What Does FML Mean? IRL, CYA, GR8, BTW, and More!
Melanie is a tech YouTuber who loves social media and is an expert on internet culture. She also runs a YouTube channel: The Curious Coder.

The texting era has brought an onslaught of new acronyms. Here's a guide to 50 of the most common texting abbreviations, from FML to IRL.
Meaning of LMAO, FML, and tons of other phrases
Have you ever wondered what FML means? If you have, you're in the right place! This term has been in use on social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, and even in instant messaging clients and online games for years. The slang term has become even more popular with the release of the movie Just Go With It, where actor Adam Sandler uses it as his Facebook status.
FML is usually a somewhat offensive term and is often used in frustration. It is an acronym meaning "f*ck my life." Because of the meaning of this term, it should be used with care in order not to offend whoever hears it. Those looking for a polite version of this term may wish to use it to mean "Forget My Life," "Funk My Life," or even "Feeling Mighty Low."
However, FML has several other meanings.
Alternative Meanings of FML
FML has other definitions, all of which are entirely unrelated to "F*ck My Life," which include:
- Football Manager Live (a website)
- Family Medical Leave (sometimes called FMLA "Family Medical Leave Act")
- For My Lady (A Moody Blues song)
User-Submitted Meanings:
- Free My Life
- Find My Luggage (heard at an airport)
- Fix My Liver
- Find My Lover
- For My Love
- Fix My Lover
- Fix My Life
(Submit your meaning by commenting below!)
Interesting Facts About FML
Making up alternate meanings for FML is understandable. You have to admit, its original definition is fairly negative. Because of the somewhat vulgar meaning of FML, many Christian groups have been pushing for a new definition: Forgive Me, Lord.
The attempt thus far, however, has not been a successful one, and very few people outside of these Christian groups use the term in this sense.
FML has other, somewhat nonsensical definitions. As a joke, many say that FML means "Fix My Lighthouse." Those who say it means this may make up a fake history to back up the meaning of the word. It may be amusing to hear the fake etymology (history) of the term, but it is meant as a joke and does not mean this.
The phrase "FML" is so popular that there is an entire website—FMyLife.com—dedicated to users who submit horror stories about things that have happened in their lives. Each story is appended with "FML."
Top 50 Texting Abbreviations and Meanings
Abbreviation | Meaning |
---|---|
AFAIK | as far as I know |
ATM | at the moment |
B@U | back at you |
BRB | be right back |
BTW | by the way |
CYA | see you (or cover your ass) |
CYT | see you tomorrow |
FML | f*ck my life |
FTW | for the win |
FWIW | for what it's worth |
G2G or GTG | got to go |
GR8 | great |
IDC | I don't care |
IDK | I don't know |
IKR | I know, right? |
ILY | I love you |
IMHO | in my humble opinion |
IMO | in my opinion |
IRL | in real life |
JK | just kidding |
LMAO | laughing my ass off |
LMK | let me know |
LOL | laugh out loud |
LY | love you |
MFW | my face when |
NBD | no big deal |
NP | no problem |
NSFW | not safe for work |
NVM | never mind |
OFC | of course |
OMFG | oh my f*cking god |
OMG | oh my god |
OMW | on my way |
RN | right now |
ROFL | rolling on the floor laughing |
SMH | shake my head |
STFU | shut the f*ck up |
TBH | to be honest |
TFW | that feeling when |
TIL | today I learned |
TL;DR | too long; didn't read |
TMB | text me back |
TMI | too much information |
TN | tonight |
TTYL | talk to you later |
TTYT | talk to you tomorrow |
TY | thank you |
WTF | what the f*ck |
WTH | what the hell |
YOLO | you only live once |
Questions & Answers
Question: What does "irl" stand for?
Answer: "Irl" stands for "in real life."
Question: What does “lmao” mean?
Answer: "Lmao" stands for "laughing my ass off."
Question: What does TTYL mean?
Answer: TTYL stands for "talk to you later."
Question: What does "BRB" stand for?
Answer: "BRB" stands for "be right back."
Question: What does "GTG" mean?
Answer: "GTG" stands for "got to go" and is said when the person has to leave.
© 2011 Melanie Shebel
Comments
IAmTheRealBlade on February 12, 2020:
you forgot fp: facepalm/ faceplant
on October 04, 2019:
Find my luggage
Fill my love
Meatball on July 31, 2019:
Nevermind
Harmony on May 07, 2019:
F*ck my love
Fix my life
Forgive my luck
hunter on April 05, 2019:
i just had an email for school and I thought it was ruined so I was going to exit out but just as it happened the whole email was fixed and i already clicked the red X
Joo on December 08, 2018:
I thought it's f#ck me lord smh send help
Karyn20 on July 21, 2018:
FML - For My Life
FML- Forgive My Language
FML- Forever My Love
FML- Forward My Letter
FML-Feel My Love
FML-F*ck My Lawyer
whoknows? on May 20, 2018:
Friends Make Life
Find Me Love
Miltonpickle on February 04, 2018:
Farewell my love.... Nice way of saying "See Ya".
Anonymous on January 24, 2018:
Well I heard it in '13 reasons why' and still couldn't find any relation between f**k my life and the three friends#(lol
Lmao on June 19, 2017:
Forgetting more luggage.
Forget my loans.
Feathers my life.
Forms move life?
Forks my life.
Liz Elias from Oakley, CA on June 18, 2017:
About that movie: ROFLMAOPMP!!
hopemaxwell on November 29, 2016:
Lmao
Dee42 on February 04, 2013:
I was reading a book and I came along these 3 letters, a girl's car was broke down and she said this similar to OMG. I was curious what it stood for. Ha.
Great hub.
JBJblaze on January 12, 2013:
FOR MY LORD.
justin tyme on June 27, 2012:
FML frequently heard at airports, find my luggage.
Liz Elias from Oakley, CA on June 22, 2012:
This one, I'm well familiar with--in it's vulgar form! I see it on FaceBook all the time in posts from kids who think that being disciplined means they are being treated unfairly! Sheesh!
Melissa Flagg COA OSC from Rural Central Florida on May 25, 2012:
Sarah d, it could also mean Fix My Lover! lmao
Great hub, there's a smartphone app too called FML and there are some CRAZY funny stories on there!!
Sonny88 on January 31, 2012:
It could also mean funny man laughing
sarah d on December 26, 2011:
it could also mean Fix My Liver
chrysmen on August 25, 2011:
Another meanin of FML wil be free my lyf.
Honey on May 05, 2011:
Great info collected:)lol:)
Brittany Rowland from Woodstock, GA on April 10, 2011:
I like checking out the site FML. There are some pretty funny stories there. I didn't know about all the alternate meanings--cool info!
Emma from Houston TX on February 25, 2011:
Thanks for bringing my knowledge to the meaning of FML. It so nice
tomsum from Australia on February 16, 2011:
haha, good post!
kethyjewel from India on February 14, 2011:
I think FML means "for my love"
Hello, hello, from London, UK on February 12, 2011:
Aniything bad would spread like wildfire.