Young people have always had their own languages and slang to communicate with one another without the interference of older generations.
But the boom in social media platforms in recent years has sparked a wave of Gen Z acronyms that need a dictionary of their own if anyone over the age of 16 wants to keep up. You might see young people on Snapchat asking each other to “sb” or “pu”.
Newly invented words and abbreviations often spread quickly, go viral online and get absorbed by young people as part of their everyday vernacular.
A survey by job site, Reed recently found that older people are increasingly adopting Gen Z phrases to connect with their younger colleagues at work.
Simon Wingate, managing director of Reed said: “When people use shared language at work, it's about making them feel closer to their colleagues. It's a natural development that new phrases used by younger workers also get adopted by older employees who want to be able to create common ground with their younger colleagues.”
But for anyone unfamiliar with texting, messaging, and Snapchat in particular, this is what the most popular acronyms mean.
What does ‘klm’ mean?
Despite starting with a ‘k’, ‘KLM’ is actually a way of saying “Calm” on Snapchat, meaning everything’s fine or okay.
What does ‘sb’ mean?
If someone sends you ‘sb’ on Snpachat, they’re asking you to “snap back” or reply.
What does ‘pu’ mean?
When used on Snapchat, the phrase “pu” means “pop up“ referring to asking that person to message you.
What does ‘sfs’ mean?
SFS means ”shoutout for shoutout”. On Snapchat, this usually means that the person in question will mention your username in their Snapchat story if you return the favor.
In other words, they’ll promote your account if you promote theirs. By doing so, you can both increase your follower counts.
What does ‘atm’ mean?
On Snapchat, the acronym ”atm” usually means ”at the moment”.
For example, ”I am busy atm” or “I’m feeling really lazy atm”.
What does ‘smh’ mean?
SMH is an acronym for ”shaking my head”, which is a way of expressing disappointment or disapproval about something.
What does ‘fff’ mean?
This means ”Follow for a follow”. So, if you follow them on Snapchat, they will follow you back.
What does ‘istg’ mean?
Istg means “I swear to god,” which could express frustration, or that they are being sincere.
What does ‘bae’ mean?
“Bae” means “before anyone else”, and can refer to a best friend or romantic partner.
What does ‘dp’ mean?
“DP” means display picture, or someone’s social media profile picture.
What does ‘idek’ mean?
If someone sends “idek” it means “I don’t even know.”
What does ‘ml’ mean?
“ML”, when used on social media or messaging, means “much love.”
What does ‘gc’ mean?
“Gc” is an abbreviation for group chat, relating to a social media group conversation.
What does ‘amos’ mean?
If someone asks someone else to “amos”, that means “add me on Snapchat”.
What does ‘ngl’ mean?
“Ngl” stands for “not gonna lie”.
What does ‘nrs’ mean?
Often used on a Snapchat or Instagram story, “nrs” means “no replies”.
What does ‘scb’ mean?
SCB is Snapchat-specific slang that stands for "Snapchat bestie".
What does ‘MK’ mean?
MK is a popular term used on Snapchat, which stands for “Mmkay” or “M’kay”.
What does ‘ICYMI’ mean?
ICYMI is an abbreviation for “In Case You Missed It”.
What does ‘OTP’ mean?
OTP is a Snapchat term that stands for “One True Pairing” and is often used when talking about relationships, particularly the ones of fictional characters or celebrities.
Example: “I ship Daenerys and Drogo so hard. They’re my OTP!” , “Oh, I totally agree! They are meant to be together.”
What does ‘hmu’ mean?
HMU stands for “hit me up”, often used as a way of inviting someone to get into contact.
What does ‘ion’ mean?
ION is a more casual and informal way of saying “I don’t know”, and it is especially used on TikTok.
