B4

What Does B4 Mean in a Text?

The Quick Answer

B4 means "Before."

More Observations...

In text speak, B4 commonly means "Before," as in "prior to," "in preference to," or "in front of." For example:

• He took off his hat B4 entering the room.
(In this sentence, B4 means prior to.)
• She would die B4 admitting she is wrong.
(In this sentence, B4 means in preference to.)
• She studied the scene B4 her.
(In this sentence, B4 means in front of.)

The actual meaning of B4 will be determined by the context in which it is used. Of note, B4 can refer to vitamin B4, also known as Adenine, which is one of the eight vitamins that belong to the B-complex of vitamins.

Image for B4

When I write B4, I mean this:

The night sky, just B4 dawn.

Summary of Key Points

We have summarized the key points in the table below:

B4
Definition:	Before
Type:	Slang Word (Jargon)
Guessability:	1: Easy to guess
Typical Users:	Adults, Teenagers, and Under 13s

Examples of B4 in Sentences

Here are examples of B4 in jokes:

• Think B4 you laugh at your girlfriend's choices. You're one of them.

• B4 I criticize a man, I like to walk a mile in his shoes. That way, when I do criticize him, I'm a mile away and I have his shoes.

An Academic Look at B4

B4 is defined as an "internet slang term" by our team because some of its characters are used as substitutes for letters. Most "slang terms" were introduced to reduce the number of key strokes required to write a word or phrase, but since the arrival of predictive texting and keyboards on mobile devices, this efficiency is no longer required. Nevertheless, "slang terms" are still regularly used to make messages more entertaining or to express individuality. "Slang terms" differ from icons because they are not pictorial representations.

What Did We Say before Texting and Social Media?

Before the digital era, we would have just written "before" or something like "prior to" or "in preference to" instead of using B4.

Using Numbers in Texts

This video shows the different ways that numbers are used in "text speak":

Example of B4 Used in a Text

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