Home » Texting Abbreviations and Their Meanings » YOLO Acronym: Definition, Meaning, and How to Use It

YOLO Acronym: Definition, Meaning, and How to Use It

By Elisha Baba

|

Updated on

Your friend signed off an email with the term YOLO, and you aren’t sure what it means. YOLO is an acronym often used in texting and online messaging.

What does YOLO mean?

“YOLO” is an acronym for the words “you only live once” and it is often used when the texter wants to let the recipient know that they did something because they knew it would be their only chance to do so. It can also be used to convey a certain sense of freedom.

YOLO is used to shorten text messages, or tweets on the social media platform Twitter. It has become so popular in recent years, however, that many people say the letters YOLO in social settings, and it has become a term all on its own.

YOLO meaning

How to use YOLO

  • “You should give it a try YOLO.”
  • “Yes it was dangerous but YOLO.”
  • “Don’t let that hold you back YOLO.”
  • “It was $200 but YOLO.”
  • YOLO can be used as a response when you are in a state of abandon and not caring if your actions have future consequences.

Using YOLO the right way

As far as acronyms go, there are very few rules for using YOLO and the situations you choose to use it in can be any situation where you are remembering that you only live on this earth once.

It is not appropriate, however, to use YOLO when someone has died, or in other tragic situations. It is a lighthearted term only.

YOLO Variations

Yolo is one of the few acronyms that doesn’t have a variation. Makes sense because you can’t only live once, twice.

Should you worry about your child using YOLO?

YOLO is a harmless texting term, and it is unlikely your child will get into trouble while using it. It is important to remind your child that saying YOLO doesn’t make them invincible and they shouldn’t do dangerous things in the name of only living once.


Other Text Abbreviations You Should Know:

SMH
LOL
TTYL
SUS
CAP
FIRE
SOML
ROFL
FTW
KMS
FML
IRL