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13 English abbreviations you might not know

You probably know what IMHO, LOL or OMG means. Now is the time to find out how to respond to BYOB at the end of a party invite or an AMA said with confidence.

1.BYOB

[biː-waɪ-əʊ-biː]

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It stands for Bring Your Own Bottle - "grab yourself a bottle." This means that the host of the party to which you are invited has taken care of the treat, but with regard to alcohol, he is counting on the help of the guests.

Come to Nick's house at 5 pm. BYOB. Come to Nick's today at five. Bring alcohol!

2.SMH

[ɛs-ɛm-eɪʧ]

This shorthand for Shaking My Head translates as "shaking my head" and means a reaction to something unpleasant or very strange.

— He's late again. - He's late again.
— S.M.H. I shake my head.

3. CSL

[siː-ɛs-ɛl]

Abbreviation for Can't Stop Laughing. She, on the contrary, says that the interlocutor cannot help laughing at the mention of something really funny. In fact, another version of LOL.

Have you seen that video with a dancing dog? Have you seen this video of the dancing dog?
— CSL! - I can't stop laughing!

4. FOMO

[ˈfəʊməʊ]

Fear Of Missing Out is a popular abbreviation of late, meaning the fear of missing something. For example, a party.

I have to go to that party! I have severe FOMO! I have to go to this party! I have a severe fear of missing something important!

5.AF

[eɪ-ɛf]

It stands for As Fuck, but does not mean anything abusive. This is an extreme degree of something, like the Russian "to go nuts."

Those tacos were spicy AF! “Those tacos were fucking spicy!”

6. FAM

[ˈfæm]

What would you call your best friend or girlfriend with whom you are very close? Perhaps they would say that they are like a brother or a sister to you? In English, there is an abbreviation for this FAM from the word Family.

My fam is always there for me. My close friends are always ready to help me.

7.IRL

[aɪ-ɑːr-ɛl]

The Internet has captured the world so much that we even began to divide life into real and virtual. And so the abbreviation IRL appeared - In Real Life.

IRL I'm a very friendly person actually. In real life, I'm actually a very friendly person.

8.ELI5

[iː-ɛl-aɪ faɪv]

To express sincere ignorance in any matter, you can use the abbreviation ELI5 (Explain Like I'm 5), which means: "Explain it like I'm a five-year-old."

I know nothing about computer hardware, ELI5. “I don’t know anything about computer parts, explain it like I’m five years old.”

9. FTFY

[ɛf-tiː-ɛf-waɪ]

In English chats you can sometimes see FTFY. This abbreviation may appeal to those who like to correct grammatical errors for others, because it means Fixed That For You and translates as "Corrected it for you."

It should be spoken, not spik. FTFY. - It should be speak, not spik. Corrected for you.

10.DAE

[diː-eɪ-iː]

An abbreviation of the question "Does Anyone Else?" ("Someone else?"). For example, you want to find like-minded people among your interlocutors:

— DAE like this band? Does anyone else like this group?

11.AMA

[eɪ-ɛm-eɪ]

And if you are an expert in any subject and you want to share your knowledge, the AMA - Ask Me Anything - will come in handy. Ask me anything!

I've been studying Van Gogh for years, AMA. I have been studying Van Gogh for years, ask me anything.

12.ICYMI

[aɪ-siː-waɪ-ɛm-aɪ]

It is an abbreviation derived from the long expression In Case You Missed It. Used in a conversation to explain a topic under discussion to someone who just joined it: "In case you missed it..."

ICYMI, we were talking about our healthcare system. “In case you missed it, we were discussing our healthcare.

13.PAW

[piː- eɪ- ˈdʌblju (ː)]

As a teenager, how often did you try to hide the topics of your conversations with friends from your parents? The current youth is much more inventive: when a mother stands behind her back and surreptitiously observes what her child is talking about with her comrades, the abbreviation PAW - Parents Are Watching is used.

Let's go to the library together? PAW. - Shall we go to the library? Parents are watching!

Bonus

And finally, simple expressions that may be useful to you in correspondence with an English-speaking friend:

• YW [waɪ-ˈdʌblju (ː)]- You're Welcome.
• RLY [ɑːr-ɛl-waɪ]- Really.
• ILY [aɪ-ɛl-waɪ]- I Love You.
• SY [ɛs-waɪ]- See You.