OK, Wait, What Does 'TTYL' Mean in Texting?

Kelsey Pelzer
·2 min read

These days, so much of our everyday communication with friends, coworkers and family is rooted in shorthand via texting, Slacking, commenting on social media and more. There are Gen Z slang terms we're all trying to fully understand, acronyms we may not even know how to pronounce IRL (we're looking at you, GIF) and other abbreviated words that have become commonplace.

Some terms—like P.S. and SOS—we may use without knowing what they really stand for. So, what about TTYL's meaning? Maybe you frequently use the abbreviation yourself or maybe you've seen it used on TikTok, in a friend's text or even on Instagram "Notes" that resemble archaic AIM away messages.

We'll cover what TTYL actually means, where the term came from, as well as how to properly use it.

TTYL Meaning

TTYL means "talk to you later." It's a form of saying goodbye, and is a common sign-off for texting or messaging a loved one or coworker.

Related: TikTok Strikes Again! Everything You Need To Know About 'Rizz' and What it Actually Means

What Is an Example of 'TTYL'?

Wondering how to use TTYL in a sentence? We'll give you a few examples.

  • Ahh, I gotta go pickup my kids now—TTYL!

  • TTYL, miss you!

  • Got it—we can circle back on that then. I'll TTYL.

  • Boarded and about to take off, so TTYL!

Related: What Does 'TL;DR' Mean? Plus, Here's When You'll Definitely Want To Avoid Using It

TTYL Meaning in Text

What does TTYL mean in texting? Well, no matter if you're saying it out loud or texting, TTYL is a way of telling someone that you're becoming unavailable or the conversation is temporarily ending for whatever reason, but you'll catch up with them at a later time.

Related: What Does GIF Stand For? And Let’s Finally Settle This—How Is It Actually Pronounced?

Where Did TTYL Come From?

According to Merriam-Webster, "Popularized in Internet chat forums, ttyl is one of a host of abbreviations that sprang into widespread use in the 1980s and 1990s."

Others say that TTYL may have been based on a popular way of saying goodbye in England in the '80s: "Ta ta, you all."

Terms Similar to TTYL

  • BRB (be right back)

  • G2G (got to go)

  • TTFN (ta ta for now)

  • CYA (see ya)

  • L8R (later)

Next up, What Does ‘FWIW’ Mean, Exactly? Plus, How *Not* To Use the Term