NAL

What Does NAL Mean in a Text?

NAL means "Need A Life." The phrase "Need A Life" is typically used as a light-hearted criticism of someone's obsession with an activity, such as a hobby, a sports team, a TV show or even work. NAL can be used in the first, second or third person. For example:

• I have been on Facebook all night and haven't eaten a thing. I NAL!
(Here, NAL is being used in the first person singular.)
• You went all the way to England, just to go to a Twin Peaks convention? You NAL!
(Here, NAL is being used in the second person singular.)
• She refuses to go out when the Kardashians are on TV. She NAL!
(Here, NAL is being used in the third person singular and actually means "Needs A Life.")

In 2008, Canadian indie rock band Born Ruffians released a track entitled "I Need A Life."

Image for NAL

When I write NAL, I mean this:

NAL usually implies an unhealthy obsession.

Summary of Key Points

"Need A Life" is the most common definition for NAL on Snapchat, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.

NAL
Definition:	Need A Life
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	2: Quite easy to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Examples of NAL in Sentences

Here are examples of NAL being used in conversations:

• Niall: Are you coming to the game?
• Rick: I can't. I've got to work late again. I NAL.

• Claire: I am the Candy Crush champion!
• Sue: You NAL.

An Academic Look at NAL

NAL is an initialism abbreviation. Technically, this means it is pronounced using its individual letters (i.e., Enn Ay Ell"). However, it is not often spoken using its letters. The abbreviation NAL is actually for efficiency in writing, rather than efficiency in speech.

NAL is typically used as a standalone declarative sentence (i.e., a statement), often with the addition of a personal pronoun (I, you, he she, it, we, you, they). It is not normally used as another part of speech within a wider sentence.

What Did We Say before Texting and Social Media?

Before the digital era, we would have just said "Need A Life" instead of using the abbreviation NAL.

Example of NAL Used in a Text

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