Teenagers have always had their own languages and slang to communicate with one another without the interference of older generations.

But the boom in social media platforms in recent years has sparked a wave of Gen Z acronyms that need a dictionary of their own if anyone over the age of 16 wants to keep up.

You might see young people on Snapchat asking each other to “sb” or “pu” or texting each other “smh” or “atm”.

Newly invented words and abbreviations often spread quickly, go viral online and get absorbed by young people as part of their everyday vernacular.

With a trendy new word seemingly popping up every week, it is difficult to keep track of what’s going on.

For anyone unfamiliar with texting, messaging, and Snapchat in particular, this is what the most popular acronyms mean.

What does ‘sb’ mean?

If someone sends you ‘sb’ on Snpachat, they’re asking you to “snap back” or reply.

What does ‘pu’ mean?

When used on Snapchat, the phrase “pu” means “pop up“ referring to asking that person to message you.

What does ‘sfs’ mean?

SFS means ”shoutout for shoutout”. On Snapchat, this usually means that the person in question will mention your username in their Snapchat story if you return the favor.

In other words, they’ll promote your account if you promote theirs. By doing so, you can both increase your follower counts.

What does ‘atm’ mean?

On Snapchat, the acronym ”atm” usually means ”at the moment”.

For example, ”I am busy atm” or “I’m feeling really lazy atm”.

What does ‘smh’ mean?

SMH is an acronym for ”shaking my head”, which is a way of expressing disappointment or disapproval about something.

What does ‘fff’ mean?

This means ”Follow for a follow”. So, if you follow them on Snapchat, they will follow you back.

What does ‘istg’ mean?

Istg means “I swear to god,” which could express frustration, or that they are being sincere.

What does ‘bae’ mean?

“Bae” means “before anyone else”, and can refer to a best friend or romantic partner.

What does ‘dp’ mean?

“DP” means display picture, or someone’s social media profile picture.

What does ‘idk’mean?

If someone sends “idk” it means “I don’t know.”

What does ‘ml’ mean?

“ML”, when used on social media or messaging, means “much love.”

What does ‘gc’ mean?

“Gc” is an abbreviation for group chat, relating to a social media group conversation.

What does ‘amos’ mean?

If someone asks someone else to “amos”, that means “add me on Snapchat”.

What does ‘ngl’ mean?

“Ngl” stands for “not gonna lie”.

What does ‘nrs’ mean?

Often used on a Snapchat or Instagram story, “nrs” means “no replies”.