Tbh – To be honest
Example: “I’ve never been a big fan of that restaurant tbh.”
Tgif– Thank goodness it’s Friday
Example: “Tgif so I can be all done working for the week!”
Tlc – Tender loving care
Example: “My sister needs some TLC, so I’m going to hang out with her this weekend.”
TL;DR or TLDR – Too long, didn’t read
Example: “Hey did you finish reading that book for the book report? TL;DR I used Spark Notes.”
TMI – Too much information
Example: “I really didn’t want to know about your secret tunnel TMI.”
Ttyl – Talk to you later
Example: “Can’t chat now, dinner’s ready, ttyl!”
Tw – Trigger Warning
Example: “TW – this story I’m sharing talks about depression and anxiety.”
Xoxo – Hugs and kisses
Example: “I really missed you at the party last night, wish you could have come! Xoxo!”
YT – YouTube
Example: “YT taught me how to sew, now I run a very successful sewing business.”
Emoji Encyclopedia: Expressions in the Digital Age
Angry Face Emoji – someone is angry
Annoyed Emoji – someone is annoyed
Broken Heart Emoji – someone’s heart is broken and sad
Embarrassed Emoji – you feel embarrassed about something
Grinning Face Emoji – ecstasy or sheer excitement
Laughing Face Emoji – something is funny or slightly amusing
Red Heart Emoji – I love you
Sad Emoji – something is sad or you have sad feelings about a situation
Sad Eyes Emoji – you are feeling sad and really want something, you are probably desperate for someone to do something for you
Shocked Emoji – you are shocked
Shrug Emoji – I don’t know or I don’t care
Smiling Emoji – a simple, warm smile
Upside-Down Face Emoji – something is silly or childish
Winking Face Emoji – you are being coy and cute when you make a joke
Slang 101: Trendy Terms Your Kids Are Using
Basic – This word is an adjective that generally is used about a person who is described as unoriginal
Example: “Did you see my neighbor’s outfit for Halloween? It was so basic.”
Bet – This word is used to say “yes,” “okay,” or “it’s on”
Example: “Do you want to check out that new Italian place for dinner tomorrow night?”
Response: “Bet! That sounds like a great idea!”
Big yikes – Means something is bad
Example: “That pizza at the football game was a big yikes!”
Boomer status – Refers to Baby Boomers and indicates someone is old and unaware of current trends
Example: “My dad is always checking Yahoo News for updates on the election, he’s so into Boomer status.”
Bussin – A stamp of approval meaning something is great.
Example: “Heard that new diner’s burgers are bussin’.”
Cancelled – Shaming the actions of a public figure
Example: “Stevie Ray is so cancelled for her horrid outfit choice.”
Cap – this word means a lie. If a person says “no cap”, it means “I’m being totally honest.”
Example: “I saw someone stealing from the school cash register, no cap.”
Facts – Way of saying that something is true
Example: “The new football quarterback broke his leg last night in the game, facts.”
Finna – I’m going to or about to
Example: “I’m finna run to the store for some peanut butter, do we need anything else?”
Ghost – This word is used in dating; it’s when a person stops talking to another person they are dating without telling them they will stop talking to them
Example: “That guy I went on a date with totally ghosted me after because he never contacted me again.”
Glow-up – This term is used as a way of describing how someone improved from where they used to be
Example: “Did you see that girl in Spanish class yesterday? She did a glow-up with her new, highlighted hair!”
Hits different – something is received in a positive or unique way
Example: “A chocolate croissant just hits different; it tastes so good.”
L – Shorthand for “Loss”
Example: “Sorry about your L in the Spelling Bee, idiom is a tough word to spell!”
Main character – means that someone is the center of attention
Example: “Bridget is definitely the main character at lunch time, everyone is always talking to her.”
Periodt – Agreeing to a statement; also means there’s no debate about it. Pronounced peer-ee-uht
Example: “I really think To Kill a Mockingbird is the best book ever written periodt.”
Rizz – This word means skill in charming a potential partner, through verbal communication
Example: “Teddy has serious rizz, trying to charm the socks off Myra!”
Simp – Term for someone who admires another person, except it is generally used derogatorily to imply someone is paying odd attention to another person
Example: “That guy is simping after that girl with the way he follows her around the party.”
Slaps – this mean really good
Example: “Have you seen those new TikTok videos? They slap so hard!”
Slay – This word means to do a good job
Example: “You have studied so hard for your chemistry final, there is no way you won’t slay the test!”
Stan – Synonymous with supporting something or someone, but not in a creepy way
Example: “You really stan Coldplay because you go to every concert they have had in the United States since 2021!”
Sus – Shorthand for suspicious
Example: “The teacher is so sus of you because you keep sneaking notes in class when her back is turned around. She knows it is you.”
Tea – means gossip as in spilling the tea
Example: “Shirley spilled all the tea at lunch today about Cassandra and Ray’s breakup.”
Understood the assignment – this means you do something well and understand what you are supposed to do
Example: “Alex did such a phenomenal job as Tevya in Fiddler on the Roof, he absolutely understood the assignment!”
Valid – This means that something is understandable
Example: “It’s valid what you said about Jimmy John’s sandwiches.”
Vibing – This word means a generic positive feeling that someone has about something
Example: “They are vibing big time at the Maroon 5 Concert! We were totally singing along!”
W – Shorthand for “Win”
Example: “You totally got the W in the Spelling Bee since you spelled moccasin correctly!”
Weak or Dead – Used when saying “I’m weak” or “I’m dead”, which means you find something funny
Example: “I was dead over that joke you told during gym class, I was crying I was laughing so hard.”
Yeet – Generally means to throw forcefully, but is used to signify a lack of care about whatever is being thrown
Example: “Yeet that Cheeto to me, even though I don’t actually love Cheetos. I just want to see if you can do it.”
Conclusion: Keeping Up in the Digital Era
While it might seem overwhelming at first, understanding your child’s digital language is both fun and crucial. It’s a window into their world, their feelings, and their interactions. And who knows? Drop a “No cap” or “That’s bussin” in your next chat, and watch their jaws drop in delightful surprise. Happy texting!
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