What Does “YW” Stand for in Slang?

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Decode the meaning of YW in all your text messages

Co-authored by Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: November 23, 2024 Fact Checked

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YW Meaning

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How to Use

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How to Reply

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Alternate Meanings

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Video

“YW” typically stands for “you’re welcome,” so it’s no wonder you’re spotting it in a lot of your texts and online convos. We’ll take a closer look at this popular acronym, including how it’s used, how to reply to it, and what else it can mean besides “you’re welcome.” In a matter of minutes, you’ll be a total expert on this piece of texting slang.

YW Meaning in Social Media and Over Text

YW means “You’re Welcome,” and is commonly used online and over text in response to a message like “ty” (thank you) or “tysm” (thank you so much). Alternately, YW can also mean something like “Yeah, Whatever.”

Section 1 of 4:

What does YW mean?

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YW typically means “you’re welcome” online and over text. You know how “TY” is an abbreviation for “thank you”? YW is the abbreviation equivalent for “you’re welcome.” Most times, you’ll see this word sent in reply to a “thanks,” “ty,” or “tysm” (thank you so much) message.^{[1]
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- YW can be spelled in all capital or all lowercase letters—either way, it has the same meaning.
- YW isn’t exclusive to just one digital platform. If you see it on Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, or any other social media platform, it most likely stands for “you’re welcome.”
- Person 1: “Tysm for lending me money for the train 🥺”
  Person 2: “YW! It’s really no big deal”
- Person 1: “Ty for feeding Mittens while I was gone! 🐈”
  Person 2: “YW, I’m happy to watch her anytime 😻”

Section 2 of 4:

How to Use YW

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Shoot a quick reply to a “thank you” message with YW. Maybe you did your friend a solid, or you did your sibling a quick favor before heading out for the day. When they send you a quick “thanks,” “ty,” or “tysm” message, reply with a simple YW.^{[2]
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- Friend: “Thanks for letting me vent last night 💛”
  You: “YW! 😄”
- Sister: “Tysm for filling up the car 🚗”
  You: “YW! You’re on gas duty next time 😝”

Section 3 of 4:

How to Reply to YW

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You don’t need to reply to “you’re welcome.” YW is used as a follow-up reply and pretty much concludes the exchange. You don’t have to respond unless you’d like to keep the conversation going by changing the subject.
- You: “Ty!! I really appreciate it ❤”
  Them: “YW 😄”
  You: “This is totally random, but are you going to Kyle’s party this Friday?”

Section 4 of 4:

Alternate Meanings

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YW can mean “Yeah, Whatever.” The phrase “yeah, whatever” pretty much means the same thing as “you’re welcome,” but is often used when a person is trying to downplay their role in a situation. You might also use it as a sarcastic reply when someone is playfully teasing you over text.^{[3]
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- Person 1: “Thanks for bringing in coffee for us today! ☕”
  Person 2: “YW 😝”
- Person 1: “I saw someone staring at Josh during class today…👀”
  Person 2: “YW 🙄”
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YW sometimes means “Yes, Way.” Maybe you just sent a “no way!” message to your friend, who responded back with YW. In this context, YW stands for “yes, way,” which is a playful, mirrored response to “no way.”
- You: “You bumped into my dad at the grocery store? No way LMAO 🤣”
  Friend: “YW!! We talked for like 5 minutes 😋”
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YW occasionally stands for “Yearling Weight.” In the cattle community, YW represents the combined weight of a calf before and after it’s weaned. As the name suggests, YW gets measured in pounds.^{[4]
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- Example: The YW was 900 lb (410 kg).
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YW can mean “Young Women” in the context of the Mormon church. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (also known as the Mormon Church) manages an organization called Young Women.^{[5]
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Research source} On occasion, this group name may be abbreviated as YW.
- Example: “I think YW is sponsoring the event on Friday.”
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YW sometimes stands for “Yo, Wassup.” If someone starts off a conversation with “YW,” there’s a good chance they’re using the shorthand of “Yo, Wassup.” Feel free to reply with a friendly greeting of your own!^{[6]
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- Them: “YW 😄”
  You: “Not much! What’s up with you? 😊”