Deciphering Text Messages – What Does That Mean??

UGTBK, OMG! ALOL!!! GTG, MOS…TMB L8R, K? 

If you saw this text on your tween’s cell phone, you’d probably assume that your toddler got a hold of his big sister’s phone and had his way with it. On the contrary, this “language” is becoming secondhand to the next generation of digital citizens and is almost foreign to others who, like me, actually write out “later” instead of L8R. 

Text-speak is growing rapidly – so much so that it has spawned a huge subset of websites, including this helpful online Tech Dictionary, to decipher exactly what CD9, PRW or S2R means. And it’s clear from this text interchange, that my generation isn’t the only one that is trying to figure out this new way of speaking: 

If you’ve got an avid texter in your house, it may be worth familiarizing yourself with some of the more common abbreviations. Here are a few: 

ALOL Actually laughing out loud BF / GF Boyfriend / Girlfriend BRB Be right back BTW By the way CD9 Code 9 - means parents are around CYE Check your email DD Dear daughter DH Dear husband DS Dear son GR8 Great GTG Got to go HB Hurry back IDK I don't know JFF Just for fun K OK LMK Let me know LOL Laugh out loud L8R Later MorF Male or female MOS Mom over shoulder OMG Oh my god P911 Parent emergency PAW Parents are watching PIR Parent in room POS Parent over shoulder PPL People PRW Parents are watching S2R Send to receive (pictures) TMB Text me back UGTBK You’ve got to be kidding WAYD What are you doing W/E Whatever

And BTW, if you’re stumped on the text above: UGTBK, OMG! ALOL!!! GTG, MOS…TMB L8R, K? 

Here’s the translation: You’ve got to be kidding me, oh my god! Actually laughing out loud!!! Got to go, mom over shoulder…Text me back later, ok?

 

 

 

 

 

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