What Does WYD Mean? Snapchat, Texting, and More

Last Updated: February 24, 2025 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by John Keegan and by wikiHow staff writer, Amber Crain. John Keegan is a Dating Coach and motivational speaker based in New York City. With over 10 years of professional experience, he runs The Awakened Lifestyle, where he uses his expertise in dating, attraction, and social dynamics to help people find love. He teaches and holds dating workshops internationally, from Los Angeles to London and from Rio de Janeiro to Prague. His work has been featured in the New York Times, Humans of New York, and Men's Health.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
This article has been viewed 637,728 times.

WYD Meaning

1. 
   1
   Over text, WYD means “What (are) you doing?” Typically, WYD is an informal way to start a convo with a friend or crush, similar to “What’s up?” The sender wants to know what you're actively doing right now. They may also be checking to see if you’re free to chat or hang out.[1] X Research source

   • You may see WYD with or without a question mark. Either way, WYD is always a question. The sender is expecting a response.
   • You might see WAUD or WUD (which also means “What are you doing?”) but these abbreviations are a lot less common.
   • When sending WYD through texting, the person is usually trying to keep it simple and act like they're not putting too much investment into the moment, even though they are reaching out.
2. 
   2
   Sometimes, WYD is used rhetorically as a sarcastic comment. In this situation, the abbreviation is used by someone who’s annoyed or angry. WYD will appear sarcastically at the end of their scathing or judgy comment.[2] X Research source

   • "You left the door unlocked again, WYD?! 😩"
   • "You didn’t vote in the election? WYD with your life??"
   Advertisement

1. 
   On social media, WYD also means “What (are) you doing?” The person wants to know what you’re up to and is expecting a reply. This meaning applies on all social media platforms, including Snapchat, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.[3] X Research source

   • On dating apps, WYD is sometimes used to initiate a booty call. It still means “What are you doing?” but the subtext is “Are you free to hook up?”[4] X Research source

1. 
   1
   Start a casual convo with a friend or crush. If you want to reach out via text or social media and see what they’re up to, WYD is a super easy way to do that.[5] X Research source Keep in mind that WYD is really informal, so you wouldn’t want to use it in an email to a teacher or manager. You might say:

   • "Hey Stefan! 👋 It’s been a minute. WYD?"
   • "WYD bestie?"
2. 
   2
   Lead with “WYD” before asking a friend or crush to hang out. Go this route if you want to make it clear immediately that you’re trying to make plans with the person. You could say:

   • "WYD? Wanna go bowling? 🎳"
   • "Hey, WYD today? Let's meet for lunch."
   Advertisement

1. 
   1
   Let the person know what you're up to right now. Typically, WYD is a literal question, so if it's your bestie, just tell them what you’re up to! You don’t necessarily have to tell the truth if you don't like the person or you think they want something. If it's someone that's flirting with you, you could also try replying playfully. For example:

   • Your bestie: "haaaay WYD right now?"
     You: "Just listening to music and reading! 📚 🎶 HBU?"
   • Someone you’re avoiding: "WYD today?"
     You: "Super swamped with homework. TTYL"
   • Someone you're flirting with: "WYD?"
     You: "You know what I'm doing. 😉"
2. 
   2
   Accept or decline their invitation to hang out. If WYD is followed by an invitation, be sure to address that when you respond to the sender. For example:

   • Them: "WYD later? Let’s hit the mall."
     You: "K! 🎉 Meet you there in an hour."
   • Them: "Hey wyd, u free for lunch"
     You: "Can’t today, my sister is home from college so we’re chillin"
   • Guy on Tinder: "wyd girl"
     You: "😒 booty calls aren’t my jam bro"
   Advertisement

1. 
   World Youth Day. World Youth Day is an annual event organized by the Catholic Church.[6] X Research source It’s pretty unlikely the sender is referring to this event, but you never know! You can always ask if you need clarification.