SUP

What Does SUP Mean in a Text?

The Quick Answer

SUP means "What's Up?," "Stand-Up Paddleboarding," "Support," and "Drink."

What's Up?

image for SUP, showing two girls meeting

"Sup" is most commonly used in text messaging as an abbreviation of the phrase "What's up?", which is widely used with the meaning "What's new?" or "How are you?". Even though it appears to be a question, it is typically used as a greeting (i.e., a way of saying hello), similar to "Alright?", and is often typed without a question mark. When used in this way, it can also be answered with "sup." For example:

John: Sup, man.
Tony: Sup, bro?

Ella: Sup, dude.
Aaron: Hey, how are you doing?

In both of these conversations, no-one expects a detailed answer.

Stand-Up Paddleboarding

image for SUP, showing a stand-up paddleboard

SUP is now widely used with the meaning "Stand-Up Paddleboarding." It is a popular water sport where participants stand on a large board and use a paddle to move through water. It combines surfing and kayaking elements, offering a full-body workout and a cool way to explore lakes, rivers, and oceans. SUP is accessible to all skill levels, promoting balance, strength, and relaxation. (For many people, it is also a great introduction to cold water swimming!)

Support

"Sup" is also shorthand for "support." In this context, it signifies backing, assistance, or encouragement, especially in a gaming context. For example:

Player 1: I need sup here!
Player 2: I'm on the way!

Check out our comprehensive list of gaming terms.

Drink

In the north of England, especially in the county of Yorkshire, "sup" is common slang for "drink". For example:

Bartholomew: SUP up lad, we're leaving.
Percy: Hold your horses! I've just got here.

Image for SUP

When I write SUP, I mean this:

SUP also means "Stand-Up Paddleboarding," "support," and "drink."

Video Summarizing SUP

Here's a short video explaining how SUP is used:

Summary of Key Points

First Definition for SUP

"What's Up?" is, by far, the most common meaning for SUP when it is used in a text. (Bear in mind that it could have another meaning if used in a different context.)

SUP
Definition:	What's Up?
Type:	Word (Slang)
Guessability:	2: Quite easy to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Second Definition for SUP

"Stand-Up Paddleboarding" is another common definition for SUP.

SUP
Definition:	Stand-Up Paddleboarding
Type:	Abbreviation and Acronym
Guessability:	4: Difficult to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Third Definition for SUP

"Support" is another definition for SUP.

SUP
Definition:	Support
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	3: Guessable
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Fourth Definition for SUP

"Drink" is another definition for SUP.

SUP
Definition:	Drink
Type:	Word (Slang)
Guessability:	2: Quite easy to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

An Academic Look at SUP

image of a teacher wearing a mortar board.

When used with the meanings "What's Up?" and "Stand-Up Paddleboarding," SUP is an acronym, (i.e., an abbreviation spoken like a word). In the case of "What's Up?." It is also a contraction of the interrogative sentence "What is up?". It commonly stands alone and is not usually followed by a question mark. (It is also a contraction when used with the meaning "Support.")

When used to mean "Drink," SUP is classed as slang. Slang refers to words, phrases and uses of language that are regarded as very informal and which are often restricted to a special context or a particular group of users.

Example of SUP Used in a Text

SUP

This page is maintained by the Cyber Definitions Editorial Team.

SUP