If you’ve ever opened a Spanish WhatsApp chat and thought, “Did my keyboard have a stroke?”, welcome to the world of abreviaturas de internet /abɾeβjaˈtuɾas ðe inteɾˈnet/ — internet abbreviations.
You’ll see xq, tqm, jajaja, ntp, LOL, TBT and a lot of missing vowels that somehow still make sense. The good news: there’s logic behind the chaos, and once you learn the main patterns, Spanish chats become way faster (and much more fun).
By the end of this guide, you’ll understand the most popular Spanish chat abbreviations, how to use them, when not to use them (hint: don’t email your boss with “xfa”), and how to sound like you belong in a Spanish-speaking group chat instead of in the subtitles.
Quick Primer: How Spanish Internet Abbreviations Work
Most Spanish internet abbreviations follow a few simple tricks:
- Remove vowels or extra letters
bien /ˈbjen/ → bn
también /tamˈbjen/ → tb - Swap “qu-” or “c-” for “k”
que /ke/ → q or k
porque /poɾˈke/ → xq or xk - Use numbers that sound like words
saludos /saˈlu.ðos/ — greetings → salu2 (sounds like saludos). - Borrow English acronyms
LOL, OMG, TBT, FYI, etc., often used exactly like in English.
And one big rule from polite society: these abreviaturas are informal. They live in chats, DMs, memes, and comments — not in formal emails, essays, or job applications.
Super Common Chat Shortcuts (Porque, También, Bien…)
These are the bread-and-butter shortcuts you’ll see in almost every Spanish chat.
| Spanish (abbrev + full) | IPA | English |
| q / k (que /ke/) | ke | that, which, what |
| xq / xk (porque /poɾˈke/) | poɾˈke | because / why (context) |
| pq (porque /poɾˈke/) | poɾˈke | because |
| bn (bien /ˈbjen/) | ˈbjen | fine, well |
| tb (también /tamˈbjen/) | tamˈbjen | also, too |
| dnd (dónde /ˈdon.de/) | ˈdon.de | where |
| msj (mensaje /menˈsa.xe/) | menˈsa.xe | message |
| nls (no lo sé /no lo ˈse/) | no lo ˈse | I don’t know |
| d+ (demás /deˈmas/) | deˈmas | the rest, others |
| to2 (todos /ˈto.ðos/) | ˈto.ðos | everyone, all |
Examples in context:
- q haces? — ¿Qué haces? /ke ˈa.ses/ — What are you doing?
- bn y tú? — Bien, ¿y tú? /ˈbjen i ˈtu/ — Fine, and you?
- nls, pregúntale a él — No lo sé, pregúntale a él. /no lo ˈse pɾeˈɣun.ta.le a el/ — I don’t know, ask him.
Usage note: In voice messages, people pronounce the full word (porque, bien, también), not the letters. The abbreviations are only for writing.
Affection & Relationships: TQM, TKM, Salu2 & More
Love, friendship, and mild chaos all have their own shorthand.
| Spanish (abbrev + full) | IPA | English |
| tqm (te quiero mucho /te ˈkje.ɾo ˈmu.tʃo/) | te ˈkje.ɾo ˈmu.tʃo | love you lots |
| tkm (te quiero mucho /te ˈkje.ɾo ˈmu.tʃo/) | te ˈkje.ɾo ˈmu.tʃo | love you lots (k-style) |
| tq (te quiero /te ˈkje.ɾo/) | te ˈkje.ɾo | love you |
| bb (bebé /beˈβe/) | beˈβe | babe, baby |
| bss / bs (besos /ˈbe.sos/) | ˈbe.sos | kisses |
| b7s (besitos /beˈsi.tos/) | beˈsi.tos | little kisses |
| salu2 (saludos /saˈlu.ðos/) | saˈlu.ðos | greetings, cheers |
| q tl? (¿qué tal? /ke ˈtal/) | ke ˈtal | how’s it going? |
Notes:
- tqm and tkm both mean “te quiero mucho”; some people feel tqm looks “more correct”, but both are super common in chats.
- bb works like English “babe”, especially in romantic or very close contexts.
- salu2 is friendly and playful, but don’t use it in formal emails.
Example:
tqm bb, descansa
te ˈkje.ɾo ˈmu.tʃo beˈβe desˈkan.sa
love you lots babe, rest well
Reactions, Laughs & Feelings: LOL, Jajaja, XD, NTP
If the internet runs on anything, it’s reactions.
| Spanish (abbrev + full) | IPA | English |
| jajaja (risa /ˈri.sa/) | ˈxa.xa.xa | hahaha |
| xD (risa /ˈri.sa/) | ˈri.sa | laughing / big grin |
| LOL (laughing out loud) | – (English) | laughing out loud, so funny |
| OMG (oh my God) | – (English) | oh my God |
| ntp (no te preocupes /no te pɾeoˈku.pes/) | no te pɾeoˈku.pes | don’t worry |
| np (no pasa nada /no ˈpa.sa ˈna.ða/) | no ˈpa.sa ˈna.ða | no problem / it’s fine |
| k risa (qué risa /ke ˈri.sa/) | ke ˈri.sa | that’s so funny |
| weno / wno (bueno /ˈbwe.no/) | ˈbwe.no | well, okay then |
Notes:
- jajaja is the default Spanish “hahaha” (not “hahaha” unless you’re flexing your English).
- xD is more old-school now but still shows up; it’s basically a typed laughing face.
- ntp and np are great to calm someone down: “no problem, it’s okay.”
Example:
jajaja ntp, todo bn
xa.xa.xa no te pɾeoˈku.pes ˈto.ðo ˈbjen
hahaha don’t worry, everything’s fine
English Acronyms Used In Spanish Chats
Spanish speakers borrow a lot of English internet acronyms, especially on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. The acronym stays in English, but you’ll see it inside Spanish sentences.
| Acronym | IPA (full phrase in English) | Common Spanish meaning |
| LOL (laughing out loud) | ˈlæf.ɪŋ aʊt ˈlaʊd | me muero de risa — I’m dying of laughter |
| OMG (oh my God) | oʊ maɪ ˈɡɑːd | ¡Dios mío! — oh my God |
| BTW (by the way) | baɪ ðə ˈweɪ | por cierto — by the way |
| TBT (throwback Thursday) | ˈθɹoʊ.bæk ˈθɜːz.deɪ | jueves de recuerdos — old photo on Thursday |
| FYI (for your information) | fɔː jɔːr ˌɪn.fəˈmeɪ.ʃən | para que sepas — just so you know |
| DIY (do it yourself) | duː ɪt jɔːrˈself | hazlo tú mismo — do it yourself |
| NSFW (not safe for work) | nɒt seɪf fɔː wɜːk | no apto para el trabajo — maybe not watch this at the office |
| ASAP (as soon as possible) | æz suːn æz ˈpɒ.sə.bəl | lo antes posible — as soon as possible |
You might see sentences like:
- OMG qué fuerte — OMG, that’s intense.
- Mándame eso ASAP, pls — Send me that ASAP, please.
These acronyms are understood by many young and online Spanish speakers, but if your conversation partner isn’t internet-obsessed, stick to normal Spanish phrases.
Polite & Practical Abbreviations: “Please”, “Thanks”, “No Worries”
Not everything is drama and memes. Some abbreviations just make everyday chat faster.
| Spanish (abbrev + full) | IPA | English |
| xfa (por favor /poɾ faˈβoɾ/) | poɾ faˈβoɾ | please |
| fvr / fvr (favor /faˈβoɾ/) | faˈβoɾ | please / favor |
| grx / grax (gracias /ˈɡɾa.sjas/) | ˈɡɾa.sjas | thanks |
| d nd (de nada /de ˈna.ða/) | de ˈna.ða | you’re welcome |
| tl;dr (too long; didn’t read) | – (English) | muy largo, no lo leí |
| tp (tampoco /tamˈpo.ko/) | tamˈpo.ko | neither / either |
| ntn (no tengo nada /no ˈten.ɡo ˈna.ða/) | no ˈten.ɡo ˈna.ða | I don’t have anything (context) |
Examples:
- xfa mándame el msj — Por favor, mándame el mensaje. /poɾ faˈβoɾ ˈman.da.me el menˈsa.xe/ — Please send me the message.
- grax, d nd — Gracias, de nada. /ˈɡɾa.sjas de ˈna.ða/ — Thanks, you’re welcome.
Usage note: xfa and grax are very informal and playful. Great with friends, not with your tax office.
Usage Notes & Common Mistakes
A few things to keep in mind so you sound natural, not chaotic:
- Keep it informal only
Abbreviations like xq, bn, tqm, salu2 belong in WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram DMs, TikTok comments, and casual emails. For teachers, bosses, or institutions, use full words. - Don’t overdo it
A message full of “wno xq dnd tqm salu2” is readable, but exhausting. Most native speakers mix a few abbreviations with normal words. - Mind regional rough language
Some abbreviations hide swear words or strong slang (like ALV in Mexico). Make sure you know what they mean before copying them. - Remember accents and spelling in “real” writing
Chat slang drops accents: q, xq, bn. In normal Spanish, you still need que, porque, bien, también with proper spelling.
Region Notes
Internet slang travels fast, but each country has its favorites.
- Spain
You’ll see a lot of tq, tqm, k instead of q, and playful mixes like weno for bueno. Some older gamers and forum users still use xD a lot. - Mexico
Common: xq, ntp, bn, ALV (strong slang), jajaja, tqm/tkm. Mexican memes have their own iconic abbreviations and expressions, but the basics in this guide still apply. - Southern Cone (Argentina, Chile, Uruguay)
You’ll see slang linked to vos /bos/ — informal “you” — in full words more than in abbreviations, but tqm, jajaja, bn, tb are still everywhere. - Caribbean Spanish & US Latinos
Heavy mix of Spanish abbreviations and English ones (LOL, OMG, BTW, IDK), often in the same sentence.
Good news: if you master the abbreviations in this guide, you’ll understand at least 80–90% of chat slang across the Spanish-speaking internet. The rest is just regional seasoning.
Mini Dialogues
Each line: Spanish with abbreviations, IPA of how it’s actually said, then natural English.
- Making Plans In Chat
¿Qué haces hoy? q haces hoy? /ke ˈa.ses oj/
What are you doing today?
Nada, bn en casa. /ˈna.ða ˈbjen en ˈka.sa/
Nothing, fine at home.
Entonces salimos? /enˈton.ses saˈli.mos/
So, should we go out?
Dale, a las 7? /ˈda.le a las ˈsje.te/
Sure, at seven?
- Being Late But Polite
ntp, llego un poco tarde. /no te pɾeoˈku.pes ˈʝe.ɣo un ˈpo.ko ˈtaɾ.ðe/
Don’t worry, I’ll be a bit late.
ok, np, aquí te espero. /oˈkej no ˈpa.sa ˈna.ða aˈki te esˈpe.ɾo/
Okay, no problem, I’ll wait for you here.
- Friendly Affection
tqm, amiga, grax por todo. /te ˈkje.ɾo ˈmu.tʃo aˈmi.ɣa ˈɡɾa.sjas poɾ ˈto.ðo/
Love you, girl, thanks for everything.
yo tb tqm, salu2 /ʝo tamˈbjen te ˈkje.ɾo ˈmu.tʃo saˈlu.ðos/
Me too, love you, hugs.
- Mixed English–Spanish Meme Talk
LOL, xq eres así? /ˈlol poɾˈke ˈe.ɾes aˈsi/
LOL, why are you like this?
xD no sé, así nací. /ˈri.sa no ˈse aˈsi naˈsi/
xD I don’t know, I was born this way.
Quick Reference
Screenshot-friendly table of high-frequency abbreviations.
| Abbrev + Full Spanish | IPA | English |
| xq (porque /poɾˈke/) | poɾˈke | because / why |
| q / k (que /ke/) | ke | that, which, what |
| bn (bien /ˈbjen/) | ˈbjen | fine, well |
| tb (también /tamˈbjen/) | tamˈbjen | also, too |
| dnd (dónde /ˈdon.de/) | ˈdon.de | where |
| msj (mensaje /menˈsa.xe/) | menˈsa.xe | message |
| tqm (te quiero mucho /te ˈkje.ɾo ˈmu.tʃo/) | te ˈkje.ɾo ˈmu.tʃo | love you lots |
| salu2 (saludos /saˈlu.ðos/) | saˈlu.ðos | greetings, cheers |
| ntp (no te preocupes /no te pɾeoˈku.pes/) | no te pɾeoˈku.pes | don’t worry |
| xfa (por favor /poɾ faˈβoɾ/) | poɾ faˈβoɾ | please |
| jajaja (risa /ˈri.sa/) | ˈxa.xa.xa | hahaha |
| LOL (laughing out loud) | – | laughing a lot, so funny |
Five-Minute Practice Plan
- Spot-the-pattern (1 minute)
Take three full words you know in Spanish (for example: porque, también, bien). Create your own chat versions following what you’ve seen (xq, tb, bn) and say the full words out loud. - Decode a fake chat (2 minutes)
Write a four-line mini-dialogue using at least five abbreviations from the Quick Reference table. Then rewrite it underneath in full, “normal” Spanish. - Abbreviation filter (1 minute)
Look at a real chat of yours (in any language) and imagine how you’d say the same thing in Spanish with 1–2 abbreviations per line. Even if you don’t write it, say it in your head. - Formal vs informal (1 minute)
Take the sentence “Por favor, mándame el mensaje cuando puedas.” /poɾ faˈβoɾ ˈman.da.me el menˈsa.xe ˈkwan.do ˈpwe.ðas/ — “Please send me the message when you can.”
Create:
- A very informal version with abbreviations.
- A “work email” version with no abbreviations.
- A very informal version with abbreviations.
- Reaction drill (extra minute)
Practice three quick “reaction combos” out loud:
- jajaja qué risa
- LOL no puede ser
- ntp, todo bn
- jajaja qué risa
- Say them as if you’re actually reacting, not like vocabulary lists.
- Real-life mission
Next time you text a Spanish-speaking friend or partner, sneak in one abbreviation you’re comfortable with (xq, bn, tqm, ntp). Start small and build from there.
Before You Hit Send
Internet abbreviations in Spanish aren’t a secret code — they’re just Spanish on fast-forward. Once you recognize the patterns (vowels disappearing, “que” becoming q or k, numbers standing in for sounds), xq bn tqm suddenly turns back into full sentences in your brain. Use a few of these in your next chat, keep them out of your formal writing, and you’ll sound a lot more like someone who lives in the language… not just in the textbook.
Popular Internet Abbreviations In Spanish (Chats, Texts & Memes)
If you’ve ever opened a Spanish WhatsApp chat and thought, “Did my keyboard have a stroke?”, welcome to the world of abreviaturas de internet /abɾeβjaˈtuɾas ðe inteɾˈnet/ — internet abbreviations.
You’ll see xq, tqm, jajaja, ntp, LOL, TBT and a lot of missing vowels that somehow still make sense. The good news: there’s logic behind the chaos, and once you learn the main patterns, Spanish chats become way faster (and much more fun).
By the end of this guide, you’ll understand the most popular Spanish chat abbreviations, how to use them, when not to use them (hint: don’t email your boss with “xfa”), and how to sound like you belong in a Spanish-speaking group chat instead of in the subtitles.
Quick Primer: How Spanish Internet Abbreviations Work
Most Spanish internet abbreviations follow a few simple tricks:
- Remove vowels or extra letters
bien /ˈbjen/ → bn
también /tamˈbjen/ → tb - Swap “qu-” or “c-” for “k”
que /ke/ → q or k
porque /poɾˈke/ → xq or xk - Use numbers that sound like words
saludos /saˈlu.ðos/ — greetings → salu2 (sounds like saludos). - Borrow English acronyms
LOL, OMG, TBT, FYI, etc., often used exactly like in English.
And one big rule from polite society: these abreviaturas are informal. They live in chats, DMs, memes, and comments — not in formal emails, essays, or job applications.
Super Common Chat Shortcuts (Porque, También, Bien…)
These are the bread-and-butter shortcuts you’ll see in almost every Spanish chat.
| Spanish (abbrev + full) | IPA | English |
| q / k (que /ke/) | ke | that, which, what |
| xq / xk (porque /poɾˈke/) | poɾˈke | because / why (context) |
| pq (porque /poɾˈke/) | poɾˈke | because |
| bn (bien /ˈbjen/) | ˈbjen | fine, well |
| tb (también /tamˈbjen/) | tamˈbjen | also, too |
| dnd (dónde /ˈdon.de/) | ˈdon.de | where |
| msj (mensaje /menˈsa.xe/) | menˈsa.xe | message |
| nls (no lo sé /no lo ˈse/) | no lo ˈse | I don’t know |
| d+ (demás /deˈmas/) | deˈmas | the rest, others |
| to2 (todos /ˈto.ðos/) | ˈto.ðos | everyone, all |
Examples in context:
- q haces? — ¿Qué haces? /ke ˈa.ses/ — What are you doing?
- bn y tú? — Bien, ¿y tú? /ˈbjen i ˈtu/ — Fine, and you?
- nls, pregúntale a él — No lo sé, pregúntale a él. /no lo ˈse pɾeˈɣun.ta.le a el/ — I don’t know, ask him.
Usage note: In voice messages, people pronounce the full word (porque, bien, también), not the letters. The abbreviations are only for writing.
Affection And Relationships: TQM, TKM, Salu2 And More
Love, friendship, and mild chaos all have their own shorthand.
| Spanish (abbrev + full) | IPA | English |
| tqm (te quiero mucho /te ˈkje.ɾo ˈmu.tʃo/) | te ˈkje.ɾo ˈmu.tʃo | love you lots |
| tkm (te quiero mucho /te ˈkje.ɾo ˈmu.tʃo/) | te ˈkje.ɾo ˈmu.tʃo | love you lots (k-style) |
| tq (te quiero /te ˈkje.ɾo/) | te ˈkje.ɾo | love you |
| bb (bebé /beˈβe/) | beˈβe | babe, baby |
| bss / bs (besos /ˈbe.sos/) | ˈbe.sos | kisses |
| b7s (besitos /beˈsi.tos/) | beˈsi.tos | little kisses |
| salu2 (saludos /saˈlu.ðos/) | saˈlu.ðos | greetings, cheers |
| q tl? (¿qué tal? /ke ˈtal/) | ke ˈtal | how’s it going? |
Notes:
- tqm and tkm both mean “te quiero mucho”; some people feel tqm looks “more correct”, but both are super common in chats.
- bb works like English “babe”, especially in romantic or very close contexts.
- salu2 is friendly and playful, but don’t use it in formal emails.
Example:
tqm bb, descansa
te ˈkje.ɾo ˈmu.tʃo beˈβe desˈkan.sa
love you lots babe, rest well
Reactions, Laughs And Feelings: LOL, Jajaja, XD, NTP
If the internet runs on anything, it’s reactions.
| Spanish (abbrev + full) | IPA | English |
| jajaja (risa /ˈri.sa/) | ˈxa.xa.xa | hahaha |
| xD (risa /ˈri.sa/) | ˈri.sa | laughing / big grin |
| LOL (laughing out loud) | – (English) | laughing out loud, so funny |
| OMG (oh my God) | – (English) | oh my God |
| ntp (no te preocupes /no te pɾeoˈku.pes/) | no te pɾeoˈku.pes | don’t worry |
| np (no pasa nada /no ˈpa.sa ˈna.ða/) | no ˈpa.sa ˈna.ða | no problem / it’s fine |
| k risa (qué risa /ke ˈri.sa/) | ke ˈri.sa | that’s so funny |
| weno / wno (bueno /ˈbwe.no/) | ˈbwe.no | well, okay then |
Notes:
- jajaja is the default Spanish “hahaha” (not “hahaha” unless you’re flexing your English).
- xD is more old-school now but still shows up; it’s basically a typed laughing face.
- ntp and np are great to calm someone down: “no problem, it’s okay.”
Example:
jajaja ntp, todo bn
xa.xa.xa no te pɾeoˈku.pes ˈto.ðo ˈbjen
hahaha don’t worry, everything’s fine
English Acronyms Used In Spanish Chats
Spanish speakers borrow a lot of English internet acronyms, especially on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. The acronym stays in English, but you’ll see it inside Spanish sentences.
| Acronym | IPA (full phrase in English) | Common Spanish meaning |
| LOL (laughing out loud) | ˈlæf.ɪŋ aʊt ˈlaʊd | me muero de risa — I’m dying of laughter |
| OMG (oh my God) | oʊ maɪ ˈɡɑːd | ¡Dios mío! — oh my God |
| BTW (by the way) | baɪ ðə ˈweɪ | por cierto — by the way |
| TBT (throwback Thursday) | ˈθɹoʊ.bæk ˈθɜːz.deɪ | jueves de recuerdos — old photo on Thursday |
| FYI (for your information) | fɔː jɔːr ˌɪn.fəˈmeɪ.ʃən | para que sepas — just so you know |
| DIY (do it yourself) | duː ɪt jɔːrˈself | hazlo tú mismo — do it yourself |
| NSFW (not safe for work) | nɒt seɪf fɔː wɜːk | no apto para el trabajo — maybe not watch this at the office |
| ASAP (as soon as possible) | æz suːn æz ˈpɒ.sə.bəl | lo antes posible — as soon as possible |
You might see sentences like:
- OMG qué fuerte — OMG, that’s intense.
- Mándame eso ASAP, pls — Send me that ASAP, please.
These acronyms are understood by many young and online Spanish speakers, but if your conversation partner isn’t internet-obsessed, stick to normal Spanish phrases.
Polite And Practical Abbreviations: “Please”, “Thanks”, “No Worries”
Not everything is drama and memes. Some abbreviations just make everyday chat faster.
| Spanish (abbrev + full) | IPA | English |
| xfa (por favor /poɾ faˈβoɾ/) | poɾ faˈβoɾ | please |
| fvr / fvr (favor /faˈβoɾ/) | faˈβoɾ | please / favor |
| grx / grax (gracias /ˈɡɾa.sjas/) | ˈɡɾa.sjas | thanks |
| d nd (de nada /de ˈna.ða/) | de ˈna.ða | you’re welcome |
| tl;dr (too long; didn’t read) | – (English) | muy largo, no lo leí |
| tp (tampoco /tamˈpo.ko/) | tamˈpo.ko | neither / either |
| ntn (no tengo nada /no ˈten.ɡo ˈna.ða/) | no ˈten.ɡo ˈna.ða | I don’t have anything (context) |
Examples:
- xfa mándame el msj — Por favor, mándame el mensaje. /poɾ faˈβoɾ ˈman.da.me el menˈsa.xe/ — Please send me the message.
- grax, d nd — Gracias, de nada. /ˈɡɾa.sjas de ˈna.ða/ — Thanks, you’re welcome.
Usage note: xfa and grax are very informal and playful. Great with friends, not with your tax office.
Usage Notes And Common Mistakes
A few things to keep in mind so you sound natural, not chaotic:
- Keep it informal only
Abbreviations like xq, bn, tqm, salu2 belong in WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram DMs, TikTok comments, and casual emails. For teachers, bosses, or institutions, use full words. - Don’t overdo it
A message full of “wno xq dnd tqm salu2” is readable, but exhausting. Most native speakers mix a few abbreviations with normal words. - Mind regional rough language
Some abbreviations hide swear words or strong slang (like ALV in Mexico). Make sure you know what they mean before copying them. - Remember accents and spelling in “real” writing
Chat slang drops accents: q, xq, bn. In normal Spanish, you still need que, porque, bien, también with proper spelling.
Region Notes
Internet slang travels fast, but each country has its favorites.
- Spain
You’ll see a lot of tq, tqm, k instead of q, and playful mixes like weno for bueno. Some older gamers and forum users still use xD a lot. - Mexico
Common: xq, ntp, bn, ALV (strong slang), jajaja, tqm/tkm. Mexican memes have their own iconic abbreviations and expressions, but the basics in this guide still apply. - Southern Cone (Argentina, Chile, Uruguay)
You’ll see slang linked to vos /bos/ — informal “you” — in full words more than in abbreviations, but tqm, jajaja, bn, tb are still everywhere. - Caribbean Spanish And US Latinos
Heavy mix of Spanish abbreviations and English ones (LOL, OMG, BTW, IDK), often in the same sentence.
Good news: if you master the abbreviations in this guide, you’ll understand at least 80–90% of chat slang across the Spanish-speaking internet. The rest is just regional seasoning.
Mini Dialogues
Each line: Spanish with abbreviations, IPA of how it’s actually said, then natural English.
- Making Plans In Chat
¿Qué haces hoy? q haces hoy? /ke ˈa.ses oj/
What are you doing today?
Nada, bn en casa. /ˈna.ða ˈbjen en ˈka.sa/
Nothing, fine at home.
Entonces salimos? /enˈton.ses saˈli.mos/
So, should we go out?
Dale, a las 7? /ˈda.le a las ˈsje.te/
Sure, at seven?
- Being Late But Polite
ntp, llego un poco tarde. /no te pɾeoˈku.pes ˈʝe.ɣo un ˈpo.ko ˈtaɾ.ðe/
Don’t worry, I’ll be a bit late.
ok, np, aquí te espero. /oˈkej no ˈpa.sa ˈna.ða aˈki te esˈpe.ɾo/
Okay, no problem, I’ll wait for you here.
- Friendly Affection
tqm, amiga, grax por todo. /te ˈkje.ɾo ˈmu.tʃo aˈmi.ɣa ˈɡɾa.sjas poɾ ˈto.ðo/
Love you, girl, thanks for everything.
yo tb tqm, salu2 /ʝo tamˈbjen te ˈkje.ɾo ˈmu.tʃo saˈlu.ðos/
Me too, love you, hugs.
- Mixed English–Spanish Meme Talk
LOL, xq eres así? /ˈlol poɾˈke ˈe.ɾes aˈsi/
LOL, why are you like this?
xD no sé, así nací. /ˈri.sa no ˈse aˈsi naˈsi/
xD I don’t know, I was born this way.
Quick Reference
Screenshot-friendly table of high-frequency abbreviations.
| Abbrev + Full Spanish | IPA | English |
| xq (porque /poɾˈke/) | poɾˈke | because / why |
| q / k (que /ke/) | ke | that, which, what |
| bn (bien /ˈbjen/) | ˈbjen | fine, well |
| tb (también /tamˈbjen/) | tamˈbjen | also, too |
| dnd (dónde /ˈdon.de/) | ˈdon.de | where |
| msj (mensaje /menˈsa.xe/) | menˈsa.xe | message |
| tqm (te quiero mucho /te ˈkje.ɾo ˈmu.tʃo/) | te ˈkje.ɾo ˈmu.tʃo | love you lots |
| salu2 (saludos /saˈlu.ðos/) | saˈlu.ðos | greetings, cheers |
| ntp (no te preocupes /no te pɾeoˈku.pes/) | no te pɾeoˈku.pes | don’t worry |
| xfa (por favor /poɾ faˈβoɾ/) | poɾ faˈβoɾ | please |
| jajaja (risa /ˈri.sa/) | ˈxa.xa.xa | hahaha |
| LOL (laughing out loud) | – | laughing a lot, so funny |
Five-Minute Practice Plan
- Spot-The-Pattern (1 minute)
Take three full words you know in Spanish (for example: porque, también, bien). Create your own chat versions following what you’ve seen (xq, tb, bn) and say the full words out loud. - Decode A Fake Chat (2 minutes)
Write a four-line mini-dialogue using at least five abbreviations from the Quick Reference table. Then rewrite it underneath in full, “normal” Spanish. - Abbreviation Filter (1 minute)
Look at a real chat of yours (in any language) and imagine how you’d say the same thing in Spanish with 1–2 abbreviations per line. Even if you don’t write it, say it in your head. - Formal Vs Informal (1 minute)
Take the sentence “Por favor, mándame el mensaje cuando puedas.” /poɾ faˈβoɾ ˈman.da.me el menˈsa.xe ˈkwan.do ˈpwe.ðas/ — “Please send me the message when you can.”
Create:
- A very informal version with abbreviations.
- A “work email” version with no abbreviations.
- A very informal version with abbreviations.
- Reaction Drill (Extra Minute)
Practice three quick “reaction combos” out loud:
- jajaja qué risa
- LOL no puede ser
- ntp, todo bn
- jajaja qué risa
- Say them as if you’re actually reacting, not like vocabulary lists.
- Real-Life Mission
Next time you text a Spanish-speaking friend or partner, sneak in one abbreviation you’re comfortable with (xq, bn, tqm, ntp). Start small and build from there.
Last Emoji Before You Log Off
Internet abbreviations in Spanish aren’t a secret code — they’re just Spanish on fast-forward. Once you recognize the patterns (vowels disappearing, “que” becoming q or k, numbers standing in for sounds), xq bn tqm suddenly turns back into full sentences in your brain. Use a few of these in your next chat, keep them out of your formal writing, and you’ll sound a lot more like someone who lives in the language… not just in the textbook.