IWIK

What Does IWIK Mean in a Text?

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The Quick Answer

IWIK means "I Wish I Knew."

More Observations...

I wish I knew is a response to a question. It can carry one of the following connotations:

I'm not going to do your research for you.
I wasn't included in the original conversation, so don't ask me.
I'm not that well informed.
How am I supposed to know?
Who actually knows?

Image for IWIK

When I write IWIK, I mean this:

The term "I wish I knew" (IWIK) is often used to shut down a request for information. When used in this way, it really means "I'm not doing your research for you."

Summary of Key Points

"I Wish I Knew" is, by far, the most common meaning for IWIK when it is used in a text. (Bear in mind that it could have another meaning if used in a different context.)

IWIK
Definition:	I Wish I Knew
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	4: Difficult to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Examples of IWIK in Sentences

Here are examples of IWIK in conversations:

Tony: What is the answer to question 6?
Jordan: IWIK.

Tony: What did Sarah say to John?
Jordan: IWIK.

Tony: When will these problems end?
Jordan: IWIK.

An Academic Look at IWIK

IWIK is used as a standalone declarative sentence (i.e., a statement). In other words, it is not used as a part of speech in a wider sentence. Of note, IWIK is an initialism abbreviation. Technically, this means it is pronounced using its individual letters (i.e., I Dublyu I Kay), but as this is harder to say than "I wish I knew," it is not often uttered using its letters. In other words, the abbreviation IWIK is for efficiency in writing and not efficiency in speech.