Blog Archives
Most used English abbreviations on the Internet
Regardless of your level of English, it will be very useful to know the most popular English abbreviations and acronyms of Internet slang to communicate quickly on networks.
The acceleration of messages on the Internet, mainly on social networks, has motivated netizens to resort to various abbreviations based on acronyms in English.
Learn which ones are the most popular and how you can use them to streamline the way you interact on social media.
Abbreviations in English: the acceleration of language
Language is an entirely living communicational organism that evolves every second; no term or expression remains static for long, especially in the virtual world.
Hypercommunication in the global era is nourished by a constant updating of expressions that do not come from formal institutions such as the Royal Academy of Language, but from users of social networks, who through forums and groups exchange everything from opinions to multimedia content. at high speed.
The era of the Internet and social networks has motivated the new generations to appropriate this native language, and that is why, surely, while browsing the Internet you can find expressions like these:
- Uneed to c this ASAP!
- OMG! is this for real? LOL
- BTW, Uare great!!!
If you find it difficult to understand the message, then you need to know more about English slang abbreviations and acronyms.
It may interest you: 👉 Do you want to learn English? Start by creating habits.
Using abbreviations based on the popular jargon of netizens is the natural way of communicating on social networks and instant messaging: Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube —just to mention the most popular— use these abbreviations as part of a language created by the ingenuity and the need of the users to send increasingly shorter messages, but whose meaning does not lose coherence.
This is known as Internet slang: a hyperglobalized version of colloquial language that in the past (before the creation of the Internet), was used only by local societies delimited by their geographical location. But currently physical borders are not an impediment and the expressions born in the network now have a universal reach.
What is internet slang?
According to the RAE, jargon is an informal language used between groups that share the same interests, trades or professions. Before the Internet, it was used so that people who did not belong to a particular group or guild could not understand those who were members.
When we say that two doctors are speaking "in their jargon" it is because they are using terms of their profession. The same thing happens when someone shares a “lawyer joke” online, suggesting in advance that perhaps only legal scholars might find it funny.
With the exponential growth of the Internet (and specifically of social networks), jargon has reached another level of projection: English abbreviations and acronyms such as LOL, OMG or BTW, which once circulated only in office emails, today They are universally used in networks.
It should be noted that, although there are thousands of abbreviations and acronyms in all languages, those generated in English predominate, and this is because, according to 2020 studies, 52.9% of internet pages offer their content in this language..
Regardless of your level of English, it will certainly be very useful for you to know the most popular English abbreviations and acronyms of Internet slang to better understand the socio-cultural context and the uses of these terms to communicate quickly and efficiently on the internet. the networks.
It may interest you: 👉 5 infallible strategies to improve your level of English.
Acronyms, abbreviations and acronyms, do you know the difference?
Internet jargon is made up of abbreviations, acronyms or abbreviations created to respond to a basic need of users in social networks: to communicate in a short and simplified way.
However, although the three terms share similar characteristics, they also have enormous differences. In this comparative table we explain it to you:
| INITIALS | ACRONYM | ABBREVIATION |
| They are the initials of a complex expression
that is used to refer to groups such as associations,
organizations, institutions or companies. Examples of acronyms: —HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus) |
Abbreviations that can include the initial
letter of a word and a second letter that allows the entire
acronym to be pronounced as an autonomous word. Even if the words are in English, if there is difficulty in Hispanizing them, their original form is maintained, for example: —"Unesco" refers to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, although it is allowed to be used in Spanish. |
They are formed by removing several letters to
reduce a word to its minimum expression. For example: Plural abbreviations are formed by doubling the first letter of the expression: —Armed Forces: FF. AA. |
| Acronyms are not pronounced, they are spelled. In such a way that the first example would be pronounced: “Go, I, Hache”. | Acronyms are not spelled, they are pronounced. As in the previous case, "Unesco" works as a noun | The abbreviations in Spanish are neither spelled nor pronounced, they are written to indicate a position, title, position or the condition of a person. |
Abbreviations have always existed; however, Internet jargon has been responsible for developing this kind of neo-language where all network users share the same linguistic signs.
Today, there are many expressions that appear for a few months and disappear, and others that have survived the passage of time until they become a point of reference for virtual communication.
Why is it so important to know the abbreviations and acronyms in English?
The answer is simple: learning English implies knowing both the formal and informal aspects of the language, since not knowing the popular jargon of the Internet would exclude us from the global village that social networks represent today.
Just as the term "digital illiterate" appeared in the mid-1990s to refer to people who did not know how to use the Internet, in recent years the term is also referring to those who do not know the jargon of the Internet.
The 10 most popular English abbreviations on social networks
Every day abbreviations appear in English with their respective variants, so many that the list could be extended indefinitely, since they often appear in closed groups or channels such as WhatsApp or Telegram.
That is why today we will focus on those abbreviations that are already in popular use on open networks such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, and others that are on the rise such as Twitch and TikTok.
1. LOL (Laughing Out Loud)
- Translated as "laughing out loud", it was born more than a
decade ago as a complement to the first memes that went viral on the
network. It is perhaps the most popular abbreviation and can work in
many contexts, for example, to make fun of oneself. This expression
is not usually translated into Spanish.
It's raining and I forgot my umbrella!!! LOL
(It's raining and I forgot my umbrella!!! (I laugh at myself)
3. ASAP (As Soon As Possible)
4. It is translated as “as soon as you can”. Although it has an informal character, its use is more frequent among work colleagues, through emails or messaging such as WhatsApp. It refers to a message asking for immediate support, or requesting a prompt response:
I need U to send the report by mail… ASAP!!!
(I need you to mail the report… AS SOON AS YOU CAN!
5. BTW (By The Way)
- Abbreviation that is used when we forget to say or clarify something in the middle of a conversation and we want to return to the subject in question. It translates as “Oh, by the way”.
Oh! BTW… Could U pick me up at 9?
(Oh! BTW… Could you pick me up at 9?)
7. DM (Direct Message)
- Literally it means "direct message" and is used very frequently in social networks. The PM (Private Message) variant is also used, which indicates that replies to a topic must be made directly with the recipient, not in a public comment thread. It is used to share private information or to deal with any matter on a discretionary basis.
Who of my contacts would be interested in participating in a
conversational english workshop? DM!
(Who of my contacts would be interested in participating in a conversational English workshop? SEND A DIRECT MESSAGE!)
9. FTF (Face to Face)
- Translated as “face to face”, it is a direct invitation to establish contact in person, or, in a similar context, to indicate that we are interacting with someone in person.
I suggest a FTF meeting
(I suggest an IN-PERSON meeting)
11. XOXO (Sending kisses)
- It is most often used in messaging apps(although it was pioneered in social networks like Facebook). The expression does not come from any abbreviation, it is rather a representation of a display of affection. It translates as “hugs and kisses”.
See U later… XOXO!!!
(See you later… Hugs and kisses!)
13. BFF (Best Friends Forever)
- Translated as "Best Friends Forever", it is another pioneer abbreviation that has survived the test of time and is used to indicate that someone is a special friend (or the best).
Went to the movies with my BFF
(I went to the movies with my best friend)
15. OMG! (Oh My God!)
- This abbreviation has already become a universal expression to
express surprise or astonishment. It is an acronym that in English
means "Oh My God", translated as "Oh My God" into Spanish.
It can also be used when something causes a lot of excitement or surprise, repeating itself many times.
OMG! Are you going to get married?
(Oh my God! Are you getting married?)
17. NSFW (Not safe for work)
- It is used to warn that the information we are sharing is not safe to view in a public or work place, either because the content is sensitive, inappropriate or very personal. It is usually used in parentheses and, mainly, in discussion forums to mark links to pages with sexually explicit content or that includes insulting language.
Send you the beach pictures (NSFW)
(I am sending you the beach photos [NOT SAFE TO VIEW AT WORK]
19. HTH (Hope that helps)
It literally means "I hope that helps" and is used when we have
resolved a question or have offered some kind of help.
It is similar to other Internet acronyms such as "NP" or "No Problem"
used to respond to thank yous.
Found this about your thesis… HTH
(I found this about your Thesis… I HOPE IT WILL HELP YOU)
There are other much more simplified abbreviations that are also frequently used, but that do not have a meaning that depends on the context, since they are used literally, for example:
- GTG or G2G (Got to Go): I have to go.
- BRB (Be Right Back): I'll be right back.
- TXH (Thanks): Thank you.
- PLS (Please): Please.
- NP (No Problem): There is no problem
- Facebook (Facebook).
- W. (Twitter)
- IG (Instagram)
- WA/WP (WhatsApp)
As you can see, the list of abbreviations in English can grow indefinitely as network users interact and modify commonly used expressions depending on their usefulness.
Do you know other English acronyms or abbreviations that you use every day? We would love to meet them, so feel free to share your comments at the end of this article.
In addition, we invite you to download our free Quick Guide on 15 things you can do if you have a high level of English and understand how, in today 's globalized world, multilingualism is becoming increasingly important.
