WDYM

What Does WDYM Mean in a Text?

The Quick Answer

WDYM means "What Do You Mean?."

More Detail...

The abbreviation WDYM is used on chat forums and in texts with the meaning "What Do You Mean?" as a straightforward question, seeking clarification. It is also commonly used by fans of British rap music searching for the lyrics of two rap "gangs," both of whom wrote songs called WDYM. In mid-2018, the rap artist Oboy (KuKu) entered into a "dissing" match with members of the rap group 410. Both groups released songs called WDYM, that specifically dissed members of the other group. The general premise of the arguments was that the other group didn't live up to the BADMAN (gangster) persona that they rap about. You can read Oboy's (EXPLICIT) lyrics and hear the song here. You can read 410's (EXPLICIT) lyrics and hear the song here.

Video Summarizing WDYM

Here's a short video explaining how to use WDYM:

Image for WDYM

When I write WDYM, I mean this:

WDYM is also the title of a couple of rap songs, from competing groups.

Summary of Key Points

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

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

Examples of WDYM in Sentences

Here are examples of WDYM in conversations:

Jack: That's truly amazing!
Tony: WDYM?
Jack: My screensaver!
Tony: Ah, sorry. I wasn't looking or listening. Shame I missed it.

Ali: Well, that's the end of an era.
Claire: WDYM?
Ali: I've taken out my eyebrow bar and removed my nose ring.
Claire: Welcome to maturity.

An Academic Look at WDYM

WDYM is an initialism abbreviation. Technically, this means it is pronounced using its individual letters (i.e., Dublyoo Dee Why Emm), but as this is harder to say than "What Do You Mean," it is not often said using its letters. The abbreviation WDYM is used for efficiency in writing and not efficiency in speech. WDYM plays the role of an interrogative sentence (i.e., a question), but it is commonly seen without a question mark. It can be written "WDYM?" or "WDYM". (Ironically, just typing a question mark on its own ("?") would have the same effect as typing WYDM, with or without the question mark.)