TWT is a common slang abbreviation that stands for “That’s What’s Up” or “That’s What They Want.” It’s used to express agreement, approval, or excitement about something. This slang term originated in Black culture and hip hop in the 1990s and has become widely used in digital communication and social media.
Meaning and Origin of TWT
The slang abbreviation TWT stands for:
- That’s What’s Up
- That’s What They Want
It is used as a shorter way of agreeing with, approving of, or expressing enthusiasm about something that another person has said or done. For example:
Person 1: I just got tickets to the sold out concert tonight!
Person 2: TWT! That’s so awesome!
Here, Person 2 uses TWT to express their excitement about Person 1 getting concert tickets.
This slang term is believed to have originated in Black culture and hip hop in the 1990s. The earliest known use in print is from a 1992 rap song titled “TWT” by AMG. In the context of the song lyrics, TWT stands for “That’s What’s Up.”
Hip hop and African American origins
Many slang terms and cultural idioms used in mainstream English today originated from hip hop and Black culture. TWT emerged in hip hop lyrics and African American Vernacular English (AAVE) in urban communities before gaining widespread use through music, media, and internet memes.
The use of the abbreviation rather than spelling out the full phrase reflects the conversational style of hip hop and AAVE. Shorthand expressions like TWT became popular for their efficiency and emphasis.
Modern Usage of TWT
While TWT originated decades ago, it continues to be widely used in digital communication and social media today. Some current contexts include:
Commenting on social media
TWT is often used in comments on social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok to quickly express approval or excitement. For example:
Joe: Just got back from a crazy night out! #LA
Jess: TWT! Looks awesome
Reacting to memes
The slang term is commonly used as a reaction to funny or relatable memes. The TWT comment affirms that “that’s what’s up” or that the meme resonates with the commenter’s perspective.
Talking about desires and goals
TWT can be used when talking about personal desires, goals, or things someone wants to do or achieve. For example:
Mary: After I graduate, I want to travel around Europe for a year.
Sara: TWT! I’d love to do that too.
Here, Sara uses TWT to convey shared interest in Mary’s goal of traveling Europe.
Agreeing in text messages/chat
In personal conversations over text, messaging apps, email, and other digital communication, people often use TWT as a quick way to express agreement. For example:
Joe: I’m thinking of asking Jessica out on a date. Do you think I should?
Mike: TWT bro! I say go for it.
Variations and Related Slang
There are a few common variations of the TWT abbreviation:
- TWTW – That’s what they want
- TWTS – That’s what’s up
- TITS – That’s what I’m talking about
Some similar slang terms and abbreviations include:
- YAAAS – An enthusiastic expression of approval, like “yes!”
- LOL – Laughing out loud
- IMO – In my opinion
- IDK – I don’t know
- TBH – To be honest
So while someone may write “TWT!” or “LOL!” in response to the same meme or joke, the TWT conveys a sense of not just laughing, but approving and resonating with the sentiment.
TWT in Sentences
Here are some examples of how TWT is used naturally in sentences:
- Brad just announced he’s taking me to Hawaii for our anniversary next month – TWT!
- She really told her boss off in the meeting today – TWT lol!
- I heard Mark Zuckerburg is stepping down as CEO. TWTW!
- TWT – I agree 100% with what you’re saying.
- Reading your post made me so happy! TWT 🙂
As you can see, TWT is often used to add emphasis and energy to express strong agreement and approval. The flexibility of slang allows it to be adapted across contexts.
Conclusion
In summary, TWT is a slang abbreviation meaning “That’s what’s up” or “That’s what they want.” It originated in 1990s hip hop and African American culture as a cool, quick way to convey approval and excitement. TWT continues to thrive as a social media and texting slang term used to comment on memes, react to desires, and voice agreement. Part of the appeal is the efficiency of the shorthand to add emphasis to one’s perspectives. So the next time you see TWT, you can interpret it as a sign of shared enthusiasm!
| Variation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| TWT | That’s what’s up |
| TWTW | That’s what they want |
| TWTS | That’s what’s up |
| TITS | That’s what I’m talking about |
Related Slang Terms
- YAAAS – Yes!/I strongly agree
- LOL – Laughing out loud
- IMO – In my opinion
- IDK – I don’t know
- TBH – To be honest