Bingo Lingo
Many gamers start their online play with bingo. It’s a game that’s already familiar to a large number of players. Even those who have never played before can typically learn the game in just minutes. Despite the rather simple rules involved, playing online bingo comes with an entirely new set of lingo that you wouldn’t hear in a typical bingo hall. But there’s no reason to feel overwhelmed. Many of the bingo lingo terms are easy to use and can help foster a welcoming environment for a fun online community. Learn more about bingo lingo and how you can use it when you play online.
Abc's of Bingo Lingo
To be sure, it’s a long list full of largely unfamiliar terms. However, the following sections will give you some helpful tips for mastering these bingo lingo basics.Welcome Lingo
Lingo |
Meaning |
Gm |
Good morning |
GTSY |
Glad to see you |
LTNS |
Long time no see |
WB |
Welcome back |
General Chat Bingo Lingo
Lingo |
Meaning |
| *G* | Giggle or grin |
| *H* | Hug |
| *K* | Kiss |
| *S* | Smile |
| *W* | Wink |
| AFAIK | As far as I know |
| AKA | Also known as |
| ASAP | As soon as possible |
| A/S/L | Age/sex/location |
| BDT | Bout darn time |
| BF | Boyfriend |
| BTW | By the way |
| CM | Chat master/monitor/moderator |
| E1 | Everyone |
| EMSG | Email message |
| FWIW | For what it's worth |
| FYI | For your information |
| GF | Girlfriend |
| GMTA | Great minds think alike |
| H&K | Hug and kiss |
| IC | I see |
| IMO | In my opinion |
| IRL | In real life |
| IYKWIM | If you know what I mean |
| JJ | Just joking |
| JK | Just kidding |
| JTLYK | Just to let you know |
| JMO | Just my opinion |
| KOTC | Kiss on the cheek |
| KOTL | Kiss on the lips |
| LMAO | Laughing my ass off |
| LOL | Laughing out loud |
| LUWAMH | Love you with all my heart |
| LY | Love ya |
| NETUA | Nobody ever tells us anything |
| NP | No problem |
| OIC | Oh I see |
| OMG | Oh my goodness (gawd) |
| OTOH | On the other hand |
| PM | Private message |
| PMSL | Peeing myself laughing |
| PPL | People |
| QT | Cutie |
| ROFL | Rolling on floor laughing |
| ROFLMAO | Rolling on floor laughing my ass off |
| Roomie | Another member in chat room |
| SO | Significant other |
| SOHF | Sense of humor failure |
| SRY | Sorry |
| SWAK | Sealed with a kiss |
| SWL | Screaming with laughter |
| TOY | Thinking of you |
| TMI | Too much information |
| TPTB | The powers that be |
| TX | Thanks |
| TYVM | Thank you very much |
| VEG | Very evil grin |
| WTH | What or who the heck |
| WYSIWYG | What you see is what you get |
| XOXOXOX | Hugs and kisses |
| YBS | You'll be sorry |
| YSR | Yeah sure right |
| YVW | You're very welcome |
| YW | You're welcome |
Playing Bingo Lingo
Lingo |
Meaning |
| 1TG | 1 bingo ball to bingo |
| 2TG | 2 bingo balls to bingo |
| 3TG | 3 bingo balls to bingo |
| BLNT | Better luck next time |
| FAQ | Frequently Asked Questions |
| GG | Good going or good game |
| GL | Good luck |
| GLA | Good luck all |
| GLE | Good luck everyone |
| HHIS | Hanging head in shame |
| RTF | Read the FAQ |
| SAC | Sorry all close |
| UL | Unlucky |
| WD | Well done |
| WTG | Way to go |
| ? | Please explain |
| ?4U | Question for you |
Leaving Bingo Lingo
Lingo |
Meaning |
| AFK | Away from keyboard |
| AFK2P | Away from keyboard to pee |
| B4N | Bye for now |
| BBIAM | Be back in a minute |
| BBL | Be back later |
| BBS | Be back soon |
| BRB | Be right back |
| CU | See you |
| CYA | See ya |
| CYAL8R | See ya later |
| G2G | Got to go |
| GN | Good night |
| HAGD | Have a good day |
| HB | Hurry back |
| KIT | Keep in touch |
| L8R | Later |
| L8R G8R | Later gator |
| POOF | I have left the chat |
| SYS | See you soon |
| TC | Take care |
| TTFN | Ta ta for now |
| TTYL | Talk to you later |
Online Bingo Lingo in Action
If you're new to the online bingo community, it's a great idea to join a chat and see what the lingo looks like in action. Here's an example:BingoJo312: Nice win, WTG!
LetsPlay5x5: TYVM!
BingoJo312: YW, but watch out for me this next round or YBS! JK GF *W*
LetsPlay5x5: OMG I'm LOL! Wish I could play another round but I've got to go, TTFN!
Here's what that conversation looks like with all the lingo translated for you:
BingoJo312: Nice win, way to go!
LetsPlay5x5: Thank you very much!
BingoJo312: You're welcome, but watch out for me this next round or you'll be sorry! Just kidding, girlfriend *wink*.
LetsPlay5x5: Oh my goodness I'm laughing out loud! Wish I could play another round but I've got to go, ta ta for now!
By looking at these conversations, you can start to better understand how bingo lingo is naturally incorporated as a shorthand for some of the common language used by online players.
Tips for Memorizing Online Bingo Lingo
While studying real conversations certainly helps, it's not enough for memorizing the bingo lingo terms listed here. Fortunately, these three tips can really help when it comes to figuring out how to communicate with other players online:- Acronyms: The most common type of lingo is an acronym. In these terms, each letter represents the first letter of the word it symbolizes. For example, LTNS = long time no see.
- Action words: If you wish to describe an action, use the acronym system combined with asterisks. For example, *H* = hug and *S* = smile.
- Phonetic combinations: For a few lingo terms, you can use letters to create a phonetic representation of the word. For example, QT = cutie and L8R G8R = later gator .
- Association: Associating a type with each term (welcome, general, playing, leaving), like in the list above, makes memorization much easier.
Putting Your Bingo Lingo to Good Use
So how does it work when you're actually ready to play bingo online? It's fairly easy, so there's no need to be intimidated. Here's what you can expect:- You'll select the type of game you wish to play. Two of the most common types of online bingo games are 75-ball and 90-ball bingo. These numbers represent the total number of possible ball numbers that can be called during a game. Faster bingo games like 5-line bingo (also known as "Swedish bingo") or 30-ball bingo may also be available.
- Next, you'll select the number of cards you want. The grids will be shown on your screen. As numbers are called, be sure to mark them off on your cards.
- When someone marks off their grid in a certain formation, they win a prize. The rules for each game vary slightly, so find out what constitutes a "win" in the type of game you select.
If you're interested in playing bingo, start by checking out the options online. You'll have more choices than at a local pool hall, and you can be as social as you like thanks to the optional chat rooms.
