WBY

What Does WBY Mean in a Text?

The Quick Answer

WBY means "What 'Bout You?." The abbreviation WBY is used with the meaning "What 'Bout You?," which most often translates as "Hello, how are you?."

More Detail...

WBY is often used as a standalone greeting, in the same way as terms such as AITE and IGHT, which both mean "Alright?." ("What 'Bout You?" is a common greeting in Ireland.) In the same way as WAU (What About You?), WBY can also be used to inquire about a person's view on a topic (i.e., to mean "What do you think?"). (See examples below.)

Image for WBY

When I write WBY, I mean this:

WBY means "What 'Bout You?."

Summary of Key Points

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

WBY
Definition:	What 'Bout You?
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	4: Difficult to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Examples of WBY in Sentences

Here are examples of WBY in conversations:

• Jim: WBY?
• Joan: Fine thanks. WBY?
(Here WBY is being used with the meaning "(Hello), how are you?")

• Sue: I don't think he's got any chance of winning again. WBY?
• Helen: You never know. Anything is possible in this crazy world.
(Here WBY is being used with the meaning "What do you think?")

An Academic Look at WBY

WBY is an initialism abbreviation. This means it is pronounced using its individual letters (i.e., "Dublyoo Bee Wye"). (Initialisms contrast with acronyms, which are spoken like words.)

WBY plays the role of an interrogative sentence (i.e., a question), but it is commonly seen without a question mark. In other words, it can be written "WBY?" or "WBY."

What Did We Say before Texting and Social Media?

Before the digital era, we would have just said "How 'Bout You?" instead of using WBY.

Example of WBY Used in a Text

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