Chat Abbreviations and Acronyms

Over the past few years, a whole new language has sprung up from Internet chat rooms, instant messaging (IM), online games and text messaging. This lingo, full of acronyms and abbreviations, is used to save keystrokes (and time) when typing, but can often leave the uninitiated completely mystified as to what the sender is trying to say!

Not only is it important for IM and chat room users to know how to use acronyms and abbreviations in order to communicate easily with other users, but for many parents, learning this new language can play an important role in maintaining the online safety of children.

To help you out, we've put together a comprehensive list of the most commonly used chat abbreviations and slang. However, chat language is evolving daily, so if you come across any abbreviations or slang that leaves you bewildered, simply ask people in the rooms what the term means; chatters are a friendly bunch and will usually be more than happy to help you out!