Hack 7 Common Acronyms and Initialisms


to save keystrokes. IRC attracts a curious breed of
userpeople 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 Jibbler|afk.
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