HBTY

What Does HBTY Mean in a Text?

The Quick Answer

HBTY (Happy Birthday To You) is used to send a birthday greeting.

More Detail...

"Happy Birthday To You" is the opening line of the song "Happy Birthday to You" (or "Happy Birthday"), which is the most recognized song in the English language. If you're planning on singing this song, you should be careful. The song is copyrighted until 2030, and unauthorized public performances of the song are technically illegal unless royalties are paid to Warner. The use of HBTY is typically triggered by an auto-reminder that a contact (e.g., on Skype or social media) has a birthday.

Image for HBTY

When I write HBTY, I mean this:

HBTY is the first line of the song "Happy Birthday To You" (the copyright of which is routinely ignored).

Summary of Key Points

"Happy Birthday to You" is, by far, the most common meaning for HBTY when it is used in a text. (Bear in mind that it could have another meaning if used in a different context.)

HBTY
Definition:	Happy Birthday to You
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	2: Quite easy to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Examples of HBTY in Sentences

Here is an example of HBTY in a conversation:

• Charlie: HBTY!
• Jordan: You forgot, didn't you? Did it just pop up on Skype?
• Charlie: Guilty as charged.

An Academic Look at HBTY

HBTY is used as a standalone declarative sentence (i.e., a statement), which best translates as "I wish you a happy birthday." In other words, it is not used as another part of speech within a wider sentence. HBTY is an initialism abbreviation. Technically, this means it is pronounced using its individual letters (i.e., Aich Bee Tee Why), but as this is harder to say than "Happy birthday to you," it is not often spoken using its letters. In other words, the abbreviation HBTY is for efficiency in writing and not efficiency in speech.

What Did We Say before Texting and Social Media?

Before the digital era, we might have said something like "birthday greetings" instead of HBTY.

Example of HBTY Used in a Text

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