RU

What Does RU Mean in a Text?

The Quick Answer

RU usually means "Are You?"

More Detail...

The abbreviation RU is a quick way of asking "Are You?". It can be used as a standalone term, but most often it is used as part of a longer question. For example:

Janet: RU busy?
John: Not really. RU?
Janet: Nah.

The abbreviation RU can also mean one of the following:

Ru (The symbol for ruthenium)
.ru (The web suffix for the Russian Federation)
RU (Rugby Union)
RU (International car registration for Burundi)

Image for RU

When I write RU, I mean this:

The image shows a dog with a quizzical expression.

Summary of Key Points

"Are You?" is, by far, the most common meaning for RU when it is used in a text. (Bear in mind that it could have another meaning if used in a different context.)

RU
Definition:	Are You?
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	1: Easy to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Examples of RU in Sentences

Here are examples of RU in conversations:

Ryan: RU leaving early?
Steve: Yes, I need to miss the traffic tonight.

Wendy: I'm the classiest person in this office.
Lisa: RU sure?

An Academic Look at RU

As the R in RU represents the phonetic sound of the whole word "Are," RU is classified by our team as an "internet slang term" as opposed to an initialism abbreviation or an acronym. Initially, "internet slang terms" were introduced for brevity, but, particularly with the advent of predictive texting and on-screen keyboards, they are now mostly employed for fun. "Slang terms" differ from icons because they are not pictorial representations.