What Does SMTH Mean, And How To Use It
What Does “SMTH” Mean, and How Do You Use It?
Have you ever received a sentence containing the word "smth" and wondered what it meant? We'll define and demonstrate how to use this internet abbreviation.
“SMTH - Something”
In contrast to some of the other slang terms discussed thus far, SMTH is not an acronym. Rather than that, it is a shortened form of "something." It is comparable to other contractions such as "SRSLY" and "NVM," which stand for "seriously" and "never mind," respectively.
It can be used as a shorter substitute for any instance where the word "something" would be used, or it can take on its own meaning entirely. It's extremely prevalent in text messages between younger, mobile-first users. Additionally, you can see it in social media posts and replies on platforms such as Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.
SMTH is infrequently used in its capitalized form. Rather than that, it is written in lowercase "smth." Additionally, you may encounter the term "sth," which means the same thing. The acronym is not to be confused with another popular online slang term, "SMH," which stands for "shaking my head." If you'd like to learn more about SMH, you can read our explainer here.
SMTH's Etymology
SMTH was coined between the 1990s and early 2000s, roughly contemporaneously with the invention of other online slang terms. It originated in the early days of chatting websites and internet forums and was later adopted in the SMS texting era. It first appeared in the online slang dictionary Urban Dictionary in March 2004. The term is defined as "an internet abbreviation for the word something."
Since then, it has become a common way to economize on the few seconds required to write out the entire word. It gained popularity on video-sharing platforms such as TikTok, which features videos with rapidly flashing text.
… or SMTH
Apart from substituting the word "something," the most common use of SMTH is as a noncommittal afterthought or indication that you're not entirely certain about what you're saying. This is accomplished by including it at the end of a sentence, frequently preceded by "or."
For instance, if someone asks what you're about to do, you might respond, "I'm going to watch TV or something." You are not necessarily expressing a desire to watch television in that sentence. You're implying that you haven't given it much thought or that you're unconcerned. This is common in casual texting, where messages are exchanged quickly and without much thought given to each one. SMTH is frequently used in conjunction with other initialisms such as IDC or "I don't care."
Also, it can indicate that you are unfamiliar with something. For instance, if someone inquires how long it takes to walk from the park to your house, you could respond, "Perhaps ten minutes or something." In this sentence, "smth" is used in conjunction with "perhaps" to indicate that you are merely guessing the distance.
How to Use SMTH
smth is one of the simplest online slang terms to use. Instead of typing "something," type it out. Remember to write it in lowercase. It cannot stand alone as a sentence. Rather than that, it's a way of infusing your texts with a casual air.
Here are a few examples of how to incorporate smth into your sentences:
• "I believe there is something wrong with my laptop."
• "I'm going to order Chinese food or something along those lines."
• "Something tells me you haven't showered today."
• "Did you just awaken or something?"
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