The shorthand “ASL” carries multiple meanings across social media, depending on the communities in which it is being used. New and evolving shorthand like this can be hard to keep up with, especially when the terms hold prior meanings. Though the formal translation for the acronym is most often “American Sign Language,” it typically means something different in texting or social media.
Not so much an acronym as it is a contraction, ASL can hold a more confusing meaning when it is used informally.
ASL can also take on the meaning “as hell.” This meaning seems to confuse a lot of people on social media, so much so that many creators have made videos explaining it.
The slang term, ASL can be used to emphasize an adjective or feeling. For example, “I’m tired ASL” or “That’s cool ASL.” Its meant to be sounded out in a quick cadence to mimic how a person would sound saying “as hell” very quickly.
Subtitutions for this term over text can be AF or ASF, which are a more acrnomical if not a bit more vulgar version of the term.
There are several other examples of social media terminology that have been adapted from sounds rather than literal acronyms. Similar contractions include OFC, TMRW, PLS, and THX.
Keeping a lookout for this terminology on TikTok, texting, and other social media to help understand context clues can be vital to keeping up with ever-changing slang. Websites like Urban Dictionary and NetLingo can also be useful for understanding any type of shorthand you see on a daily basis.