WDUM

What Does WDUM Mean in a Text?

The Quick Answer

WDUM (What Do You Mean?) is mostly used in its literal sense (i.e., to ask for an explanation of something previously said).

More Detail...

WDUM can also be used to recognize a cheeky suggestion (e.g, an innuendo). In this second meaning, WDUM carries a connotation like "Me? Whatever do you mean?" For example:

• Tony: You're not unpopular with the ladies.
• Jordan: WDUM?
(Here, Person A is implying that Person B has had lots of girlfriends, and Person B is recognizing Person A's allusion to this fact.)

Image for WDUM

When I write WDUM, I mean this:

Actor Leslie Phillips often played cads who would say lines like "I'm sure I have no idea what you mean, madam" after a deliberate innuendo.

Summary of Key Points

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

WDUM
Definition:	What Do You Mean?
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	2: Quite easy to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Examples of WDUM in Sentences

Here are examples of WDUM in conversations:

• Tony: I cannot assemble this Ikea wardrobe.
• Jordan: WAEFRD!
• Tony: WDUM?
• Jordan: When all else fails, read directions!
(Here, WDUM is in its literal sense.)

• Tony: Is that a new shirt? Are you on the prowl?
• Jordan: WDUM?
(Here, WDUM is being used with the connotation "Me? Whatever do you mean?".)

An Academic Look at WDUM

WDUM 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 "WDUM?" or "WDUM". WDUM is an initialism abbreviation. Technically, this means it is pronounced using its individual letters (i.e., Dublyu Dee Yoo Em), but as this is harder to say than "What do you mean," it is not often spoken using its letters. In other words, the abbreviation WDUM is for efficiency in writing and not efficiency in speech.

What Did We Say before Texting and Social Media?

Before the digital era, we might have written something like "Please explain yourself" or "I'm sure I have no idea what you mean, sir" instead of WDUM.

Example of WDUM Used in a Text

You might also like...