Lifestyle

Mastering Mobile Lingo

A white iPhone with a text box open at the top of its screen and a keyboard for texting at the bottom. It is held in a slim hand with manicured nails on the left side of the image. To the right are words that read: Mastering Mobile Lingo. Mobile communications continue to grow at an astounding rate. More than half of all emails are now opened on mobile devices, either tablets or smartphones. And 95% of teenagers own a smartphone. Mobile communication is important, but what do all those acronyms mean? We’re here to help you decode the cryptic abbreviations and tiny pictures your children keep sending you.

A white iPhone with a text box open at the top of its screen and a keyboard for texting at the bottom. It is held in a slim hand with manicured nails on the left side of the image. To the right are words that read: Mastering Mobile Lingo. Mobile communications continue to grow at an astounding rate. More than half of all emails are now opened on mobile devices, either tablets or smartphones. And 95% of teenagers own a smartphone. Mobile communication is important, but what do all those acronyms mean? We’re here to help you decode the cryptic abbreviations and tiny pictures your children keep sending you.

In the next section is a chart of text messages with one message using and one response message. The chart reads: LOL, laugh out loud. HMU, hit me up. FTW, for the win. IIR, if I recall correctly. ATM, at the moment. BRB, be right back. IKR, I know, right? TBH, to be honest. JK, just kidding. RN, right now.

In the next section is a chart of text messages with one message using and one response message. The chart reads: LOL, laugh out loud. HMU, hit me up. FTW, for the win. IIR, if I recall correctly. ATM, at the moment. BRB, be right back. IKR, I know, right? TBH, to be honest. JK, just kidding. RN, right now.

The chart of text messages continues with two rows of five texts. The texts read: OT, off topic. IDK, I don’t know. IMO, in my opinion. IRL, in real life. ICYMI, in case you missed it. TTYL, talk to you later. FWIW, for what it’s worth. NBD, no big deal. HBU, how ‘bout you? OMW, on my way.

The chart of text messages continues with two rows of five texts. The texts read: OT, off topic. IDK, I don’t know. IMO, in my opinion. IRL, in real life. ICYMI, in case you missed it. TTYL, talk to you later. FWIW, for what it’s worth. NBD, no big deal. HBU, how ‘bout you? OMW, on my way.

The chart ends with three more rows of text messages. The texts read: HBU, how ‘bout you? OMW, on my way. BTW, by the way. NVM, never mind. TY or THX, thank you. TYVM, thank you very much. YOLO, you only live once. SMH, shaking my head. FOMO, fear of missing out. NP, no problem. TIL, today I learned. DM, direct message. LMK, let me know. TL;DR, too long, didn’t read. IDC, I don’t care. OMG, oh my gosh.

The chart ends with three more rows of text messages. The texts read: HBU, how ‘bout you? OMW, on my way. BTW, by the way. NVM, never mind. TY or THX, thank you. TYVM, thank you very much. YOLO, you only live once. SMH, shaking my head. FOMO, fear of missing out. NP, no problem. TIL, today I learned. DM, direct message. LMK, let me know. TL;DR, too long, didn’t read. IDC, I don’t care. OMG, oh my gosh.

Next, the image is split down the middle. On the right are a series of facial emojis. The left half has words that read: Quick Emoji Guide. Emojis are small pictographic representations of emotional states, transportation methods, and locations, developed in the 1990s by NTT DoCoMo, a Japanese communications firm. There are hundreds of emojis available for you to convey your thoughts. Here’s a quick guide to a few of the most popular (and esoteric) emojis you may encounter...

Next, the image is split down the middle. On the right are a series of facial emojis. The left half has words that read: Quick Emoji Guide. Emojis are small pictographic representations of emotional states, transportation methods, and locations, developed in the 1990s by NTT DoCoMo, a Japanese communications firm. There are hundreds of emojis available for you to convey your thoughts. Here’s a quick guide to a few of the most popular (and esoteric) emojis you may encounter...

The next section consists of a chart with two rows of boxes. These boxes contain emojis and a response text that explains what the emojis mean. They read: Smiley face with blushing cheeks, happy. Laughing face with tears, laughing so hard I’m crying. Face with a wide straight mouth showing teeth, nervous or awkward. A face with small eyes and a small downturned mouth, disappointed or sad. A face with one tear and a sad mouth, crying or very sad. A face with tears streaming down and an open mouth, weeping. A wide-eyed face with an open mouth, embarrassed or surprised. A face with small eyes and a small flat mouth, confused or concerned. A face with small eyebrows and a small mouth, unamused or annoyed. A face with wide eyes with pupils at the top of the eyes as if looking up, and a small neutral mouth, eye roll.

The next section consists of a chart with two rows of boxes. These boxes contain emojis and a response text that explains what the emojis mean. They read: Smiley face with blushing cheeks, happy. Laughing face with tears, laughing so hard I’m crying. Face with a wide straight mouth showing teeth, nervous or awkward. A face with small eyes and a small downturned mouth, disappointed or sad. A face with one tear and a sad mouth, crying or very sad. A face with tears streaming down and an open mouth, weeping. A wide-eyed face with an open mouth, embarrassed or surprised. A face with small eyes and a small flat mouth, confused or concerned. A face with small eyebrows and a small mouth, unamused or annoyed. A face with wide eyes with pupils at the top of the eyes as if looking up, and a small neutral mouth, eye roll.

This section contains two new rows of emojis with text explanations. They read: A face with closed eyes, an open mouth, and sleepy sounds leaving its mouth, sleepy or tired. A face with a surgical mask on, sick. A face with wide eyes, an open mouth, and hands on the side of its face, terrified or shocked. A smiling face wearing sunglasses, cool or awesome. A face with one eye open and the other shut while smiling, winking face. A face with one eye shut and the other wide open while sticking its tongue out, crazy or teasing. A face with a water droplet on its head while smiling, relieved or close call. A red face frowning, angry or mad. A face with a wide, flat mouth, neutral face or stifling mild irritation. An arm flexing, tough or strong.

This section contains two new rows of emojis with text explanations. They read: A face with closed eyes, an open mouth, and sleepy sounds leaving its mouth, sleepy or tired. A face with a surgical mask on, sick. A face with wide eyes, an open mouth, and hands on the side of its face, terrified or shocked. A smiling face wearing sunglasses, cool or awesome. A face with one eye open and the other shut while smiling, winking face. A face with one eye shut and the other wide open while sticking its tongue out, crazy or teasing. A face with a water droplet on its head while smiling, relieved or close call. A red face frowning, angry or mad. A face with a wide, flat mouth, neutral face or stifling mild irritation. An arm flexing, tough or strong.

The last row of the chart completes the emojis and responses, and reads: Two hands with palms toward the viewer and thumbs up, jazz hands or enthusiasm. A flame, fire or hot, or burn as in a sarcastic insult. Two hands raised up, palms to the viewer while moving upward, praise hands or celebration. Two hands close together and coming together, applause or emphasize a point, or in agreement. A hand with the thumb up and the rest in a fist, thumbs up or in agreement.

The last row of the chart completes the emojis and responses, and reads: Two hands with palms toward the viewer and thumbs up, jazz hands or enthusiasm. A flame, fire or hot, or burn as in a sarcastic insult. Two hands raised up, palms to the viewer while moving upward, praise hands or celebration. Two hands close together and coming together, applause or emphasize a point, or in agreement. A hand with the thumb up and the rest in a fist, thumbs up or in agreement.

Have A Question About This Topic?

Related Content

Life Insurance Myths: Debunked

Life Insurance Myths: Debunked

Whether you have life insurance through your work or are retired it pays to know the truth about life insurance coverage.

Traditional IRAs vs. Roth IRAs: What's the Difference?

Traditional IRAs vs. Roth IRAs: What's the Difference?

Which individual retirement account is right for you? It depends on your circumstances.

Five for Friday – January 9, 2026

Five for Friday – January 9, 2026

As geopolitics rattle headlines, Ross offers a calming historical perspective and hopeful insights for the market in 2026.