Now I have your attention — was that spelling errors or much more? Did that really mean something? Probably to some people it didn’t but probably we are too old to understand it.
That was probably a conversation between two teens. That means nothing to me but everything to them. To teens the translation is "Many parents don’t believe there is a generation disconnect between them and their teen."
Even though I don’t have any teens I do believe that statement is true. Often I will look over my niece’s shoulder, trying to see what she is texting or instant messaging her friends and frankly I have no idea. Actually this should be a new reality game show — HOW TO COMMINICATE WITH YOUR TEENS or instead of the game categories it could be Adults, What Does This Mean?
That would not only be hilarious but meaningful to many of us. Since my kids have a long way to go to be teens I thought I would get a jump start on trying to communicate with them in the next decade. I do realize that the "teen" language might be totally different but I am willing to learn this language now since I am fearful that the only way I will communicate with them is through technology.
Sure I know some of the easy ones:
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My fear is, there is a ton that I don’t know – please help me!
- Do you know the secret "teen" language?
If so, please respond with some helpful hints and hopefully some new words so I can expand my "teen" vocabulary.
I look forward to hearing from you.
PS — How long will it take for advertisers to start using this language? Maybe they are and I just have missed it.
Patricia Wakim says:
OMG!! This is so timely for me! My son and some friends from school are writing a play for a school project and part of it is written in “Text Message” language. I overheard them practicing and it was like listening to a foreign language. I will have to get the translation once they have it all done.
Karyn P says:
My teenagers speak in this language. When they leave the house they say, C-Y-A. Which is a little crazy because is faster to just say “bye!”
LOL – Laugh out loud
j/k – just kidding
DK – don’t know
C Ya – See You
ur – you’re
Stephenie King Gordon says:
i have 14 twin girls living next door. deciphering their text messages is something i have to do daily.
JK – Just Kidding
kthxbi – OK, Thanks, Bye
IDK – I don’t know
WTF – what the…
SNF – So Not Fair (i receive this one A LOT)
the worst is, they don’t just text it, they say it as well. it took me a week to figure out why every time Liz left the room she would say “BRB” (be right back).
Bob Graham says:
Merrill,
My BFF (Best Friend Forever). There’s a commercial for a cellular provider that’s been out for a few months in which almost all of the dialog is presented in this teen vocabulary. Even Grandma is hip to it. (I don’t remember which company, because I have a contract with Verizon that isn’t up for renewal and I’m happy with their service).
Bob Graham says:
Stephanie,
14 twin girls living next door? Sounds like a premise for a sitcom…
Chau says:
At first, I felt silly being able to read that title so easily. I sent it to some of my co-workers and they were also capable of translating the title. The average age for our group is about 26. It became a really interesting topic among my peers.
When AIM first came out, all the terms you all suggested (LOL, BTW, OMG, JK, UR, etc…) were basic terms that we used and still use today. I guess you can say our generation were the ones that started the strange language and the generation after us have transformed it to something more complex. We all agreed that we can read it, but there is no way we would have been able to write a sentence like that.
There were two main reasons why my friends and I would type like that.
1. It was shorter
2. It was a coded language that our parents could not understand
HAND! (Have a Nice Day)
Danielle Blugrind says:
You’ve hit most of the popular ones. My husband and I even “BRB” each other when we IM. Of course we’ve all heard BFF, OMG… here are some random ones.
POS – parent over shoulder
PAH – parents are home
IMO – in my opinion
B4N – bye for now
LUL – love you lots
SOK – it’s okay
AIIC – as if I care
BOOMM – bored out of my mind
You should go on google (or wherever) and do a search. There are tons of websites that have text message dictionaries, or even better for parents, translators.
TTFN. CUL.
Merrill Dubrow says:
I have learned so many already. POS, SNF and PAH will come in handy!
Keep them coming.
Thanks.
Merrill
Merrill Dubrow says:
Chau,
Thanks for your contribution and teaching me some things including one to close this comment.
HAND.
Merrill
Lorri says:
So, I asked my kids about this because we text pretty often (one is 19 and the other is 15) and we just spell things out w/occasional abbreviations. Well, they “laughed” at me. Evidently they don’t do this — my older son is more of an adult than a teen, and my teen said “I personally think it is ridiculous. It is actually harder to get used to texting these things than it is to just spell it out like a civilized person; that is why I use absolutely no abbreviations when I text.” Maybe it is because they are the children of a former English teacher and I used to edit their papers and emphasize the importance of accurate spelling, good grammar, etc. Probably not though — must just be what I continue to find …they have never been typical teenagers.
By the way, the word “texting” is not in your spell check database.
Merrill Dubrow says:
HERE IS A GREAT LIST:
143: I love you
420: Marijuana
9: Parent is watching
99: Parent is no longer watching
AITR: Adult in the room
CD9: Code 9, parents are around
CICYHW: Can I copy your homework?
CM: Call me
C/S (also COS): Change of subject
CT: Can’t talk
CYM: Check your mail
CYO: See you online
CYT: See you tomorrow
DARFC: Ducking and running for cover
DOC: Drug of choice
DURS: Damn you are sexy
DUSL: Do you scream loud?
DWB: Don’t write back
DWWWI: Surfing the World Wide Web while intoxicated
EML: E-mail me later
EWI: E-mailing while intoxicated
GAB: Getting a beer
GANB: Getting another beer
GFN: Gone for now
GTG: Got to go
HOIC: Hold on, I’m coming
IMEZRU: I am easy, are you?
IOH: I’m outta here
IPN: I’m posting naked
IRL: In real life
ISO: In search of
IWALU: I will always love you
JP: Just playing
KPC: Keeping parents clueless
LHOS: Let’s have online sex
LHSO: Let’s have sex online
LMIRL: Let’s meet in real life
LTTIC: Look the teacher is coming
MA: Mature audience
M4C: Meet for coffee
MLAS: My lips are sealed
MOS: Mom over shoulder
MTF: More to follow
MUBAR: Messed up beyond all recognition
MUSM: Miss you so much
NE1ER: Anyone here?
MWBRL: More will be revealed later
NIFOC: Nude in front of the computer
NME: Enemy
NP: No problem or nosy parents, depending on context
OAO: Over and out
OBX: Old battle ax
P911: Parent alert
P&C: Private and confidential
PA: Parent alert
PAL: Parents are listening
PAW: Parents are watching
PBB: Parent behind back
PBEM: Play by e-mail
PLOS: Parents looking over shoulder
POM: Parent over my shoulder
POS: Parent over shoulder or piece of (expletive)
PRON: Porn (intentionally misspelled to mislead)
PRW: Parents are watching
RLCO: Real life conference
RN: Right now
RNN: Reply not necessary
RUH: Are you horny?
RUT: Are you there?
RUUP4IT: Are you up for it?
RYO: Roll your own
SEC: Wait a second
SLAP: Sounds like a plan
SLM: See last mail
SMAIM: Send me an instant message
SMEM: Send me e-mail
T@YL: Talk at you later
TBC: To be continued
TBD: To be determined
TDTM: Talk dirty to me
TOM: Tomorrow
TTUL: Talk to you later
WYM: What do you mean?
XTC: Ecstasy
YBS: You’ll be sorry
YIWGP: Yes, I will go private