Hack 7 Common Acronyms and Initialisms

Master the obscure acronyms people use on IRC to save keystrokes .

IRC attracts a curious breed of user people who seem happy to sit around chatting all day, yet are too lazy to type full words at times. Understanding the acronyms they use will make it easier to fit in, but you are advised not to join in with their acronym overload.

Here is a list of the most commonly used abbreviations and acronyms on IRC. Some of them may already be familiar to users of Usenet groups or web boards :

AFAIK

As far as I know.

AFK

Away from keyboard. People often type this if they are in the middle of a conversation and want other people to realize they are not around. It is sometimes added to the end of a user's nickname to indicate the same fact; for example, Jibbler may change his nickname to Jibblerafk.

ASL

Age/Sex/Location. This is something asked of all newcomers in prepubescent channels.

ATM

At the moment.

BBIAB

Be back in a bit.

BBIAF

Be back in a few.

BBL

Be back later.

BBS

Be back soon.

BRB

Be right back. Often said when someone is in the middle of a conversation but has to dash off to do something, with the intention of returning to the conversation.

BTW

By the way.

CYA

C (see) you.

DCC

Direct Client Connection. The name given to the connection used to transfer files or chat directly to another user without going via the server.

DL

Download.

DW

Don't worry.

FFS

For f*#&'s sake.

FIIK

F*#&ed if I know.

FUBAR

F*#&ed up beyond all repair/recognition.

FY (FU)

F*#& you.

FYI

For your information.

GN

Good night.

IANAL

I am not a lawyer.

IIRC

If I recall correctly.

IM(H)O

In my ( humble ) opinion.

IRL

In real life.

JK (J/K)

Just kidding.

LART

Loser/luser/lamer attitude readjustment tool. Channel operators may ready the LART to deal with users who don't seem to have a clue.

LMAO

Laughing my ass off.

LO

Short for hello.

LOL

Laughing out loud. This is a common response from people after you've said something funny .

LTNS

Long time no see.

MOTD

Message of the day. This is normally announced when you connect to an IRC server.

MYOB

Mind your own business.

NM

Not much or never mind.

NP

No problem.

OIC

Oh, I C (see).

OMG(D)

Oh my God (darn).

PLS,PLZ

Please.

RE

Re-hello. People may welcome you with this if you part a channel and rejoin it a while later.

RO(T)FL

Rolling on (the) floor laughing.

RTFM

Read the f*#&ing manual. A common response to users who join a channel and ask a question that is already answered in some documentation.

TTYL

Talk to you later.

TY

Thank you.

URL

Uniform Resource Locator (Internet address).

W/

With.

WB

Welcome back.

WE (W/E)

Whatever.

W/O

Without.

WTF

What/who/why/where the f*#&.

WTG

Way to go.

WTH

What/who/why/where the heck/hell.

Nicholas Copeland