People often shorten words or phrases when using messaging apps like Snapchat (or texting), so they don’t have to type as much. For instance, many people use the acronym WTM instead of the entire saying. But what does WTM stand for, and when should you use it?
WTM typically stands for “What’s The Move.” This is usually used when the sender asks for advice or wants to see if you have any plans. However, WTM can also stand for “What’s The Matter” or “Whatever That Means,” so you may have to use context to figure out what they mean.
Knowing how to tell the difference between the different meanings of WTM can be a little tricky. So let’s go through the instances where you can use WTM and other common Snapchat acronyms to express yourself clearly.
What is the Most Common Meaning of WTM?
The most common meaning of WTM is “What’s the Move?” It is typically used by a speaker who doesn’t know what to do. It is essentially a short way of asking for help determining what they should do in a particular situation.
The most common way this saying is used is to confirm plans. For example, if someone is trying to determine what they want to do on a Saturday night, they’ll probably text their friends “WTM” to see if anyone else has any plans they can join in on. In this case, the correct response would be to send them what you’re doing that night and whether or not they can come.
Another way someone can use WTM as “What’s the Move” is when asking for advice. For example, if you have a friend currently in trouble at work or school, they may send you a message detailing what happened, and then they’ll end the message with “WTM?” This is essentially them asking for advice on how to handle the situation.
What Else Can it Mean?
As we mentioned in the last section, the most common meaning of WTM is “What’s The Move.” However, that is not the only thing WTM can stand for.
There are at least two more meanings for the acronym WTM.
What’s the Matter?
First off, another common meaning of the acronym WTM is the question, “What’s The Matter?” The meaning and usage of this saying are pretty simple. You use “What’s The Matter?” to ask someone what’s wrong.
For example, if you send someone a message that says, “We need to talk,” they might respond with “WTM?” In this case, they are letting you know they are ready to listen to your issues. At this point, the correct response would be to elaborate on your issue.
Whatever That Means
The third thing that WTM can mean is “Whatever That Means.” Like the other two possible meanings, this one is self-explanatory. If someone uses WTM as “Whatever That Means,” it means they do not understand either what they just said or what you just said.
For example, if one of your friends sends you a message detailing something their boss told them to do, followed by “WTM,” it means they don’t understand what their boss told them to do.
Unlike the last two definitions, this meaning does not have a standard response, and your response should often be based on context.
To go back to our last example, if you think your friend doesn’t understand what their boss told them to do, you should respond by helping them understand. However, if you think they’re being sarcastic about not understanding, you should likely respond by laughing at their joke.
How to Know What Someone Means When They Type “WTM”
So far, we’ve gone through three different possible meanings for the acronym “WTM”: “What’s The Move,” “What’s The Matter,” and “Whatever That Means.” So, if someone sends you a message on Snapchat featuring WTM, how are you supposed to tell which meaning they’re using?
The main thing you need to do to figure out which version of WTM they are using is to consider the context they’re using it in.
So, for example, if someone sends you a message with WTM, you should be able to use the rest of the message to figure out what they meant by WTM.
For example, let’s say you get a message from someone in school saying, “My math teacher wants me to find the “derivative” WTM.”
In this case, you can use the quotes over the word “derivative” to determine that the speaker does not know what the word “derivative” means. This means they’re likely using the “Whatever That Means” version of WTM, as they’re confused about what something means.
How to Respond
But what are you supposed to do in the dreaded case when someone sends you a message containing only the word “WTM”?
In this case, you need to consider what they’re responding to. For example, if you send a message to a friend quoting someone, and they respond with “WTM,” they’re likely saying “Whatever That Means” while questioning the quote.
On the other hand, if they send a message out of nowhere that says “WTM” without responding to anything, they’re likely using the “What’s The Move” version of WTM.
Other Common Texting Lingo
So now that you know all the ins and outs of what WTM means and how to use it, there are likely a ton of other texting acronyms that you don’t know. So let’s quickly go through some of the more obscure popular examples of texting lingo that you may run across so that you can be prepared.
GTG
GTG stands for “Got To Go.” The most common instance this will be used is if you are texting someone for a while and they need to do something else. The correct response to a message reading “GTG” is to say goodbye or “see ya.”
Additionally, GTG can also be used during physical events. For example, if you’re at a party with a friend and you suddenly receive a message from them saying “GTG,” it’s likely that they need to leave, but they can’t find you.
ATM
Most people are familiar with the Automated Teller Machine, or the ATM, but there are certain times when you will receive messages on Snapchat or through texts where this meaning of ATM doesn’t make sense.
Most of the time, when people send you a message featuring the acronym ATM, the acronym instead means “At The Moment.” So a message reading “Nowhere near here is open atm” means that nowhere near the sender is open.
TMR
TMR is the first example of a piece of internet lingo that is not an acronym. Rather than each letter representing a word, TMR is just a shortening of the word “Tomorrow.” So just read it as tomorrow, and the meaning of any message containing the term “TMR” should be clear.