ILYAM

What Does ILYAM Mean in a Text?

Expressing Love in a Text

There are over 100 novel ways to express love in a text message. Some of them were invented by the iKids (i.e., Millennials, Generation Z, and Generation A), making them just a few decades old, but many of them have been around for centuries. Here's the one that matters to you: ILYAM means "I Love You As a Mate."

More Observations...

The abbreviation ILYAM can be considered a diplomatic way of making it clear that you have no interest in a romantic relationship. It is sometimes used as a response to the abbreviation ILY and other such declarations of love. The use of the word "mate" in the abbreviation ILYAM can cause confusion in the USA and amongst non-native English speakers, as the word is officially defined as "the sexual partner of a bird or other animal." However, outside of the USA and particularly in Britain, Australia and New Zealand, mate is slang for "friend." ILYAM is another way of writing the abbreviation ILYAAF (I Love You as a Friend).

Image for ILYAM

When I write ILYAM, I mean this:

"I Love You As A Mate"

Summary of Key Points

"I Love You As a Mate" is, by far, the most common meaning for ILYAM when it is used in a text. (Bear in mind that it could have another meaning if used in a different context.)

ILYAM
Definition:	I Love You As a Mate
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	3: Guessable
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Examples of ILYAM in Sentences

Here are examples of ILYAM in conversations:

Chris: You are very special to me. There is no-one else I would rather be with.
Celeste: Thanks Chris. You are very special to me too. ILYAM.

Wayne: I don't know what I'd do without you. I think I love you.
Pam: Thanks Wayne. ILYAM too.

An Academic Look at ILYAM

ILYAM is an initialism abbreviation. Technically, this means it is pronounced using its individual letters (i.e., Aye Ell Wye Eh Emm), but as this is harder to say than "I Love You As A Mate" it is not often uttered using its letters. In other words, the abbreviation ILYAM is for efficiency in writing and not efficiency in speech. The abbreviation ILYAM is normally used as a standalone declarative sentence (i.e., a statement) with the meaning "I Love You As A Mate." ILYAM is not often used as another part of speech within a wider sentence.