Sexting slang: a glossary of abbreviations, terms and emojis
The short answer. Common sexting slang includes WYD (what you doing?), HMU (hit me up), TDTM (talk dirty to me), NSFW (not safe for work) and FWB (friends with benefits), plus emoji codes like 🍑, 🍆 and 😏. Some terms, like sextortion and catfish, describe scams you should recognize.
Flirty conversations in the US come with their own shorthand: abbreviations, slang, emoji codes and a few phrases that sound innocent until you know what they mean. Here's a plain-English glossary of the terms you're most likely to run into, plus a few that should make you cautious.
Everything here is for adults. Meanings shift with context and between friend groups, so when in doubt, ask. "Wait, what does that mean?" is never a bad message.
Common sexting abbreviations
- WYD: "What you doing?" A classic late-night opener. Depending on the hour, it can mean "are you free to talk?" or something more.
- HMU: "Hit me up." An invitation to get in touch.
- WYA: "Where you at?" Often a step toward meeting up.
- U up?: The most famous late-night text in America. Rarely about sleep.
- NSFW: "Not safe for work." A warning that what follows shouldn't be opened in public.
- TDTM: "Talk dirty to me." Direct, so best used with someone who's already flirting back.
- WYW: "What you wearing?" A familiar opener, sometimes seen as a bit of a cliché.
- LMIRL: "Let's meet in real life." Moving from screen to an actual date.
- IRL: "In real life."
- DTF: Slang for someone being up for a hookup right away. Crude, and rarely a good opener.
- FWB: "Friends with benefits." A casual arrangement without a relationship.
- ONS: "One-night stand."
- NSA: "No strings attached." Casual, no commitment expected.
- LTR: "Long-term relationship," often used to say what someone is looking for.
- DTR: "Define the relationship," the conversation about what you are to each other.
- ASL: "Age, sex, location." An old chat-room question. If someone asks for it first thing, be careful (see below).
Slang you'll hear in flirty conversations
- Sext: a single sexual or suggestive message. Also a verb. For the full definition, see sexting meaning.
- Nudes: naked or partly naked photos.
- Spicy: suggestive or sexual. "Things got spicy."
- Thirst trap: a photo or post meant to attract attention and compliments.
- Thirsty: overly eager for attention or affection.
- Sliding into the DMs: messaging someone privately to flirt.
- Rizz: charm, flirting skill. "He's got rizz."
- Netflix and chill: an invitation to hang out at home that isn't really about the show.
- Situationship: something more than friends but less than a relationship.
- Simp: someone seen as trying too hard for someone's attention.
- Down bad: very into someone, sometimes embarrassingly so.
- Body count: slang for how many people someone has slept with. Generally a question to avoid.
More examplesTonight I want to take my time. All of it.
Emoji codes
A few emojis have meanings that go far beyond their pictures:
- 😏 for "I know what I'm implying"
- 🌶️ for things getting spicy
- 🍑 and 🍆 as the best-known fruit and vegetable innuendos
For a full breakdown, with combos and how to use them, read our guide to sexting emojis.
Red-flag terms: slang linked to scams and abuse
Some words describe things you should know about because they're harmful:
- Sextortion: threatening to share someone's intimate images or messages unless they pay or send more. It's a crime. Don't pay, save the evidence and report it at ic3.gov.
- Catfish: someone using a fake identity online. Many sextortion scams start with a catfish.
- Revenge porn: sharing someone's intimate images without consent, often after a breakup. Illegal in most states and targeted by federal law.
- Cyberflashing: sending unsolicited explicit images.
- Breadcrumbing: sending just enough flirty messages to keep someone interested, without real intent.
- Love bombing: overwhelming someone with affection early on to gain trust quickly.
Patterns to watch for: a new contact who opens with ASL, asks for a photo or video call within minutes, or moves the conversation to a different app quickly. Our sexting safety guide explains how these scams usually play out and where to get help.
Should you use slang when sexting?
Use it if it's how you naturally talk, and if the other person does too. Slang can make a message feel casual and playful, but stacking abbreviations can also make it feel like a code nobody asked to learn. A full sentence in your own voice almost always lands better than "wyd hmu." Our dirty texting tips go further into tone and pacing.
Frequently asked questions
What does WYD mean in a text?
"What you doing?" It's a casual opener; late at night it often means "are you free to talk?" or something flirtier.
What does TDTM mean?
"Talk dirty to me." It's direct, so it's best used with someone who's already flirting back.
What does NSFW mean?
"Not safe for work." It warns that the content shouldn't be opened in public or at work.
What is sextortion?
Threatening to share someone's intimate images or messages to get money or more content. It's a crime: don't pay, save evidence and report it at ic3.gov.