Abbreviations in chat can create a lot of confusion. We explain the most common abbreviations for Whatsapp and Co.
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“I’m otw”: This is hidden behind the most common chat abbreviations in Whatsapp and Co
© AngieYeoh (modified) / Shutterstock.com
Chat abbreviations have become indispensable in online jargon, because both German and English are constantly developing new abbreviations to express emotions or to shorten empty phrases. If you keep stumbling over unknown abbreviations and the text of your chat partner in WhatsApp or other messengers raises more questions than answers, it is high time for a little refresher course – we have listed the most important chat abbreviations for you.
From “afaik” to “xoxo” – that’s what the chat abbreviations mean
Even if it sounds obvious: Do not use any abbreviations that you are not 100 percent sure of what they mean – because precisely because they are often only two or three letters, it is all the more important that they are correct. If you write someone “lmaa” instead of “lmao”, the reaction might be different than you expected … Here is the list of all currently common chat abbreviations:
|
abbreviation |
Written out |
translation |
|---|---|---|
|
2L8 |
Too late |
Too late |
|
4U |
For you |
To you |
|
afaik |
As far as I know |
As far as I know |
|
aka |
Also known as |
Also known as |
|
akla |
Understood? | |
|
aldi |
Preferably you | |
|
asap |
As soon as possible |
As soon as possible |
|
Atm |
At the moment |
At the moment / currently |
|
bbl |
Be back later |
I’ll be back later |
|
bg |
Big grin |
Grin wide |
|
boon |
Backwards for “noob” |
Disparaging term for a beginner |
|
brb |
Be right back |
I will be back soon |
|
btw |
By the way |
by the way |
|
bvid |
I am in love with you | |
|
cu |
see you |
See you later, see you soon |
|
dafuq? / wtf? |
What the fuck? |
What the hell? |
|
last |
Dumbest possible user | |
|
dn |
You annoy | |
|
duw |
Crouch and get away |
If you said something cynical and “ducked” from the reaction |
|
eod |
End of discussion |
End of discussion |
|
eom |
End of message |
End of message |
|
ez (also izi) |
Easy |
simple |
|
fyi |
For your information |
For your information |
|
g2g |
Got to go |
I have to go |
|
* gig * |
Giggle |
giggle |
|
gn |
Goodnight |
Good night |
|
gl |
Good luck |
Much luck |
|
hdl |
I love you | |
|
Hf |
Have fun |
Have fun |
|
Hth |
Hope that helps |
Hope that helps |
|
idk |
I do not know |
I do not know |
|
imho / imo |
In my humble opinion / In my opinion |
In my humble opinion / In my opinion |
|
irl |
In real life |
In real life |
|
k or kk |
OK | |
|
kB |
Do not feel like | |
|
lamito |
Laugh me dead |
“lol” in German |
|
lmaa |
Lick my a *** | |
|
lol |
laughing out loud |
I laugh my head off |
|
noob |
Newbie |
Term for newcomers / beginners, rather derogatory |
|
n1 |
Nice one |
Well done |
|
n8 |
“N-eight” for Night |
(Good night |
|
nsfw |
Not safe for work |
Not suitable at work, do not open at the workplace. |
|
ofc |
Of course |
Of course / Sure |
|
omfg |
Oh my fucking god |
Increase of “omg” |
|
omg |
Oh my god |
Oh my God |
|
Omw |
On my way |
I’m on my way |
|
Postcode |
Please |
You’re welcome |
|
rofl |
Rolling over the floor laughing |
I roll over with laughter |
|
rly? |
Really? |
For real? |
|
scnr |
Sorry, could not resist |
Sorry, couldn’t resist |
|
tbh |
To be honest |
To be honest |
|
thx |
Thanks |
thanks |
|
tl; dr |
Too long; didn’t read |
(The text) was too long for me; I haven’t read it |
|
wdk |
Want to kiss you | |
|
xoxo |
Kisses and hugs |
Kisses and hugs |
Note that some English abbreviations are also understood in German jargon, but not all. Examples such as “atm”, “bg” or “hth” are less common in this country, while “cu” or “btw” are. But even that is not a fixed law and can change again and again. If in doubt you are not sure whether your chat partner understands the abbreviation or not, it is better to write out the meaning 😉
If you also want to know how to format text in Whatsapp or set individual chat tones, the following articles will help you:
