Instant messenger lingo can be difficult to keep up with. What makes it so difficult to master is that it varies based not only on time, but geography as well. Two people instant messaging in New York are unlikely to speak in the exact same vernacular as two people in California.
Though it is unrealistic to think you can truly master the instant messenger language, any more than you can truly master any modern slang, you can easily become at the very least conversational. Here are some of the most common phrases to help you out in your next instant messenger chat:
AKA: Also Known As
ASAP: As Soon As Possible
ASL: Age, Sex, Location
BC: Because
BRB: Be Right Back
BTDT: Been There Done That
BTW: By the Way
Coz: Because
CU: See You
DL: "Down Low"; a secret
F2F: Face to Face
FYI : For Your Information
G2G or GTG: Got to Go
GR8: Great
IDK: I Don't Know
ILU: I Love You
JC: Just Chillin'
JK: Just Kidding
JW: Just Wondering
K: Okay
KIT: Keep In Touch
LOL: Laugh Out Loud
NE: Any
NMU: Nothing Much You?
Nvm: Never Mind
Obvi: Obviously
OMG: Oh My God
PLS or PLZ: Please
POS: Parent Over Shoulder
ROTFL: Rolling On The Floor Laughing
Sry: Sorry
Thnx: Thank You
TMI: Too Much Information
Tot: Totally
TTYL: Talk to you later
U: You
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