While abbreviations aren’t as important as they were before the advent of the smartphone and its QWERTY keyboard, members of older generations may still find themselves stumped by the terms and shortcuts that teens use to communicate in the online realm today.
Computer security software company McAfee released a list of internet slang and abbreviations earlier this year that might just make it easier to decode what your teen is saying. Use these terms at your own risk when communicating with your kids, though!
Harmless terms
McAfee sorts the terminology into categories that are harmless, and terms that may be cause for concern.
Scoop: To pick someone up like at their house
Finna: Fixing to do something
Yeet: A way to express excitement over something
Skeet: Let’s go
Dip: To leave
Low key: To keep something confidential between friends
High key: I don’t care who knows
AMOSC: Add me on snapchat
Rn: Right now
Slick: Cool
Geekin: Laughing too hard and too loud
Bet: Something is going to happen
Salty: Talking in a sassy or bitter way
WRU: Where are you?
WUD: What are you doing?
LYAAF: Love you as a friend
NC: No comment
IDKWTD: I don’t know what to do
DOH: Expression of frustration, or realizing something
OBS: Obviously
OFC: Of course
ACC: Actually
POA: Plan of action
IMO: In My Opinion
KOTL: Kiss On The Lips
Huggle: Hug and snuggle
Ship: Abbreviation for relationship
IDEK: I don’t even know
IKR: I know, right?
SMH: Shaking my head
Thirsty: Desperate, impatient, or overly eager
Fam: Very good friend
Basic: Someone or something is ordinary or boring
Westan: Showing support for person or cause
Woke: Awareness of current affairs or social issues (i.e., That girl is so woke 24/7.)
Savage: When a person speaks or acts bluntly or without a filter in public
Gucci: Very impressive
Sus: Suspicious
Terms that are a bit more risky
Wth: What the heck/hell
Af: As f***, used to mean “extremely”
121: Let’s chat in a private message
Aeap, alap: As early or as late as possible referencing parties
F2F: Offering to video chat or meet in person
LMIRL: Let’s meet in real life
9, CD9, Code 9: Parents are nearby
99: Parents are gone
MOS, POS: Mom/Parents over shoulder
KPC: Keeping parents clueless
WTTP: Want to trade pictures?
S2R: Send to Receive (pictures)
Sugarpic: Refers to a suggestive or erotic photograph
TDTM: Talk dirty to me
THOT: That wh*** over there
Zerg: To gang up on someone (a gaming term that has morphed into a bullying term)
KMS, KYS: Kill myself, kill yourself
TBH: To Be Honest (a candid compliment or an insult may follow)
SWYP: So What’s Your Problem?
182: I hate you
Shade: Refers to “threw shade” or “throwing shade,” to put someone down.
A3: Anytime, anywhere, anyplace
Keep in mind that South African vernacular may include terms that are not listed here. To keep your teen safe online, consider having them sign Smartcom’s contract for teenagers, and discuss the dangers that may be prevalent in the online sphere in an open and candid way.