Primer on Internet shorthand

©Washington Post

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 10, 2000


Here's a short glossary of chatspeak:

* * *

AYT -- Are you there?

YIAH -- Yes, I am here.

LTNS -- Long time no see.

DIKU -- Do I know you?

DTS -- Don't think so.

WAYF -- Where are you from?

A/S/L -- Request for fellow chatter's age, sex, location.

AFAIK -- As far as I know.

BRB -- Be right back.

BTDT -- Been there, done that.

B/F -- Boyfriend.

G/F -- Girlfriend.

GFETE -- Grinning from ear to ear.

GFUG -- Good for you, girl.

INAL -- I'm not a lawyer.

IMHO -- In my humble opinion.

ICCL -- I couldn't care less.

OMG -- Oh my God, gosh.

UGTBK -- You've got to be kidding.

YOOC -- You're out of control.

YYSSW -- Yeah, yeah, sure, sure, whatever.

GTG, G2G, GG -- Got to go.

TTFN -- Ta ta for now.

CYA -- See ya.

POOF -- Gone, left the chat room.

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