Apparently, many people have little to no idea what this means on the platform specifically, even though it’s quite a popular terminology. And honestly, it’s easy to see why it’s confusing when this abbreviation alone has three different meanings!
ASL basically means the following things: first, as an acronym for American Sign Language. Second, it can also mean “Age, Sex, Location,” which is a slang meaning of this term. Third, as an abbreviation for another slang term, “As Hell.”
And mind you, this internet slang gets thrown around a lot in the platform, which means you will probably see it on a lot of TikTok users’ posts. Moreover, it’s also widely used on other social media platforms like Twitter and Snapchat.
In this post, we will be discussing each of its own specific meanings, plus how to know when to use the term as well. Let’s get right to it.
What is the Definition of ASL on TikTok?
People have been using this abbreviation differently throughout the years.
ASL stands for any of the following:
- American Sign Language
- Age, Sex, Location
- As Hell
Yep, you’ve read that right. This acronym can have wildly different connotations. Knowing how it’s being used in a social media user’s posts and messages is important to understand the context and give an appropriate response. Let’s briefly go over each of those.
-
ASL as in “American Sign Language”
The original meaning of ASL is “American Sign Language.” It’s an abbreviated term for the natural language used in the deaf and mute community.
Deaf TikTok users and sign language teachers on the platform frequently include this term in their captions or hashtags. ASL, in this sense, is usually spelled out in all caps.
-
ASL as in “Age, Sex, Location”
ASL or A/S/L can mean “Age/Sex/Location.” This slang had already been in use even before TikTok became popular. It’s a standard internet phrase that people use to ask others they just met those personal details about themselves.
It has been widely used in social apps, chatrooms, instant messaging platforms, and even online forums and game chats where people meet and socialize. People spell ASL in this context in various ways, including all caps (ASL), lowercase letters (asl), or with slashes between each letters (a/s/l).
While it was more commonly used in the past, some users on social media still include them in their messages. Do note though, that ASL in this context is generally used for finding dates or friends, with more emphasis on the former.
Also, be careful of giving others your personal info, even if they are about seemingly innocent details like age, sex, and location. Malicious individuals can still use this information to doxx, threaten, or take advantage of others.
Even if you do give them with the purpose of getting to know someone, be sure not to give more sensitive information other than general details unless you genuinely trust this person.
-
asl as in “As Hell”
Now, ASL has retaken on a different meaning. ASL has also been used on social media as an abbreviation for the expression “as hell.” For example, instead of saying, “I’m hungry as hell,” people instead write, “I’m hungry asl.” Like many other internet and text slangs, this was created as a shortcut for a common expression.
If you’re confused or amused at how this came to be (like we did), don’t worry, you aren’t alone in that as well. As one Twitter user wrote:
I just wanna know… who decided asl…. meant as hell… bc make it make sense… idkkkk sounds silly
— my matter is golden 🌈✨ (@wild_flowerbaby) June 14, 2021
Evidently, the Internet has a habit of creating slang with meanings that we don’t expect. As strange as how this expression came to be, it proved to be really catchy since it has been used on almost every social media platform.
In this context, the asl is usually written in lowercase letters to indicate it’s meant “as hell.”
Examples of the Term ASL on TikTok
Below, we’ve curated posts from various TikTok content creators in which they used the slang terms above.
-
@oursignedworld We sit at this table every night for dinner. I always ask what she did that day and it’s always a short conversation. This melted my heart 💕 #deafdad #asl #coda #bilingualtoddlers #signlanguage #toddlersigning ♬ Little Things – Adrian Berenguer -
@chiefnitro I have quite a few new followers so let me imtroduce myself! #nitronation #jokes #hello #hi #funny #kidding #fyp ♬ original sound – 🌈 iGoRot MASTER❣️ – 🌈Kittoy🐷 -
@keykn0w Like what #fypシ #MACscaraface #abbreviation ♬ how is that possible – chae
Do you have more questions about other terms and slang on social media? Check out our other posts below: