If your kid uses email, chat, forums, or phone texting you've likely seen them communicate in what may seem to be a secret foreign language of symbols and acronyms. These symbols, known as emoticons, and acronyms let them express emotion and ideas in chat messages without having to type entire words or phrases.
The list collated below is by no means exhaustive, but is designed to help you join in the fun as well as help you decode your child's chat messages to ensure they're safe online! It will also help you communicate with them in their own language :-).
Used mostly in text messaging and instant messaging.
| 404 | I haven't a clue | GTSY | Glad to see you | POTS | Plain old telephone service |
| ADN | Any day now | H&K | Hug and kiss | PU | That stinks! |
| AFAIK | As far as I know | HAGN | Have a good night | QT | Cutie |
| AFK | Away from keyboard | HAND | Have a nice day | ROFL | Rolling on floor laughing |
| ASAP | As soon as possible | HHIS | Hanging head in shame | RPG | Role-playing games |
| A/S/L? | Age/sex/location? | HIG | How's it going | RSN | Real soon now |
| B4N | Bye for now | HT | Hi there | RT | Real time |
| BAK | Back at the keyboard | HTH | Hope this helps | S^ | S'up - what's up |
| BBIAB | Be back in a bit | IC | I see | SETE | Smiling ear to ear |
| BBL | Be back later | IHU | I hear you | SF | Surfer-friendly |
| BBN | Bye bye now | ILU or ILY | I love you | SHID | Slaps head in disgust |
| BBS | Be back soon | IM | Immediate message | SO | Significant other |
| BF | Boyfriend | IMS | I am sorry | SOL | Smiling out loud |
| BFN | Bye for now | IOW | In other words | SOMY | Sick of me yet? |
| BG | Big grin | IPN | I'm posting naked | SOT | Short on time |
| BL | Belly laughing | ITIGBS | I think I'm going to be sick | SOTMG | Short on time must go |
| BMGWL | Busting my gut with laughter | IWALU | I will always love you | STW | Search the Web |
| BRB | Be right back | IYSWIM | If you see what I mean | SU | Shut up |
| BTDT | Been there, done that | J4G | Just for grins | SUAKM | Shut up and kiss me |
| BTW | By the way | JIC | Just in case | SUP | What's up |
| BWL | Bursting with laughter | JK | Just kidding | SWAK | Sealed with a kiss |
| BWTHDIK | But what the heck do I know...? | JTLYK | Just to let you know | SWL | Screaming with laughter |
| C&G | Chuckle and grin | KISS | Keep it simple stupid | SYS | See you soon |
| CNP | Continued in next post | KIT | Keep in touch | TA | Thanks again |
| CRB | Come right back | KOTC | Kiss on the cheek | TAFN | That's all for now |
| CRBT | Crying real big tears | KOTL | Kiss on the lips | TANSTAAFL | There ain't no such thing as a free lunch |
| CU | See you | KWIM? | Know what I mean? | TCOY | Take care of yourself |
| CUL | See you later | L8R | Later | TGIF | Thank God it's Friday |
| CUL8ER | See you later | L8R G8R | Later gator | THX | Thanks |
| CYA | See ya | LD | Later, dude | TIA | Thanks in advance |
| CYO | See you online | LDR | Long-distance relationship | TILII | Tell it like it is |
| DL | Dead link | LHO | Laughing head off | TLK2UL8R | Talk to you later |
| DLTBBB | Don't let the bed bugs bite | LMSO | Laughing my socks off | TMI | Too much information |
| DIKU | Do I know you? | LOL | Laughing out loud | TNT | Till next time |
| DITYID | Did I tell you I'm distressed? | LSHMBH | Laughing so hard my belly hurts | TOPCA | Til our paths cross again (early Celtic chat term) |
| DOM | Dirty old man | LTM | Laugh to myself | TOY | Thinking of you |
| DOS | Dozing off soon | LTNS | Long time no see | TPTB | The powers that be |
| DQMOT | Don't quote me on this | LTR | Long-term relationship | TTFN | Ta-Ta for now |
| DTRT | Do the right thing | LULAB | Love you like a brother | TTT | Thought that, too |
| DWB | Don't write back | LULAS | Love you like a sister | TTYL | Talk to you later |
| EG | Evil grin | LUWAMH | Love you with all my heart | TU | Thank you |
| EMFBI | Excuse me for butting in | LY | Love ya | TY | Thank you |
| EMSG | E-mail message | LY4E | Love ya forever | UW | You're welcome |
| EOM | End of message | MorF | Male or female | VBG | Very big grin |
| F2F | Face to face | MOSS | Member of the same sex | WAYD | What are you doing |
| FAQ | Frequently-ask question(s) | MOTOS | Member of the opposite sex | WB | Welcome back |
| FC | Fingers crossed | MTF | More to follow | WBS | Write back soon |
| FISH | First in, still here | MUSM | Miss you so much | WEG | Wicked evil grin |
| FMTYEWTK | Far more than you ever wanted to know | NADT | Not a darn thing | WFM | Works for me |
| FOMCL | Falling off my chair laughing | NIFOC | Naked in front of computer | WIBNI | Wouldn't it be nice if |
| FTBOMH | From the bottom of my heart | NP or N/P | No problem | WT? | What/who the ? |
| FUD | Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt | NRN | No response necessary | WTG | Way to go! |
| FWIW | For what it's worth | Oh, I see | WTGP? | Want to go private? | |
| FYI | For your information | OLL | Online love | WU? | What's up? |
| G Grin GA | Go ahead | OMG | Oh my God | WUF? | Where are you from? |
| GAL | Get a life | OTOH | On the other hand | WYSIWYG | What you see is what you get |
| GD&R | Grinning, ducking, and running | OTTOMH | Off the top of my head | YBS | You'll be sorry |
| GF | Girlfriend | PANS | Pretty awesome new stuff | YW | You're welcome |
| GFN | Gone for now | PAW | Parents are watching | ||
| GIWIST | Gee, I wish I'd said that | PDA | Public display of affection | ||
| GL | Good luck | PM | Private message | ||
| GMAB | Give me a break | PMFJIB | Pardon me for jumping in but... | ||
| GMTA | Great minds think alike | POAHF | Put on a happy face | ||
| GOL | Giggling out loud | ::POOF:: | Goodbye (leaving the room) | ||
| GTRM | Going to read mail | POS | Parent over shoulder |