ASL

What Does ASL Mean in a Text?

The Quick Answer

The abbreviation ASL is commonly used with the meanings "Age? Sex? Location?", "As Hell!", and "American Sign Language."

Age? Sex? Location?

ASL is most commonly used in online chat and text messaging with the meaning "Age? Sex? Location?" to determine a person's key personal details. For example:

Sam: ASL?
Jo: 12 Male Denver
Sam: Denver? My brother lives near there. He owns a pet shop.
Jo: I'd love a dog.

Note: In this context, ASL is usually an innocent prelude to an appropriate conversation. However, as the answers to ASL could divulge potentially useful information to an internet predator or groomer, the parents of young children should be aware of what ASL means.

As Hell!

ASL is also used with the meaning "As Hell!" to add emphasis to an adjective (a describing word). For example:

Susi: He is fit ASL!
Karl: He is as married ASL.
Susi: That's a real shame. I am as disappointed ASL.
Karl: If it helps, I am as available ASL.

American Sign Language

ASL also means "American Sign Language." This is a complete, natural language that is used throughout the US and English-speaking regions of Canada. It is the primary language of many North Americans who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Video Summarizing ASL

Here's a video summarizing ASL:

Image for ASL

When I write ASL, I mean this:

ASL also means "As Hell!" and "American Sign Language."

Summary of Key Points

First Definition of ASL

"Age, Sex, Location?" is the most common definition for ASL in texting. as well as on dating sites.

ASL
Definition:	Age, Sex, Location?
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	2: Quite easy to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Second Definition of ASL

"As Hell!" is another common definition for ASL.

ASL or asl (lowercase)
Definition:	As Hell!
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	3: Guessable
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Third Definition of ASL

ASL also means "American Sign Language."

ASL or asl (lowercase)
Definition:	American Sign Language
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	4: Difficult to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

An Academic Look at ASL

When used with the meanings "Age, Sex Location?" and "American Sign Language," ASL is classified as an initialism abbreviation because it is pronounced using its individual letters (i.e., "Aye Ess Ell")

Even though in "Age, Sex Location?", each letter of ASL plays the role of an interrogative sentence (i.e., a question), it is commonly seen without a question mark. In other words, it can be written ASL? or ASL. When used with the meaning "As Hell!", ASL is a contraction. Some contractions, like ASL, use letters of the fully expanded word in sequence. Other contractions, like Dr, use letters from the start and end of the fully expanded version. Contractions can also be formed by replacing a letter or letters with an apostrophe (e.g., can't).

Example of ASL Used in a Text

ASL

ASL