Terms and abbreviations used in texting

In the following list you will find terms and abbreviations that are used in text messages sent by mobile phones and emails. Click on a letter or number to jump to the meaning of the word or abbreviation you are looking for.

messaging the process of sending and receiving electronic messages by computer or mobile phone
text

to send a written message to someone using a mobile phone:

Laura, will you text me the venue again?

Gemma didn’t call or text me all day.
texting the process of sending and receiving written messages using a mobile phone
text message a written message that you send or receive using a mobile phone
text messaging same as texting

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Abbreviations
1

used in emails and text messages to replace ‘-one’:

NE1 (= anyone)
2

  1. to or too: used in emails and text messages:
    it’s up 2 U (= it’s up to you)
    me 2 (= me too)

  2. used for replacing ‘to-’ in other words:
    2day (= today)
2DAY today
2MORO tomorrow
2NITE tonight
4

  1. for: used in emails and text messages:
    4 U (= for you)

  2. used for replacing ‘-fore’ in other words:
    B4 (= before)
8

used in emails and text messages to replace ‘-ate’ or ‘-eat’:

GR8 (= great)

C U L8R (= see you later)

A
AFAIK as far as I know
ATB all the best
B

  1. be: used in emails and text messages

  2. used for replacing ‘be’ in other words:
    B4 (=before)
B4 before
BCNU be seeing you
BTW by the way
C

see: used in emails and text messages:

C U 2moro (= see you tomorrow)
CID consider it done
CU see you
CUL8R

call you later

D
D8 date

E
EZ easy

F
FWIW for what it's worth: used in emails and text messages for saying that someone may or may not be interested in what you have to say
FYI for you information: used in emails and text messages as a way of introducing a useful piece of information

G
GR8

great

I
IMHO in my humble opinion: used, often humorously, in emails and text messages for giving your opinion
IMO in my opinion: used in emails and text messages for giving your opinion
IYSS if you say so
K OK

L
L8 late
L8R

later: used in emails and text messages:

C U L8R (=see you later)
LOL

  1. laughing out loud: used in emails and text messages for showing that you think something is funny

  2. lots of love: used at the end of emails and text messages

M
M8

mate
MSG message
MYOB mind your own business: used in emails and text messages for telling people not to ask questions about something that you do not want them to know about

N
NE any
NE1 anyone
NO1 no one
NETHING

anything

O
OTOH on the other hand

P
PCM please call me
PLS

please
prolly probably
R

are: used in emails and text messages:

RU free 2nite (= Are you free tonight?)
RGDS

regards
RUCMNG Are you coming?
RUOK?

Are you OK?

S
SPK speak
SRY

sorry

T
THNQ

thank you: used in emails and text messages:

THNQ for visiting my home page.
THX/TX

thanks: used in emails and text messages:

THX 4 the info.
U

you: used in emails and text messages:

CU L8R (= see you later)

W
W8 wait
WAN2

want to
WRK work

X
XLNT excellent
Y why
YR

your