WYS In Text: Meaning, How To Reply, Examples, Synonyms

‘WYS’ literally means ‘what you saying’. Alternatively, it can also mean “whatever you say,” “what you said,” or “what’s your status?”.

‘WYS’ is commonly used by gamers to chat with their friends in pre-game lobbies. To reply, you could simply give an update of what you’re currently doing or going to do later.

Some common synonyms for ‘WYS’ include “what’s up”, “what’s going on”, and “what’s happening”. In this post, we’ll dive deeper into the abbreviation ‘WYS’, how to reply in a text, and how to use it in a sentence.

WYS meaning in text

What Is The Meaning Of ‘WYS’ In A Text Message?

‘WYS’ stands for “what you saying” in a text message. It is a common slang abbreviation used in casual conversations among friends. ‘WYS’ is a term primarily used by the younger generation.

When someone uses ‘WYS’ they are essentially asking, “What are you up to?” or “What’s going on with you?”.

‘WYS’ is a very casual and informal way of inquiring about someone’s current activities, plans, or thoughts. This abbreviation is not consider grammatically correct and is typically employed in text messages & social media DMs.


How Do You Reply To ‘WYS’ In A Text Message?

If someone texts you ‘WYS’, you can reply with clarification about what you meant in a previous message or an update on what you’re up to.

  • “Just chilling at home, watching a movie. How about you?”
  • “Heading out for dinner with friends, can’t wait!
  • “Just finished cooking dinner. WYS?”

As an alternative, you could also reply by stating your mood or what’s on your mind.

  • “Feeling tired after a long day at work, relaxing now,”
  • “Thinking about the weekend and some upcoming plans. What’s up with you?”

What Are Sentence Examples Containing ‘WYS’?

Here are 5 sentence examples that demonstrate how to use the acronym ‘WYS’ correctly in a text message.

  1. Friend 1: Hey, WYS tonight?
    Friend 2: Not much, just finishing up some work. How about you?
  2. Text from Parent: WYS, haven’t heard from you today.
    Reply: Sorry, was at a meeting all day. Just got back home.
  3. Roommate: WYS for the weekend?
    Me: I’m planning to visit my family. What about you?
  4. Classmate: WYS after class?
    Reply: I have a study group session. Can we catch up later?
  5. Sibling: WYS with the car keys?
    Response: I left them on the kitchen counter.
WYS Sentence Examples

Just like we saw in our post about responses to thank you, writers need to consider the context of their writing before picking the correct vocabulary.


What Are Synonyms For ‘WYS’?

Below are 8 synonyms that you could use instead of ‘WYS’.

  1. What’s up?
  2. What’s going on?
  3. What’s happening?
  4. What’s new?
  5. What’s the news?
  6. What’s the latest?
  7. How are you?
  8. What’s the word?
  9. How’s it going?

Popularity Analysis

‘WYS’ is not commonly used in published writing. This is because it’s considered slang & is not grammatically correct to use in any formal context. However, Google’s own N-Gram data shows WYS does appear in published work, but not as an acronym with the same meaning. However, just like we saw in our post about the acronym LWK, slang is not popular in formal works of writing.

WYS Popularity

Frequently Asked Questions

Can ‘WYS’ Be Used In Formal Contexts?

No, ‘WYS’ (What You Saying) is considered informal slang and is not appropriate for formal contexts. It’s best reserved for casual conversations with friends and peers.

Are Slang Terms Considered Proper Grammar?

Slang terms are generally informal and may not be considered proper grammar in formal writing or professional settings. They are more appropriate for casual conversations, social media, or informal communication contexts.


The Bottom Line

By now you should be an expert on the slang term ‘WYS’. The abbreviation wys means “what you saying”. In most cases, it is used to ask what someone is up to or request clarification. This saying is almost exclusively used in text messages & social media DMs amongst small gaming circles. And if you need more help with grammar rules like this, consider using our own tool for reviewing grammar!