IYKYK

What Does IYKYK Mean in a Text?

image for IYKYK showing a shush face

IYKYK means "If You Know, You Know." This abbreviation is typically used on social media and in text messaging to indicate that a message or the content being referred to has an inside joke or a hidden meaning that only a select group of people would understand. It suggests that the information is somewhat exclusive or understood only by those who are in the know or have shared a common experience. This is usually done without providing any further explanation. For example:

  • So that's where Jo's trousers got to! #IYKYK.
  • Never mind what day it is, what year is it?! #IYKYK.
IYKYK is the password to a clandestine club of understanding. It's exclusive, yet inclusive; cryptic, yet revealing.

Image for IYKYK

When I write IYKYK, I mean this:

meaning of IYKYK

IYKYK usually refers to an inside joke or a hidden meaning that only a select group of people would understand.

Summary of Key Points

"If You Know, You Know" is the most common definition for IYKYK on Snapchat, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.
IYKYK
Definition:If You Know, You Know
Type:Abbreviation
Guessability:guessability level 4

4: Difficult to guess

Typical Users:typical user
Adults and Teenagers

An Academic Look at IYKYK

IYKYK is classified as an initialism abbreviation, as it is pronounced one letter at a time. Other examples of initialisms are:
  • AI - "Artificial Intelligence."
  • EW - "Electronic Warfare."
Initialisms are different to acronyms, which are abbreviations spoken as words.

Example of IYKYK Used in a Text

IYKYK
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See Also

Search the Letter I AYK (as you know) DYK (did you know?, do you know?) DYKWIM (do you know what I mean?) IYKWIM (if you know what I mean) LYK (let you know, like) NAHMEAN (you know what I mean?) UKWIM (you know what I mean) YKWIS (you know what I'm saying?)

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