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Chat Guide

Chat Guide

Chatting online can sometimes feel like you’re stepping into another world, complete with its own unique language. Part of this is because online chats actually do use their own type of language.

Over time, “chatspeak” has left chat rooms and entered instant messaging, text messaging, personal email, and even work accounts. Not knowing what some abbreviations or emoticons mean could make you seem outdated.

There are different emoticons or faces used to display emotions and there are abbreviations that aren’t used in regular conversation. These emoticons are created through typing simple characters on your computer’s keyboard.

The first things to look at are some of the common abbreviations used in online chat. Understanding them and using them can significantly reduce the amount of confusion experienced in a chat.

AFAIK – As Far As I Know

AFK – Away From Keyboard

BBL – Be Back Later

BEG – Big Evil Grin

BF – Boyfriend

BRB – Be Right Back

BTW – By the Way

BWL – Bursting With Laughter

CID – Crying In Disgrace

CNP – Continued in Next Post

CYA – See You

EG – Evil Grin

FC – Fingers Crossed

FYI – For Your Information

FWIW – For What It’s Worth

GF – Girlfriend

HAGN – Have A Good Night

IAE – In Any Event

IMO – In My Opinion

IMHO – In My Honest Opinion

JMO – Just My Opinion

JTLYK – Just To Let You Know

KOC – Kiss on Cheeks

KOL – Kiss on Lips L8R – Later

LHO – Laughing Head Off

LMAO – Laughing My Ass Off

PM – Private Message

ROFL – Rolling On the Floor Laughing

SO – Significant Other

SWL – Screaming With Laughter

SYS – See You Soon

TGIF – Thank God it’s Friday

TOY – Thinking Of You

TTFN – Ta Ta for Now

TTYL – Talk to You Later

WTG – Way to Go

WTH – What the Heck

These abbreviations and phrases are often used by gamers, especially during online game play. They pick some of the above words and phrases because they’re easier and faster to write while playing.

Here are some more guides to internet acronyms and emoticons:

Chat Guide

Online Chat Acronyms

Chat Abbreviations

Internet Chat Abbreviations

Acronyms

List of Emoticons

Emoticons & Smiley Page

Best Gamer Phrases