Spanish Texting Slang and Abbreviations (WhatsApp Guide)
Decode Spanish texts: q, xq, tqm, jajaja, ntp, bss and more. The abbreviations and emojis Spanish speakers use on WhatsApp, with examples.
By Ayoub Farid · · 2 min read
Family group chats and WhatsApp messages in Spanish are full of abbreviations that no textbook teaches. Here's your decoder.
The most common abbreviations
| Text | Full form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| q / k | que | that / what |
| xq / pq | porque / por qué | because / why |
| tb / tmb | también | also |
| tqm | te quiero mucho | love you lots |
| tq | te quiero | love you |
| bss / bs | besos | kisses |
| ntp | no te preocupes | don't worry |
| nps | no pasa nada | no problem |
| pf / xfa | por favor | please |
| grax / grs | gracias | thanks |
| dnd | dónde | where |
| msj | mensaje | message |
| x | por | for / by |
| d | de | of |
| salu2 | saludos | greetings |
| finde | fin de semana | weekend |
| cdo | cuando | when |
| hla | hola | hi |
| ok / oki / va | — | okay (va is common in Mexico) |
| sale | — | okay (Mexico) |
Laughter
- jajaja — Spanish "hahaha" (j sounds like English h)
- jejeje — giggle
- jsjsjs — keyboard-smash laugh, popular with younger people
- XD — laughing
Family chat phrases
- ¿Ya llegaste? — Did you get there?
- Avísame cuando llegues. — Let me know when you arrive.
- Bendiciones. — Blessings (very common from grandparents and parents).
- Buenos días, familia ☀️ — the classic morning message.
- Feliz cumpleaños 🎉 — see happy birthday in Spanish.
- Dios te bendiga. — God bless you.
Voice notes
In many Spanish-speaking families, voice notes are more common than texting. They're also excellent speaking practice: reply to a relative's voice note in Spanish, even if it's short.
Should you text in abbreviations?
With friends and family, sure. In work messages, write in full. And if you're learning, writing complete words helps your spelling.
Example chat
- Mamá: Hla mija, ¿ya llegaste?
- You: Sí, ya llegué. Tqm 😘
- Mamá: Ok, bss. Avísame si necesitas algo.
- You: Va, grax!
From texting to talking
Many learners can text in Spanish but freeze on calls. If that's you, practice talking out loud with Lolo, an AI Spanish tutor that calls you in real situations, like a call with abuela. See Spanish phone call phrases and I love you in Spanish.
Frequently asked questions
What does "tqm" mean?
Te quiero mucho, "I love you a lot". Used with family, friends and partners.
Why do Spanish speakers write "jajaja"?
In Spanish, j sounds like the English h, so jajaja is "hahaha".
What does "xq" mean?
Porque (because) or por qué (why), depending on context.
