HM

What Does HM Mean in a Text?

The Quick Answer

HM means "High Maintenance," "Let Me Think," "No?" and "Her Majesty."

High Maintenance

The abbreviation HM is widely used used with the meaning "High Maintenance" to refer to a person (usually female) with expensive tastes. In this context, HM normally indicates that such a person will be expensive to date.

Let Me Think

The abbreviation HM is also used to represent the sound some people make when thinking. Typically written or printed as Hmm or Hmmm, it is further abbreviated in text-based conversations to HM.

No?

HM is also used with the meaning "No?" at the end of a (usually rhetorical) question, in order to elicit agreement. In this context HM is more often spoken than written.

Her Majesty

HM is widely used throughout the English-speaking world, but particularly in the UK, as a written abbreviation for "Her Majesty" (or "His Majesty"). HM often precedes the name of the Monarch (e.g., HM Queen Elizabeth). It also precedes the name of many British government departments (e.g., HM Government, HM Armed Forces, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons).

Image for HM

When I write HM, I mean this:

HM also means "High Maintenance," "No?" and "Her Majesty."

Summary of Key Points

We have summarized the key points in the table below:

HM
Definition:	High Maintenance
Type:	Slang Word (Jargon)
Guessability:	1: Easy to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Second Definition for HM

HM also means "Let Me Think."

HM
Definition:	Let Me Think
Type:	Slang Word (Jargon)
Guessability:	1: Easy to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Third Definition for HM

HM also means "No?".

HM
Definition:	No?
Type:	Slang Word (Jargon)
Guessability:	1: Easy to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Fourth Definition for HM

HM also means "Her Majesty."

HM
Definition:	Her Majesty
Type:	Word
Guessability:	1: Easy to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Examples of HM in Sentences

Here are examples of HM in conversations:

• Sam: Are you still dating Zoe?
• Alan: No way! Talk about HM! Jeff Bezos couldn't keep that girl happy!
(Here HM means "High Maintenance.")

• Ria: Marrying Prince Harry. What a fairy tale!
• Adam: Having HM Queen Elizabeth as your granny-in-law. What a nightmare!
(Here HM means "Her Majesty.")

• Ryan: She is coming. Will you be able to make it?
• Adam: HM... Let me sleep on it.
(Here HM means "Let Me Think.")

• Rosco: When it's done, I will take it to the boss.
• Emma: I get it. I do all the work and you get all the credit, HM?
(Here HM means "No? ".)

An Academic Look at HM

"High Maintenance" is a slang phrase. Slang refers to words, phrases and uses of language that are regarded as very informal and which are often restricted to a special context or a particular group of users. When used with the meanings "Let Me Think" or "No?", HM is classified as an interjection. An interjection is a word added to a sentence to convey an emotion or a sentiment such as surprise, disgust, joy, excitement, enthusiasm or indecision. For example:

• You mean me, no?
("No" is the interjection.)
• Hmm, I'm not sure.
("Hmm" is the interjection.)

An interjection is not grammatically related to any other part of the sentence. When used with the meaning "Her Majesty," HM is classified as an initialism abbreviation, as it is pronounced using its individual letters (i.e., "Aitch Emm").

What Did We Say before Texting and Social Media?

Before the digital era, we would have just said something like "Let me think" or "No?" instead of using the abbreviation HM. The use of HM to mean "Her Majesty" predates the digital era.

Example of HM Used in a Text

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