Wondering, ‘what does DWU mean in texting?’
If someone used the abbreviation ‘DWU’ in a text message to you or via a DM on social media, they’re saying ‘Don’t Wait Up!’
They’re probably either telling you not to wait up for them or telling you not to worry about them.
It’s fairly common text slang so most people either use it or have come across DWU.
If it’s new to you or text slang, in general, is new, here are some tips and interesting bits of info:
What Does DWU Mean in Texting?
DWU stands for Don’t Wait Up, although it’s not always used in the literal sense to tell someone not to wait up for you.
It’s a phrase that is commonly used to show someone that you don’t need or want them to worry about you.
It can be used as a way of saying goodbye before you go out or as a response to someone asking if you’re okay.
It’s also often used as a way of telling someone not to wait up for you, as in, don’t wait up for me, I’ll be home late.
It’s basically a quick way of telling someone you’ll talk later and not to expect to see or hear from you for a while.
It’s one of the more popular text slang abbreviations, so don’t be surprised if you see or hear it more now you are taking notice.
What Does DWU Mean on Social Media?
DWU means exactly the same thing on social media as it does in texting, it’s just an abbreviation for Don’t Wait Up.
It’s commonly used on platforms like Twitter, Snapchat, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram when people are signing off for the night or saying goodbye before they head out.
It’s also used on social media as a way of telling people not to wait up for you or to not worry about you.
Examples of DWU in A Text Conversation
Here are some examples of DWU being used in a text conversation:
Person A: “I’m heading out, I’ll be home late. DWU.”
Person B: “Ok, have a good time.”
Person A: “I’m about to go into this meeting, I’ll be unavailable for the next hour. DWU.”
Person B: “No worries, I’ll talk to you later.”
Person A: “I’m going to go meet Mark, DWU!”
Person B: “OK, say ‘hi’ for me, catch up tomorrow.”
As you can see, DWU is a versatile acronym that can be used in a number of different ways to let someone know you’re going offline for a bit.
How Do You Respond to DWU?
If someone sends you a DWU message, they’re not really asking for a response, they’re just letting you know what’s up.
That said, you can respond however you like.
A simple ‘OK’ or ‘got it’ will suffice, or you can tell them to have a good time if they’re going out.
You could also ask them to contact you later to let you know that they’re safe and well if you worry about them, but don’t expect to hear from them till they’ve finished doing whatever it is they’re doing.
Some Text Abbreviations Similar to DWU
There are a few other text abbreviations that have a similar meaning to DWU if you don’t want to use DWU yourself:
- IGHT – Alright
- TTYL – Talk to You Later
- GTG – Got to Go
- BRB – Be Right Back
- AFK – Away From Keyboard
- BBL – Be Back Later
Depending on how long you’re going to be offline or away for, one of these abbreviations might do the job.
Should You Use Text Slang Over Full Words?
Now you know what DWU means, the broader question is whether or not you should use text slang and what it means when you do.
Text slang is an informal type of language that is used in everyday communication between friends, family, and acquaintances.
It’s a more casual way of communicating and is not usually – or shouldn’t be – used in more formal settings such as work or school.
Text slang is also often seen as a more efficient way of communication as it can save time by abbreviating words and phrases.
For example, instead of typing out ‘What are you doing?’, you can just type ‘WYD?’
It’s up to you whether or not you want to use text slang, my best advice is to know what the person you’re texting will appreciate and understand.
Nowadays, modern phones have intelligent predictive text that will often guess the word or phrase you’re trying to type, so it doesn’t even save a lot of time abbreviating!
What to learn about more common text abbreviations and slang?
Here is a list of the other posts I’ve written up, just click one of the links below to jump to the explanation:
| What Does FFF Mean in Texting? | What Does ML Mean in Texting? |
| What Does NKW Mean in Texting? | What Does UHM Mean in Texting? |
| What Does TM Mean in Texting? | What Does TT Mean in Texting? |
| What Does Awww Mean in Texting? | What Does BSN Mean in Texting? |
| What Does ATP Mean in Texting? | What Does KMT Mean in Texting? |
| What Does ROFL Mean in Texting? | What Does RII Mean in Texting? |
| What Does ITR Mean in Texting? | What Does IMS Mean in Texting? |
| What Does IGHT Mean in Texting? | What Does STG Mean in Texting? |
| What Does SN Mean in Texting? | What Does WYLL Mean in Texting? |
| What Does Ehhh Mean In Texting? | What Does Lolz Mean in Texting? |
| What Does Ihh Mean in Texting? | What Does YFM Mean in Texting? |
| What Does DWU Mean in Texting? | What Does ONG Mean in Texting? |
| What Does WGST Mean in Texting? | What Does LTR Mean in Texting? |
Image credits – depositphotos.com/stock-photo-girl-texting-on-the-phone
Phil Ashton
Phil lives in England, UK, and has around 20 years experience as a professional life, career and executive coach. He started this blog to help others find and define their own self development journey. Blogging about a wide range of topics to help facilitate a better future.
