- Instagram has its own slang and abbreviations, some unique to the platform, others widely used online.
- Slang is used for personal interaction, content sharing, and business promotion.
- Common Instagram slang/abbreviations include: IG (Instagram), DM (direct message), TBT (Throwback Thursday), AMA (Ask Me Anything), NSFW (Not Safe For Work), TLDR (Too Long; Didn’t Read), ELI5 (Explain Like I’m 5), POTD (Photo of the Day), OOTD (Outfit of the Day), F4F (Follow for Follow), L4L (Like for Like), FBF (Flashback Friday), NoFilter (no filters used), TransformationTuesday (motivation day), Repost (re-shared content), FF (Follow Friday), FTFY (Fixed That For You), GOAT (Greatest of All Time), TIL (Today I Learned), LMAO (Laughing My *** Off), YOLO (You Only Live Once), AFAIK (As Far As I Know), BTS (Behind the Scenes), ICYMI (In Case You Missed It), MFW (My Face When), ST (Something), TM (Text Message), IMHO (In My Honest Opinion), IRL (In Real Life), LOL (Laugh Out Loud), TBH (To Be Honest), Fam (close friends), IDC (I Don’t Care).
- Some terms are tied to specific hashtags, often linked to days of the week or themed content.
- Most Instagram slang is casual and friendly, with little offensive meaning.
- Not all users actively use slang, but it is common to encounter it when browsing.
- No secret Instagram language exists, but newcomers may find slang confusing initially.
As Instagram becomes more widely used, its effects on people’s daily lives also grow tremendously. These effects are much more visible in our lifestyle, advertising methods, education, culture, and more. In addition to these effects, the app also changed how we speak both online and in real life, thanks to Instagram slang or abbreviation for Instagram. Let’s now check out the slang words 2023 to explore more about IG slang words with the popular 2023 slang words!
Even if you have a personal account on Instagram, you definitely come across its somewhat unique slang. To improve your communication skills on the app, also in real life, you should get familiar with its slang. Keep on reading our article to learn its abbreviations, user slang, and more.
How to Speak Instagram
There are many Instagram abbreviations that its users frequently use for various situations. Some of them in this list are also used on different platforms over the internet, while others are unique to Instagram, such as its special hashtags. They are also useful to know while sharing posts or promoting a business. Now let’s see almost all commonly used Instagram slang words:
- IG
- DM
- TBT
- AMA
- NSFW
- TLDR
- ELI5
- POTD
- OOTD
- F4F
- L4L
- FBF
- NoFilter
- TransformationTuesday
- Repost
- FF
- FTFY
- GOAT
- TIL
- LMAO
- YOLO
- AFAIK
- BTS
- ICYMI
- MFW
- ST
- TM
- IMHO
- IRL
- LOL
- TBH
- Fam
- IDC
Now, let’s examine the meanings behind these Instagram hashtags and Instagram abbreviations together. Explore more about Instagram language!
IG
IG is the short form of Instagram.
DM
DM stands for the “direct message.” A DM is a private message you can send to another Instagram user.
#TBT
Throwback Thursday, the #TBT, is used while sharing an old photo from the past. It is a way to cherish the good old times from your childhood or a recent fun trip.
AMA
AMA slang stands for “Ask Me Anything.” Celebrities typically use the abbreviation on Instagram live streams or interviews.
NSFW
NSFW, not safe for work, typically means that the content includes explicit or violent content.
TLDR
TLDR is the short form of saying, “too long, didn’t read.” The term is used to criticize the poster for writing too long. However, today “TLDR” is also being used as an abbreviation that contains the summary of long texts.
ELI5
ELI5 stands for “explain like I’m 5”. It is a gentle way to ask someone to describe what they mean by using the simplest terms.
#POTD
Instagram users share the day’s best photo with the hashtag #POTD, which stands for “photo of the day.”
#OOTD
OOTD meaning hashtag is outfit of the day, is a hashtag to use while sharing today’s outfit on Instagram.
#F4F
F4F meaning shortly, is follow for follow. Instagram users add the #F4F hashtag to their posts for follow-ups.
#L4L
Similar to #F4F, #L4L stands for likes.
#FBF
Similar to #TBT, the hashtag #FBF stands for Flashback Friday. Instagram users add this hashtag when they share their old photos.
#NoFilter
The #NoFilter hashtag is usually used when a post doesn’t have any Instagram filters.
#TransformationTuesday
#Transformation Tuesday is a dedicated day of the week to motivate people to lose weight and live healthier lives.
#Repost
The #Repost tag is added to Instagram posts or stories if another user reposts the content.
#FF
#FF is a tag to use to remind other users to follow your Instagram account.
FTFY
FTFY fixed that for you, which is commonly used by Instagram users to correct another user.
GOAT
GOAT stands for “greatest of all time.” It is typically used to describe an athlete with remarkable achievements.
TIL
TIL is the short form of the “today I learned.” Instagram and other internet users use it to share interesting stuff they’ve learned during the day.
LMAO
LMAO, laughing my *** off is an informal way to inform other users that you laugh hysterically or are just being cynical.
YOLO
YOLO, you only live once, is a popular slang that is used all over the internet. It became a motto to describe risky situations and interesting moments. Instagram users also use it when someone does something crazy.
AFAIK
AFAIK is the short form of saying “as far as I know.”
BTS
BTS is used to describe “behind the scenes.” It is typically used with a hashtag.
ICYMI
ICYMI is the short form of saying, “in case you missed it.”
MFW
MFW, my face when, is a common internet forum abbreviation that is also popular on Instagram. Users share a photo that best describes their reaction to a particular situation or event. You can also buy Instagram likes to boost your post!
ST
ST stands for “something.”
TM
TM is the abbreviation of “text message.”
IMHO
IMHO stands for “in my honest opinion.”
IRL
IRL is the short form of “in real life.”
LOL
LOL is the ages-old way to laugh on the internet. It stands for “laughing out loud”.
TBH
TBH is a short way to say “to be honest.”
Fam
Fam, the family, is typically for to describe a group of close friends, collaborators, or like-minded users.
IDC
IDC slang means “I don’t care,” which is a very popular one. It’s not only on Instagram terminology; it’s a general favorite!
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If Instagram culture interests you, then you might look into our compilation of funny Instagram bios. Also, don’t forget to check out our Instagram hashtag generator tool to create more unique hashtags!
Instagram Slang in Short
Similar to other websites and social media platforms, Instagram also has its own slang. While some of them are somewhat exclusive to the platform, most of them are also in use worldwide. In this article, we listed all common Instagram slang words, abbreviations, and hashtags.
3 Comments
This blog post on Instagram slang was incredibly informative and well-researched. It was a great resource for anyone looking to stay up-to-date on the latest slang terms used on the platform. The explanations of each term were clear and concise, making it easy to understand. Highly recommend!
Really enjoyed this article on Instagram slang! It’s so helpful to keep up with the ever-evolving language of social media. The explanations were clear and made it easy to understand how to use these terms effectively in posts and interactions.
Great piece on Instagram slang! It’s fascinating to see how social media shapes our communication. This article is a fantastic resource for anyone looking to stay current with the latest trends in Instagram lingo.