SOS

What Does SOS Mean in a Text?

The Quick Answer

SOS means "Save Our Souls" or "Save Our Ship"

More Detail...

It is the international distress signal. The letters SOS are the international distress signal, used by shipping when in immediate danger and widely recognized as a cry for help, whether spoken, sent as a text message, or by flashing a light or arranging objects to spell out the letters. For example:

SOS. We are sinking three nautical miles southeast of the Portland Head light.
SOS. I have run out of hair gel. Has anyone got some spare?

The letters SOS were adopted as the international distress signal in Morse code at the International Radiotelegraphic Convention, held in Berlin in 1906. Subsequently, the meanings "Save Our Souls" and "Save Our Ship" were ascribed to SOS, but these are both unofficial definitions. SOS was chosen because it is easy to send and could not be confused with other messages. In Morse code, SOS is sent as an unbroken sequence of letters with no spaces (i.e., as ...---...). Prior to 1906, the most widely recognized distress signal in use was CQD.

Image for SOS

When I write SOS, I mean this:

"Save Our Souls"

Summary of Key Points for First Definition

"Save Our Souls" is, by far, the most common meaning for SOS when it is used in a text. (Bear in mind that it could have another meaning if used in a different context.)