Gaming Slang

AFK is an acronym for 'Away From Keyboard.' It is used in real-time online communication, especially in gaming and chat, to let others know that the user is temporarily stepping away from their computer or device and will not be responsive. It signifies a short-term absence.

In video game terminology, 'buff' is the opposite of 'nerf.' It's a verb that means to make a character, weapon, or ability stronger or more effective through a game update. This is usually done to improve game balance by making underpowered options more viable. A 'buff' can also be a temporary in-game power-up.

In gaming, 'camping' is a tactic where a player stays hidden in a single, strategic location on the map for an extended period, waiting for opponents to come to them. It is a controversial strategy; some see it as a legitimate tactical choice, while many others view it as a low-skill, cowardly, and unsportsmanlike way to play.

'Copium' is a satirical slang term for a fictional drug one 'huffs' or 'ingests' to cope with loss, failure, or defeat. It's a portmanteau of 'cope' and 'opium.' The term is used to mock someone who is seen as being in denial or making up irrational excuses for why their preferred sports team, political candidate, or investment failed. It implies that their reasoning is a form of self-deception to soothe the pain of loss.

'F' is used as a quick and universal way to express sympathy, condolences, or to acknowledge a failure or unfortunate situation. Commenting 'F' on a post about something sad or unfortunate is the internet's equivalent of a moment of silence or saying 'my condolences.' It can be used for both serious and comically minor misfortunes.

FTW is an acronym for 'For The Win.' It is an enthusiastic exclamation used at the end of a statement to express support for something or to declare that something is the best or will lead to success. It's a versatile expression of approval and confidence.

GG is an initialism primarily used in online gaming at the end of a match to signify sportsmanship. It's a way of telling your opponents (and teammates) that you enjoyed the match. Outside of gaming, it can be used more broadly, sometimes sarcastically, to signal that something is over or finished.

'Glazing' is a slang term for the act of hyping someone up, complimenting them excessively, or defending them obsequiously. It implies a level of sycophantic behavior, similar to 'riding' or 'dickriding.' It's often used to criticize someone for being an over-the-top fanboy or fangirl of a celebrity, streamer, or even a friend.

A 'glitch' is a small, often temporary, error or fault in a piece of software or hardware, especially a video game. It causes the system to behave in unexpected or unintended ways. This can range from harmless graphical errors to game-breaking bugs that stop progress. The term can also be used metaphorically for any small, unexpected problem.

'Griefing' is the act of deliberately irritating and harassing other players within an online game, using the game's own mechanics in unintended ways to ruin their experience. A 'griefer' is someone who does this for their own amusement. Examples include blocking doorways, repeatedly killing a teammate, or destroying a shared structure in a creative game like Minecraft.

In video game culture, 'grinding' is the act of performing repetitive tasks to achieve a desired outcome, such as leveling up a character or obtaining a rare item. The term has expanded to describe any hard, monotonous, or continuous work toward a goal, whether in a game, at a job, or in personal life.

IRL is an acronym for 'In Real Life.' It's used to distinguish between a person's online activities or persona and their life in the physical, offline world. It's a fundamental piece of internet jargon for separating digital interactions from tangible ones.

A 'jumpscare' is a technique used in horror movies, video games, and online videos to frighten the audience by appearing suddenly, usually accompanied by a loud, startling sound. In internet culture, jumpscares are a common feature of prank videos and memes, often appearing unexpectedly in otherwise normal content.

'L' is the shorthand for 'Loss' or 'Lose.' It is the direct opposite of 'W' (Win). It's used to label something as a failure, a bad thing, or a defeat. It can describe an outcome, an opinion, or an action. To 'take the L' means to accept one's defeat or failure in a given situation.

'Lag' refers to a noticeable delay between a user's action and the response from a server, most commonly experienced in online gaming or video conferencing. This delay, caused by high latency or a poor network connection, results in a choppy, delayed, or unresponsive experience. It is a universal frustration for internet users.

'Let them cook' is a slang phrase that means to let someone proceed with their action or idea without interference, even if it seems strange or unconventional. It implies that you should have patience and trust that the person knows what they're doing and will produce a good result in the end. It's a call to not be judgmental and to wait for the final outcome.

LFG is a high-energy, profane acronym for 'Let's F***ing Go.' It is a rallying cry used to express extreme excitement, hype, or readiness to do something. It's commonly used in gaming to start a match, in sports to cheer on a team, or in any situation where a burst of enthusiasm is needed.

An MMORPG is an acronym for a 'Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game.' It is a genre of video game that combines the character progression and story of a role-playing game with the ability to be played alongside hundreds or thousands of other players in a persistent online world. Players create a character and interact with other players to explore, go on quests, and fight monsters.

'Nerf' is a verb used in video gaming to describe when a developer weakens a character, weapon, or ability in a game update to improve game balance. It is done to reduce the power of an element that is considered overpowered (OP). The term can also be used outside of gaming to refer to something being made less effective.

'Noob' is a derogatory term for a 'newbie' or newcomer to a particular activity, most commonly online gaming. It implies not just a lack of experience, but also a lack of skill and an unwillingness to learn. It's a common insult used to belittle someone's poor performance.

NPC stands for 'Non-Player Character,' a term from video games for characters controlled by the game's AI, not a human player. As slang, it's a derogatory term for someone who doesn't think for themselves, follows trends blindly, or seems to lack independent thought and internal monologue, as if they're just following a script.

OP is a context-dependent acronym with two primary meanings. 1) 'Original Poster': In forums like Reddit, or in any comment thread, the OP is the person who made the initial post that started the conversation. 2) 'Overpowered': In gaming, OP describes a character, weapon, or strategy that is too strong, creating an unfair advantage and disrupting game balance.

PvE is an acronym for 'Player versus Environment.' It is a term used in video games to describe gameplay where a player or a team of players competes against computer-controlled enemies, obstacles, and challenges within the game's world. This is in contrast to PvP ('Player versus Player'), where players compete against each other. Most story-based or cooperative games are PvE.

'Pwned' is a slang term from leetspeak (hacker/gamer slang) meaning to utterly defeat, dominate, or control someone or something. It is a more emphatic and triumphant version of 'owned.' It's most commonly used in gaming to taunt an opponent who has been completely outplayed. It can also refer to a system being successfully hacked.

RNG is an acronym for 'Random Number Generator,' which is a computer algorithm that produces a sequence of numbers that lack any discernible pattern. In gaming, RNG determines all chance-based events, such as whether an attack will be a critical hit, what items an enemy will drop, or the layout of a procedurally generated map. 'RNG' is often used as a synonym for 'luck.'

To be 'salty' is to be upset, annoyed, or bitter, usually over something minor or trivial. It often implies that someone is overreacting to a loss, a joke, or a minor inconvenience. It's commonly used in gaming communities to describe a player who is a sore loser.

In video games, a 'side quest' is an optional mission that is not essential to finishing the main story. In internet slang, the term is used as a metaphor for getting sidetracked or distracted from one's main goal or task in real life. It refers to any unplanned detour or activity that you end up doing on the way to your intended destination.

A 'speedrun' is the act of playing through a video game, or a section of it, with the goal of completing it in the fastest time possible. This often involves using glitches, clever strategies, and memorizing optimal paths. As a slang term, 'to speedrun' can mean to do any task very quickly.

Sus is a shortened version of 'suspicious' or 'suspect.' It's used to describe someone or something that seems shady, questionable, or dishonest. The term existed for years but exploded in popularity with the release of the online multiplayer game 'Among Us' in 2018, where players use it to call out others they believe to be an impostor.

In gaming slang, 'sweaty' is a derogatory adjective for a player who is trying too hard to win, especially in a casual game mode. It's a synonym for 'tryhard.' The term evokes the image of someone sweating from the intensity of their effort. A 'sweat' is a noun for such a player.

'Touch grass' is an insult or a piece of advice directed at someone who is perceived to be spending too much time online and has lost touch with reality. It's a command to go outside, disconnect from the internet, and ground themselves in the real world.

An internet 'troll' is a person who intentionally posts inflammatory, provocative, or off-topic messages in an online community with the primary goal of upsetting users or disrupting the conversation for their own amusement. 'Trolling' is the act of doing this. It is a form of online harassment, and the intent is to get a reaction, not to engage in genuine debate.

A 'tryhard' is a derogatory term for a person who puts an excessive amount of effort into something, like a video game or a social situation, to the point where it seems desperate or unsportsmanlike. In gaming, it's used to insult someone who is playing too seriously in a casual setting. In social contexts, it describes someone who is trying too hard to be cool or popular.

'W' is a shorthand for 'Win.' It is used to label something as a success, a good thing, or a victory. It can describe a person, an action, an opinion, or an outcome. It is a quick and common way to express approval and positivity.

W and L are abbreviations for 'Win' and 'Loss.' They are used to quickly label an outcome, opinion, or person as being good (a win) or bad (a loss). A 'W' signifies a success, a good decision, or a praiseworthy thing. An 'L' signifies a failure, a bad take, or something embarrassing.

XP is the abbreviation for 'Experience Points,' a fundamental concept in video games, especially role-playing games (RPGs). Players earn XP by completing tasks, defeating enemies, or discovering new locations. Accumulating enough XP allows a player's character to 'level up,' becoming more powerful and unlocking new abilities. The concept is sometimes used metaphorically for gaining life experience.