Decoding Your Kid's Text Messages (warning - PG13)

In the subculture of covert texting, MMSing, SMSing, chatrooms and emails, there has developed a common shorthand used to communicate common words or phrases. From the obvious CUL8R (see you later) to bizarre and complicated terms like ILICISCOMK (I Laughed, I Cried, I Spat Coke On My Keyboard), this language can be confusing to a parent trying to decipher their kid’s communications. And that’s exactly the point. Unfortunately, many of these terms were created specifically to confuse or avoid parents, teachers, spouses or supervisors. Often, numbers are substituted for letters, vowels are omitted and codes are used. Many are easy to decipher if you sound them out; some you just have to know. Here is a list of some of the most commonly used text terms, both the relatively harmless and the potentially dangerous:

Terms that are usually harmless:

2 – to, two, too
2moro - Tomorrow
2nite – Tonight
4 – for
404 – confusion/ the writer has no idea
411 - information
AFK – Away From the Keyboard
AIM – America online Instant Messenger
B – Be
BRB - Be Right Back
BTW - By The Way
B4N - Bye For Now
BCNU - Be Seeing You
BFF - Best Friends Forever
C – see
DILLIGAS - Do I Look Like I Give A Sh**
GA – Go Ahead (I’m done writing, go ahead)
GR8 - Great
ILY - I Love You
IM – Instant Message
IRL - In Real Life
J/K - Just Kidding
L8R - Later
LMAO - Laughing My A** Off
LOL - Laughing Out Loud -or- Lots Of Love
NP - No Problem
NUB - new person
OIC - Oh, I See
OMG - Oh My God
OT - Off Topic
ROTFL - Rolling On The Floor Laughing
R - Are
RT - Real Time
SH - Sh** Happens
SOL - Sh** Out of Luck
STBY - Sucks To Be You
SWAK - Sealed With A Kiss
THX - Thanks
TLC - Tender Loving Care
TMI - Too Much Information
TTYL - Talk To You Later
TXT – Text message
TYVM - Thank You Very Much
U - You
VBG - Very Big Grin
WTF - What The F***
WYWH - Wish You Were Here
XOXO - Hugs and Kisses

Terms with scarier implications:

4Q – F*** you
8 - oral sex
9 – parent is watching
99 – parent is no longer watching
20 – location/ where are you?
143 - I love you
182 - I hate you
420 – marijuana or smoking marijuana
1174 - strip club
AITR – adult in the room
ASL - Age/Sex/Location
BJ – Blow Job
CD9 - code 9 = parents are around
DUM - Do You Masturbate?
DUSL - Do You Scream Loud?
FB - "Sex" Buddy
GNOC - Get Naked On Cam (webcam)
GYPO - Get Your Pants Off
I&I – Intercourse and Inebriation
IMEZRU - I Am Easy, Are You?
IWSN - I Want Sex Now
J/O - Jerking Off
KPC - Keeping Parents Clueless
LF – Let’s F***
LHOS – Let’s Have Online Sex
LMIRL - Let's Meet In Real Life
MOOS - Member(s) Of the Opposite Sex
MOSS or MOTSS - Member(s) Of The Same Sex
MorF - Male or Female
MOS/DOS – Mom/Dad Over Shoulder
NIFOC - Nude In Front Of Computer
NP – Nosy Parents
P911 - Parent Alert
PAL/W/IR - Parents Are Listening/Watching/In room
PBB – Parent Behind Back
POS – Parent Over Shoulder
PRON - Porn
PRW – Parents aRe Watching
RU/18 - Are You Over 18?
RUH - Are You Horny?
TDTM - Talk Dirty To Me
WTGP – Want To Go Private?
WYCM - Will You Call Me?
WYFM – Would You F*** Me?

Don’t see the term you’re looking for?

transL8it! Is an online translation tool that will translate text shorthand to English.

Netlingo is the net's most comprehensive dictionary of terms.

Finally (though pretty much OT), Fred Lynch's online slang dictionary is informative and entertaining.