L8

What Does L8 Mean in a Text?

The Quick Answer

L8 means "Late."

More Observations...

This term uses the sound of the number 8 to replace the last three letters of the word, i.e., it uses the sound "ate." L8 is a quick way to let someone know you are not running on time. L8 can also be used to describe something that happened near to the end a period of time, e.g., "they won the game with a late goal," letting the reader know that the goal was scored close to the end of the game.

Image for L8

When I write L8, I mean this:

L8 means late.

Summary of Key Points

We have summarized the key points in the table below:

L8
Definition:	Late
Type:	Internet Slang Term
Guessability:	1: Easy to guess
Typical Users:	Adults, Teenagers, and Under 13s

Examples of L8 in Sentences

Here are examples of L8 in conversations:

• Tony: I got held up at work, will be 5 minutes L8.
• Jordan: Don't worry, I'm stuck in traffic so won't be there on time either.

• Tony: Why are you always L8?
• Jordan: Sorry, I couldn't find my car keys this time!

An Academic Look at L8

L8 is defined as an "internet slang term" by our team because some of its characters are used as substitutes for letters. Many "slang terms" were introduced to reduce the number of key strokes required to write words, but since the arrival of predictive texting and keyboards on mobile devices this efficiency is less important. However, "internet slang terms" are still regularly used to make messages more entertaining or to express individuality. "Slang terms" differ from icons because they are not pictorial representations. L8 is typically used as an adjective (i.e., a describing word). For example:

• She was L8 to the class.
(Here, the adjective L8 modifies the noun class .)

What Did We Say before Texting and Social Media?

Before the digital era, we would have just said "late" instead of L8.

Using Numbers in Texts

This video shows the different ways that numbers are used in "text speak":

Example of L8 Used in a Text

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