Instant Messaging

Glossary

Because typing takes time, it's sometimes too hard to hold a real-time conversation using it. It's commonplace to not capitalize words, use sentence fragments, and abbreviate words to save time. Here's a handy cheat sheet for the most common words of IM lingo:

• afaik - As far as I know
• AIM - The AOL instant messaging network, or as a verb, "chat with" or "file transfer"
• asap - As soon as possible
• bbl - Be back later
• bbml - Be back maybe later
• bbs - Be back soon
• bc - Because
• brb - Be right back
• btw - By the way
• cu - See you
• cul or cul8r - See you later
• fyi - For your information
• gtg or g2g - Got to go
• idk - I don't know
• iirc - If i recall correctly
• imo - In my opinion
• imho - In my humble opinion
• jk - Just kidding
• jp - Just playing
• jc - Just chilling
• k - Okay
• l8r - Later
• lol - Laughing out loud
• np - No problem
• plz - Please
• rofl or rotfl - Rolling on the floor laughing
• ruok - Are you okay
• thx - Thanks
• ttyl - Talk to you later
• wtg - Way to go
• yt - You There? (as in "Are You There?")