B4YKI

What Does B4YKI Mean in a Text?

The Quick Answer

B4YKI means "Before You Know It."

More Observations...

B4YKI is an "internet slang term" used to imply that something happens or will happen surprisingly quickly, i.e., before you have time to realise what is happening. Of note:

• "Before You Know It" is also abbreviated as BYKI.
• "Before You Know It" is the title of a 2013 documentary film, directed by PJ Raval, that follows the lives of three gay seniors.

Image for B4YKI

When I write B4YKI, I mean this:

You'll be dead B4YKI!

Summary of Key Points

"Before You Know It" is, by far, the most common meaning for B4YKI when it is used in a text. (Bear in mind that it could have another meaning if used in a different context.)

B4YKI
Definition:	Before You Know It
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	3: Guessable
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Examples of B4YKI in Sentences

Here are examples of B4YKI in conversations:

• Patient: Will it hurt?
• Doctor: Don't worry. You will be out of here and worrying about the bill B4YKI.

• Rumors are like fires: Nobody admits to starting them and, B4YKI, they're out of control.

An Academic Look at B4YKI

B4YKI 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 the word, 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 might have said something like "before you can say snap" or "in two shakes of a lamb's tail" instead of using B4YKI.

Using Numbers in Texts

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

Example of B4YKI Used in a Text

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