Decode informal shorthand and everyday clippings while keeping the full Spanish meaning in view.
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Common Spanish texting abbreviations
These shortcuts belong to informal messages and vary by person, age and region. Write the abbreviation in practice; its full Spanish expansion is also accepted.
The pronunciation shown is for the expanded meaning, since people do not normally pronounce these shortcuts as new words. Xq can represent porque or por qué, depending on context.
Tq and tqm expand to affectionate expressions. Their warmth depends on the relationship, just as the complete phrases do.
Salu2 and a2 use numbers creatively and can feel playful or old-fashioned. For neutral full expressions, review greetings.
tqI love you (text shortcut) · teh KYEH-roh
tqmI love you very much (text shortcut) · teh KYEH-roh MOO-choh
bsskisses (text shortcut) · BEH-sohs
sldsgreetings (text shortcut) · sah-LOO-dohs
ntpdon’t worry (text shortcut) · noh teh preh-oh-KOO-pehs
nsI don’t know (text shortcut) · noh SEH
celcellphone (informal short form) · SEHL
grxthanks (text shortcut) · GRAH-syahs
Spanish shortened words used in messages
Clippings such as finde, profe and peli can also be spoken aloud. They differ from letter-based abbreviations such as tqm.
Short forms are useful to recognize, but full spellings suit formal emails and schoolwork. The expanded term in each note gives the standard meaning.
findeweekend (informal short form) · FEEN-deh
profeteacher (informal short form) · PROH-feh
uniuniversity (informal short form) · OO-nee
instihigh school (Spain informal short form) · EENS-tee
cumplebirthday (informal short form) · KOOM-pleh
pelimovie (informal short form) · PEH-lee
infoinformation (short form) · EEN-foh
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Spanish Texting Abbreviations: the full list
Review the meanings and pronunciation, then use the printable worksheet to recall each Spanish answer.
Quick answer:that or what (text shortcut) is q, because or why (text shortcut) is xq, please (text shortcut) is xfa, also (text shortcut) is tmb, where (text shortcut) is dnd, well (text shortcut) is bn, good (text shortcut) is bno, tomorrow (text shortcut) is mñn, message (text shortcut) is msj, and telephone (written abbreviation) is tel..
