Spanish Text Slang: How to LOL like a True Spaniard

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If you’re hoping to wow your Spanish speaking friends with impressive Spanish texting skills—or decode their messages—this guide will come in handy.

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What texting in Spanish looks likeDisappearing LettersLetter ReplacementRebus: When letters “say” their namesUsing Numbers and SymbolsSiglas (Initials)Most Common Spanish Texting LingoExamples: Let’s try some on for size!

These days, shortened forms appear often in texts and chats, although the exact forms vary by country, age group, platform, and community. It’s even seeped into our everyday speech: “OMG!” “LOL” “BRB.”

Texting has become more popular than phone calls to communicate. The shorthand slang that used to be like a learned second language has become as common as everyday English. The same has happened in other languages, as well. Spanish is no exception.

If you’re hoping to wow your Spanish speaking friends with some impressive Spanish texting skills (or maybe you’re just hoping to decode some of those Spanish text slang in the messages they already sent you), this post will come in handy! Read on to learn how to recognize and use informal Spanish texting forms carefully.

What texting in Spanish looks like

Spanish texting has recurring patterns, but these are informal conventions rather than fixed rules.

You can’t (or, at least, you probably wouldn’t) text “OhMG” instead of “OMG” (Oh my God) or “2BA” for “TBA” (to be announced) even though they make perfect sense. This is because certain abbreviations or acronyms have already been cemented and patterns have already been established.

So, before we get too far ahead of ourselves, why don’t we take a moment to chat about what texting in Spanish actually looks like.

Disappearing Letters

Like with English, texting in Spanish can cause some letters to disappear. This happens most commonly with: “e-” and “es-” at the beginning of words and “d” between vowels.

Examples:

• Estoy –> Toy (I am)
• Está –> Ta (He/She/It is)
• Todo –> To (All)

Letter Replacement

Apparently, some letters aren’t as cool as others and aren’t worthy of being included in the texting universe. They often get replaced. This happens most commonly with hard “c”, hard “q”, and “ch.”

“C” and “q” become “k”. Some examples:

• Quiero –> Kiero (I want)
• Aquí –> Aki (Here)
• Que / Qué –> Q or K (What/ That)
• Como / Cómo –> Komo (Like/ How)

“Ch” becomes “x”

• Escucha –> Kuxa

This is an example of the disappearing “es” and the replacement of “ch” with “x”.

Rebus: When letters “say” their names

We do this in English a lot. For example, we might say “u” instead of writing out “you” or “r” in place of “are.” It makes texting quicker, saving the time it takes to type out all those unnecessary “extra” letters. In Spanish, we can do this with letters like “t” (“te”) or “k” (“ka”).

Examples:

• Cadena –> Kdena (Chain)
• Te –> T (To you)
• Bebé –> BB (baby)

Using Numbers and Symbols

Like letters that say their names, some numbers and symbols can be used to “say” what they are as well. It’s like in English when we say “2” instead of writing out “to,” “too,” or “two.” This happens all the time in Spanish.

Examples:

• Por –> x (For/ By)
• Menos –> – (Less)
• Al menos –> al – (At least)
• Más –>  +  (More/ Plus)
• Demasiado –> de+sia2 (Too much)

Siglas (Initials)

Probably the most common form of texting lingo is the use of initials. “BRB” for “be right back” or “LOL” for “laugh out loud.” There are plenty of popular initials in Spanish texting.

Some of the most common are:

• TQM = Te quiero mucho (I love you a lot)
• TQI/ TKI= Tengo que irme (I have to go)
• Pq = Porque/ Por qué (Because/ Why)
• MDI = Me da igual (I don’t care)
• PTI = Para tu información (FYI- For your information)

Most Common Spanish Texting Lingo

Examples: Let’s try some on for size!

Let’s pretend that you’re texting with your Spanish friends. Would you understand if you got the following text messages from them? What do they mean? What would you reply?

• 1Hla. ¿Q tl?
• 2¿Q aces?
• 3¿Vns?
• 4Ymm

Here are some sample conversations using the expressions above:

Example 1:

Maria: Hla. ¿Q tl?

Samuel: B. ¿y tú?

Maria: KO

Samuel: ¿Xq?

What it means:

Maria: Hola. ¿Qué tal? (Hello. How’s it going?)

Samuel: Bien. ¿Y tú? (Good, and you?)

Maria: Estoy muerta (I’m in trouble.)

Samuel: ¿Por qué? (Why?)

Example 2:

Julia: ¿Q aces?

Ann: Toy en casa. ¿Tú?

Julia: Toy d compras

What it means:

Julia: ¿Qué haces? (What are you doing?)

Ann: Estoy en casa. ¿Tú? (I’m at home. You?)

Julia: Estoy de compras. (I’m shopping.)

Example 3:

Manuel: ¿Vns?

Hugo: Sí

Manuel: ¿Cdo vns?

Hugo: ASDC

What it means:

Manuel: ¿Vienes? (Are you coming?)

Hugo: Sí (Yes)

Manuel: ¿Cuándo vienes? (When are you coming?)

Hugo: Al salir de clase (After class)

Example 4:

Sofia: Ymm

Paulo: Nph. T llamo luego.

What it means:

Sofia: Llámame (call me)

Paulo: No puedo hablar. Te llamo luego (I can’t talk. I’ll call you later.)

Now that you recognize these forms, use them only when they fit the person, region, and level of informality. Text your Spanish speaking friends, or your friends learning Spanish. Text your mom, your brother, your best friend in Spanish! They might not understand you… but at least you’ll put this new information to good use.

What do you think? Do you know of any other texting slang or abbreviations that should be included in this list? We always love to hear from you!