Reddit Jargon Explained: 25 Terms You Need to Know
Reddit is the home to many things: funny cat videos, DIY projects, and life hacks. But it’s also the home to a lot of jargon. If you’re new to Reddit, all the abbreviations and slang can be confusing.
That’s why we’ve created this handy guide to help you understand some of the most common Reddit terms. Let’s dive in…
1. Subreddit
A subreddit is a specific forum on Reddit where users can submit posts about a particular topic. There areSubreddits for finance, sports, TV shows, and just about anything else you can think of. For example, r/funny is a subreddit devoted to funny content, while r/news is a subreddit devoted to news articles.
ELI5 stands for “explain like I’m five.” When someone posts an ELI5 question on Reddit, they’re asking for a simple explanation of a complex topic.
For example, someone might ask “ELI5, what is quantum mechanics?”. In response, another user might provide a simple explanation of quantum mechanics that a theoretical five-year-old could understand.
AMA stands for “ask me anything”. This is a type of post on Reddit where somebody with expertise in a particular field invites the community to ask questions they have.
For example, an AMA might be titled “I am a professional basketball player, AMA”. Here, users would be free to ask the basketball player anything they want, from questions about their favorite team to personal questions about their life.
OP stands for “original poster”. This refers to the user who authored a particular post on Reddit.
You’ll find users using the term OP when referring back to the author. For example: “OP specified that they don’t like cats”.
5. Throwaway account
A throwaway account is an account that is created for a specific purpose and then abandoned after that purpose has been served.
Redditors use throwaway accounts for posting sensitive or personal information or asking a question the user doesn’t want to be associated with their main account.
TIL stands for “today I learned”. This is a type of post on Reddit where users share something interesting or surprising that they have learned. For example, a user might post “TIL that the average human brain weighs about three pounds.”
IAmA stands for “I am a…”. This is a popular type of post on Reddit where somebody with an interesting or unusual job or lifestyle invites the community to ask questions they have. It is like the AMA (ask me anything) but with a focus on the poster’s occupation or lifestyle.
NSFW stands for “not safe for work”. This is a warning placed on posts or comments containing content that might not be appropriate for viewing in a work or public setting. NSFW posts can include anything from profanity to nudity to violence.
CMV is short for “change my view”. This is a type of post on Reddit where the user presents a particular opinion or viewpoint and invites others to change their mind.
YMMV stands for “your mileage may vary”. This is a disclaimer used on Reddit to warn users that their experience with a particular product or service may differ from the norm.
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