# What does that text, slang or emoji mean? > LOL means laughing out loud, not “lots of love.” BRB is be right back, IDK is I don’t know, TBH is to be honest. Common slang: “no cap” means no lie, “bet” means OK, “slay” means did great, “lowkey” means a little, “sus” means suspicious. A skull emoji usually means “I’m laughing so hard.” A short “OK.” can read as cold to younger people. When in doubt, just ask; most kids love explaining. - URL: https://explained.page/what-texts-and-emoji-mean - Language: en - Last checked: 2026-10-29 - Watch the 1-minute animated guide: https://explained.page/watch?start=what-texts-and-emoji-mean ## Step by step 1. **Got a text you can’t decode?** You’re not alone. Here’s a friendly guide to common texting shortcuts, slang and emoji. 2. **Common shortcuts.** LOL means laughing out loud, not “lots of love.” BRB is be right back, IDK is I don’t know, TBH is to be honest. 3. **Some slang you might see.** “No cap” means no lie. “Bet” means OK. “Slay” means you did great. “Lowkey” means a little, or quietly. 4. **A few more.** “Sus” means suspicious. “It’s giving” means it has the feel of something. “Mid” means just average. “Fr” means for real. 5. **Emoji don’t always mean what they look like.** A skull usually means “I’m laughing so hard,” not anything scary. Folded hands can mean thank you or please. 6. **Tone can read differently.** To some younger people, a short “OK.” with a period or a lone thumbs-up can seem cold. Adding a word or an exclamation point can sound warmer. 7. **When in doubt, just ask.** Most kids love explaining their slang. It’s a great conversation starter. ## Checklist - LOL means laughing, not love - Learn BRB, IDK, TBH - Know no cap, bet, slay, lowkey - A skull means laughing hard - Add a word or “!” to sound warmer - When in doubt, ask ## Common shortcuts - **LOL:** laughing out loud (not “lots of love”) - **BRB:** be right back - **IDK:** I don’t know - **TBH:** to be honest - **IMO:** in my opinion - **NVM:** never mind - **TY / NP:** thank you / no problem ## Today’s slang - **No cap:** no lie, for real - **Bet:** OK, sounds good - **Slay:** did great - **Lowkey:** a little, or quietly - **Sus:** suspicious - **It’s giving…:** it has the feel of… - **Mid:** just average - **Fr:** for real Slang changes fast and varies by group. ## Emoji Emoji don’t always mean what they look like. A skull usually means “I’m dying laughing.” Folded hands can mean thank you or please. A crying-laughing face means very funny. ## Tone To some younger people, a short “OK.” with a period or a lone thumbs-up can feel cold. Adding a word or an exclamation point sounds warmer. ## When in doubt Ask! Most kids enjoy explaining, and it’s a great way to connect. ## Common questions ### Is it rude to use periods in texts? Not really, but some younger people read a lone period as serious or annoyed. Context matters. Source page: https://explained.page/what-texts-and-emoji-mean/questions/is-it-rude-to-use-periods-in-texts ### Should I use slang with my grandkids? Only if it feels natural. Many kids find it sweet when grandparents ask what words mean. Source page: https://explained.page/what-texts-and-emoji-mean/questions/should-i-use-slang-with-my-grandkids ### What does LOL mean in a text? Laughing out loud. It’s used to show something is funny, not “lots of love.” Source page: https://explained.page/what-texts-and-emoji-mean/questions/what-does-lol-mean-in-a-text ### What does “no cap” mean? No lie, or for real. “That was the best pizza, no cap.” Source page: https://explained.page/what-texts-and-emoji-mean/questions/what-does-no-cap-mean ### What does “bet” mean in a text? OK, sounds good, or agreed. “Dinner at 6?” “Bet.” Source page: https://explained.page/what-texts-and-emoji-mean/questions/what-does-bet-mean-in-a-text ### What does the skull emoji mean? Usually “I’m laughing so hard,” as in “I’m dead,” in a joking way. Source page: https://explained.page/what-texts-and-emoji-mean/questions/what-does-the-skull-emoji-mean ### Why do my grandkids think my texts sound angry? Short replies with a period, like “OK.”, can feel cold to some younger people. Adding a word or an exclamation point helps. Source page: https://explained.page/what-texts-and-emoji-mean/questions/why-do-my-grandkids-think-my-texts-sound-angry ### What does “sus” mean? Suspicious, or a little shady. “That deal looks sus.” Source page: https://explained.page/what-texts-and-emoji-mean/questions/what-does-sus-mean ## Official sources - [Eldercare Locator: local senior services and classes](https://eldercare.acl.gov/) - [FTC consumer advice: text message scams](https://consumer.ftc.gov/) To find your local office, search for: - "free phone and texting class for seniors [your city]" - "[your city] library tech help" --- General information, not legal or professional advice. Rules differ by state. From explained.page (www.explained.page). Life’s stuff, explained simply.