W@

What Does W@ Mean?

The Quick Answer

W@ means "What."

More Detail...

The "internet slang term" W@ is typically used to question a comment or action by someone else, but can be used to replace the word "What" in every context (for example: "W@ the doctor ordered" or "W@ time is it?").

Image for W@

When I write W@, I mean this:

W@ means "What."

Summary of Key Points

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

W@
Definition:	What
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	2: Quite easy to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Examples of W@ in Sentences

Here are examples of W@ in conversations:

• Geoff: I bet you I could stop gambling.
• Hanif: W@? You'd better re-think that.

• Terry: "Excuse me, can you tell me the time? I'd check my watch but I can't take my eyes off you.".
• Rachel: W@? That is so cheesy.

An Academic Look at W@

W@ is classified by our team as an "internet slang term" as opposed to an initialism abbreviation or an acronym. Initially, "internet slang terms" were introduced for brevity, but, particularly with the advent of predictive texting and on-screen keyboards, they are now mostly employed for fun. "Slang terms" differ from icons because they are not pictorial representations. W@ commonly 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 "W@?" or "W@".

What Did We Say before Texting and Social Media?

Before the digital era, we might have said something like "what?" or "pardon?" instead of W@.

Example of W@ Used in a Text

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