SOS
02-21-2005, 01:53 PM
A parent's primer to computer slang (http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/children/kidtalk.mspx)
While it's important to respect your children's privacy, understanding what your teenager's online slang means and how to decipher it is important as you help guide their online experience. While it has many nicknames, information-age slang is commonly referred to as leetspeek, or leet for short. Leet (a vernacular form of "elite") is a specific type of computer slang where a user replaces regular letters with other keyboard characters to form words phonetically—creating the digital equivalent of pig Latin with a twist of hieroglyphics. Leet words can be expressed in hundreds of ways using different substitutions and combinations, but once one understands that nearly all characters are formed as phonemes and symbols, leetspeek isn't difficult to translate.
Key points for learning leetspeek
•Numbers are often used as letters. The term "leet" could be written as "1337," with "1" replacing the letter L, "3" posing as a backwards letter E, and "7" resembling the letter T. "0" (zero) will typically replace the letter "O."
•Characters of similar appearance can be used to replace the letters they resemble. For example, "5" or even "$" can replace the letter S. Applying this style, the word "leetspeek" can be written as "133t5p33k" or even "!337$p34k," with "4" replacing the letter A.
•Letters can be substituted for other letters that may sound alike. Using "Z" for a final letter S, and "X" for words ending in the letters C or K is common. For example, leetspeekers might refer to their computer "5x1llz" (skills).
•Rules of grammar are rarely obeyed. Some leetspeekers will capitalize every letter except for vowels (LiKe THiS) and otherwise reject conventional English style and grammar.
•Mistakes are often uncorrected. Common typing misspellings (or typos) such as "teh" instead of "the" are left uncorrected and may be adopted to replace the correct spelling.
•Non-alphanumeric characters may be combined to form letters. For example, using slashes to create "/\/\" can substitute for the letter M, and two pipes combined with a hyphen to form "|-|" is often used in place of the letter H. Thus, the word "ham" could be written as "|-|4/\/\."
It's important to remember that the leetspeek community encourages new forms and awards individual creativity, resulting in a dynamic written language that eludes conformity or consistency. However, there are a few standard terms. The following is a sample of key words that haven't changed fundamentally (although variations occur) since the invention of leetspeek. The first series is of particular concern, as their use could be an indicator that your teenager is involved in the theft of intellectual property, particularly licensed software.
Leet words possibly indicating illegal activity:
•"warez" or "w4r3z": Illegally copied software available for download.
•"h4x": Read as "hacks," or what a computer hacker does.
•"pron": An anagram of "porn," possibly indicating the use of pornography.
•"sploitz" (short for exploits): Vulnerabilities in computer software used by hackers.
•"pwn": A typo-deliberate version of own, a slang term that means to dominate. This could also be spelled "0\/\/n3d" or "pwn3d," among other variations. Online video game bullies or "griefers" (http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/children/griefers.mspx) often use this term.
Other common leet words:
•"kewl": A common derivation of "cool."
•"m4d sk1llz" or "mad skills": Refers to one's own talent. "m4d" itself is often used for emphasis.
•"n00b," "noob," "newbie," or "newb": Combinations synonymous with new user. Some leetspeekers view "n00b" as an insult and "newbie" as an affectionate term for new users.
•"w00t" or the smiley character \o/: A common interjection, analogous to "woohoo!" or victory in a game.
•"rox0rs" Used in place of "rocks," typically to describe something impressive.
•"d00d": Replaces the greeting or addressing someone as a "dude."
•"joo" and "u": Used instead of "you." This is also commonly written as "j00" or "_|00."
•"ph": often replaces "f," as in "phear" for "fear" (as in "ph34r my l33t skillz") and vice versa, such as spelling "phonetic" as "f0|\|371(."
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KeY P01n+$ pHor LearN1NG LE3T5P33K
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|\|U|\/|BERs 4er 0PhTE|\| u$3D 4$ l3t+3r$. ThE tErm "LE3+" cOuLd 8E WRitT3n @5 "1337," W/ "1" REPl4CIN9 teH L3T+3R L, "3" POsI|\|G A5 4 B4c|<w@Rds Le++3R 3, 4|\|d "7" R3$EmblIng the le+Ter +. "0" (Zero) W1Ll +YpiC@LLy rEpl4ce T3h LE+Ter "0."
•
CH4R@Ct3R5 0ph siM1L4R 4ppe@R4NcE C4N B3 U5Ed +o rePl4C3 +eh Le++3R$ +HEY r35EmBL3. PH0R EX@mpl3, "5" 0R 3ven "$" cAN RepL4CE TEH lE+t3r 5. 4Pply1nG THi$ StYl3, +EH wORD "L3E+5P3Ek" c4n BE WrIT+3n A5 "133T5p33k" or EvEN "!337$p34K," W/ "4" repl4ciNg +H3 LeTt3R a.
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L3tT3R$ c@|\| BE $u8$T1tut3d ph0r O+hER l3T+eR5 tH4t M4y $oUnD @L1k3. U5INg "z" PhOR 4 phIn@l lEt+er $, a|\|D "X" pH0r worD5 3|\|dI|\|g 1n ThE l3+tER$ c 0r |< 1S cOm|\/|o|\|. FoR 3X4mPL3, leet5p3ekers m19H+ R3PH3R t0 ThE1r COMpU+3r "5x1LLZ" (5KilLs).
•
RUL35 0f GR@mM4R A3r R@reLy Ob3YEd. $0M3 lEe+Sp3E|<ER$ wILL c4Pi+aLIZ3 eveRy LEtT3R EXC3PT phOr v0w3L5 (liKe +H1$) 4ND 0ThErWI53 REj3c+ C0|\|V3N+i0n4L EnGL15H STYL3 @Nd 9R@m|\/|@R.
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m15+4kE5 @ER 0f+3N UNC0RREc+3d. CoMmoN +yp1n9 Mi5$pell1ngS (0R TypO5) 5ucH 45 "+3h" In5T34D oF "THe" 4eR L3ft UNCOrREc+3d 4nD m4y 8E 4doP+eD to R3pl4CE +He coRr3C+ $P3LLI|\|9.
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noN-4lpH@nUmeR1c ch4R@c+3R$ m4Y B3 C0MBiN3D +0 PHOrm L3t+er$. f0R EX4MplE, U51NG $L@5H3$ +o CReA+E "/\/\" C@|\| 5u8$+I+UTe Phor TEh l3T+3R m, 4nD tW0 Pip35 c0m8Ined w/ @ hYphEn +0 phorm "|-|" 15 opH+3n US3D 1N Pl@CE oph +hE Le++ER H. thu$, +HE woRd "Ham" c0UlD 8E wR1T+En 4$ "|-|4/\/\."
1t'5 IMPORT4N+ +o reMEMBER THa+ t3H l3e+$pE3|< cOmmuN1tY enCoUR4935 new PHormS ANd @W@rd$ i|\|DiV1dU@L creat1V1+Y, Re$ul+In9 1n A Dyn4MIC wr1+TEN l4n9u@93 +H@t 3lud35 ConpH0rmiTY oR c0n$i5TeNCY. HOW3veR, Th3r3 @3R 4 FEW St4nd4Rd TErm5. the fOlLOw1ng I5 @ $4MpL3 0f |<3y worD5 th@+ H4vE|\|'T Ch4NgEd PhuNd@me|\|+4lLY (@l+hOUgH VARi4+10n5 0CcUR) 5iNcE TeH 1nVen+10n OF L33T5Pee|<. tHe pHiR5t s3R135 15 of P4r+iCuL4r c0Nc3RN, a5 +HeiR u$3 COULD B3 @|\| INd1C4+0R +ha+ YoUr +33n@GER i$ 1|\|V0lV3d In th3 +heFT OpH iNteLl3C+U4L pR0PeRty, P@Rt1culArLY L1CEn5ED S0ftW4Re.
L33+ W0RD5 Po$$iBLy i|\|dIc@+in9 1lL39Al ACtIvi+Y:
•
"w@REz" 0r "W4r3z": 1LL394LLY c0p1eD $oftW@r3 4V@Il4bLE F0r d0W|\|l04D.
•
"h4X": RE@d 45 "h4Ck5," OR w00t @ cOmpu+eR hAx0R D0e5.
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"Pr0|\|": 4|\| @N49R4M 0ph "P0R|\|," p05S1bly I|\|Dic4+In9 +3H U5e Of pOr|\|09R4PHy.
•
"5PL0I+z" (ShORt f0r 3Xpl01T5): vUlner481lIti3$ i|\| compUt3r $OFTW4re U$Ed By H4cKerS.
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"pW|\|": @ tyP0-d3LIB3R@+e V3r$i0N 0F own, @ $L4|\|9 +er|\/| tH@T M34n5 t0 d0M1n4+3. +H15 c0Uld 4l5o be sp3llEd "0\/\/n3d" OR "PWN3D," @MoN9 0ThER V4rI4+1On5. o|\|Lin3 V1dE0 94m3 bULl13$ 0R "9r13pHer$" 0pH+3|\| uSe ThI5 +ERM.
OthER comM0N lEeT woRd5:
•
"|<3Wl": @ c0mmo|\| D3R1v4Ti0|\| OF "coOl."
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"m4d sK1Llz" 0r "M4D $kILL$": R3FeRS +O 0N3'$ 0W|\|zor T@LeNT. "M4D" I+5elph 1$ OpHtE|\| u$ed F0r 3mpH@$1$.
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"n008," "N0O8," "N3w8i3," 0R "NeW8": com8Inat10n5 $y|\|O|\|Ymou$ W/ n3w u$Er. $oM3 Le3t$PEek3R5 Vi3W "N008" @5 4n In5uL+ @nD "|\|3WbI3" As 4|\| 4pHPhEC+1on4+E T3rM f0r neW u5er5.
•
"W00+" 0r +h3 5mil3Y cH4r4C+ER \o/: a cOMM0n 1N+eRjECtiOn, 4nAlOg0US T0 "WOOh00!" 0r vIC+Ory 1n 4 g4M3.
•
"roX0R5" U5eD 1n Pl4c3 0F "rock$," tYP1C4LLY to D3$cR1be 50mEtH1Ng 1|\/|Pr3s51ve.
•
"D00D": r3PlaCe5 +H3 gREet1N9 0R 4dDR3s5I|\|g $0M30|\|e @5 A "DUdE."
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"j00" 4ND "u": U5ED I|\|5+3@D 0PH "you." th15 15 4LSo C0Mm0nly WRi+T3N @$ "J00" 0R "_|00."
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"ph": 0f+En rePL4ce5 "Ph," @5 1n "PH3@R" For "PhE4r" (45 1N "pH34R mY L33+ $killz") @nd v1ce VErs4, Such @5 $p3lLInG "pHOnE+Ic" 45 "F0|\|371(."
While it's important to respect your children's privacy, understanding what your teenager's online slang means and how to decipher it is important as you help guide their online experience. While it has many nicknames, information-age slang is commonly referred to as leetspeek, or leet for short. Leet (a vernacular form of "elite") is a specific type of computer slang where a user replaces regular letters with other keyboard characters to form words phonetically—creating the digital equivalent of pig Latin with a twist of hieroglyphics. Leet words can be expressed in hundreds of ways using different substitutions and combinations, but once one understands that nearly all characters are formed as phonemes and symbols, leetspeek isn't difficult to translate.
Key points for learning leetspeek
•Numbers are often used as letters. The term "leet" could be written as "1337," with "1" replacing the letter L, "3" posing as a backwards letter E, and "7" resembling the letter T. "0" (zero) will typically replace the letter "O."
•Characters of similar appearance can be used to replace the letters they resemble. For example, "5" or even "$" can replace the letter S. Applying this style, the word "leetspeek" can be written as "133t5p33k" or even "!337$p34k," with "4" replacing the letter A.
•Letters can be substituted for other letters that may sound alike. Using "Z" for a final letter S, and "X" for words ending in the letters C or K is common. For example, leetspeekers might refer to their computer "5x1llz" (skills).
•Rules of grammar are rarely obeyed. Some leetspeekers will capitalize every letter except for vowels (LiKe THiS) and otherwise reject conventional English style and grammar.
•Mistakes are often uncorrected. Common typing misspellings (or typos) such as "teh" instead of "the" are left uncorrected and may be adopted to replace the correct spelling.
•Non-alphanumeric characters may be combined to form letters. For example, using slashes to create "/\/\" can substitute for the letter M, and two pipes combined with a hyphen to form "|-|" is often used in place of the letter H. Thus, the word "ham" could be written as "|-|4/\/\."
It's important to remember that the leetspeek community encourages new forms and awards individual creativity, resulting in a dynamic written language that eludes conformity or consistency. However, there are a few standard terms. The following is a sample of key words that haven't changed fundamentally (although variations occur) since the invention of leetspeek. The first series is of particular concern, as their use could be an indicator that your teenager is involved in the theft of intellectual property, particularly licensed software.
Leet words possibly indicating illegal activity:
•"warez" or "w4r3z": Illegally copied software available for download.
•"h4x": Read as "hacks," or what a computer hacker does.
•"pron": An anagram of "porn," possibly indicating the use of pornography.
•"sploitz" (short for exploits): Vulnerabilities in computer software used by hackers.
•"pwn": A typo-deliberate version of own, a slang term that means to dominate. This could also be spelled "0\/\/n3d" or "pwn3d," among other variations. Online video game bullies or "griefers" (http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/children/griefers.mspx) often use this term.
Other common leet words:
•"kewl": A common derivation of "cool."
•"m4d sk1llz" or "mad skills": Refers to one's own talent. "m4d" itself is often used for emphasis.
•"n00b," "noob," "newbie," or "newb": Combinations synonymous with new user. Some leetspeekers view "n00b" as an insult and "newbie" as an affectionate term for new users.
•"w00t" or the smiley character \o/: A common interjection, analogous to "woohoo!" or victory in a game.
•"rox0rs" Used in place of "rocks," typically to describe something impressive.
•"d00d": Replaces the greeting or addressing someone as a "dude."
•"joo" and "u": Used instead of "you." This is also commonly written as "j00" or "_|00."
•"ph": often replaces "f," as in "phear" for "fear" (as in "ph34r my l33t skillz") and vice versa, such as spelling "phonetic" as "f0|\|371(."
wH1Le 1+'5 1MpOrT4Nt +O R35PECt yOUR cHildR3N'5 Pr1VAcy, UnD3R$+4|\|D1nG W00T Y0Ur T3En493r'5 O|\|lIN3 SL@ng mE4nS @ND H0W T0 DEC1ph3R 1+ 15 1MpOR+@n+ 4$ J00 h3LP 9u1dE tHEIR 0NL1Ne exPERi3nc3. WH1L3 i+ h@5 ma|\|y |\|1CkN4M3$, i|\|ph0rM4t10N-@ge SL4N9 I5 C0MmOnlY R3FErr3D +0 4S L33TSpE3k, or Le3t PhOr 5H0RT. l33+ (4 VerNAcuL4R PHoRM Oph "3lI+e") 1$ @ sPeCiF1C tYP3 0Ph C0|\/|PUt3R 5l4Ng wh3rE 4 u$3r r3pl4ce$ R39Ul4R L3++eR$ w/ otH3R KeYbo4rD CH4r@CTeRS +0 form WOrDS pHoN3T1c4lLy—CRe@+in9 +Eh d1G1t4L 3Kw1V4LEn+ Of P19 L@+i|\| w/ @ +w15t 0F h1EROGLyPhIc5.
leE+ w0Rd5 c4n 8E 3Xpr3s53d iN hU|\|DR3d5 0Ph w@Y5 u$1|\|9 DIFpH3rENt SU8$+iTu+i0|\|S 4nD com8in4T10N$, BU+ 0nc3 W1N UNd3R5+AnDs +H@+ NE4Rly @Ll chAR4C+3r5 @ER ph0rm3D A$ Ph0Nem35 @ND syM80L5, L33+$pee|< 15N't d1fph1cULt tO tr@N5L4t3.
KeY P01n+$ pHor LearN1NG LE3T5P33K
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|\|U|\/|BERs 4er 0PhTE|\| u$3D 4$ l3t+3r$. ThE tErm "LE3+" cOuLd 8E WRitT3n @5 "1337," W/ "1" REPl4CIN9 teH L3T+3R L, "3" POsI|\|G A5 4 B4c|<w@Rds Le++3R 3, 4|\|d "7" R3$EmblIng the le+Ter +. "0" (Zero) W1Ll +YpiC@LLy rEpl4ce T3h LE+Ter "0."
•
CH4R@Ct3R5 0ph siM1L4R 4ppe@R4NcE C4N B3 U5Ed +o rePl4C3 +eh Le++3R$ +HEY r35EmBL3. PH0R EX@mpl3, "5" 0R 3ven "$" cAN RepL4CE TEH lE+t3r 5. 4Pply1nG THi$ StYl3, +EH wORD "L3E+5P3Ek" c4n BE WrIT+3n A5 "133T5p33k" or EvEN "!337$p34K," W/ "4" repl4ciNg +H3 LeTt3R a.
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L3tT3R$ c@|\| BE $u8$T1tut3d ph0r O+hER l3T+eR5 tH4t M4y $oUnD @L1k3. U5INg "z" PhOR 4 phIn@l lEt+er $, a|\|D "X" pH0r worD5 3|\|dI|\|g 1n ThE l3+tER$ c 0r |< 1S cOm|\/|o|\|. FoR 3X4mPL3, leet5p3ekers m19H+ R3PH3R t0 ThE1r COMpU+3r "5x1LLZ" (5KilLs).
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RUL35 0f GR@mM4R A3r R@reLy Ob3YEd. $0M3 lEe+Sp3E|<ER$ wILL c4Pi+aLIZ3 eveRy LEtT3R EXC3PT phOr v0w3L5 (liKe +H1$) 4ND 0ThErWI53 REj3c+ C0|\|V3N+i0n4L EnGL15H STYL3 @Nd 9R@m|\/|@R.
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m15+4kE5 @ER 0f+3N UNC0RREc+3d. CoMmoN +yp1n9 Mi5$pell1ngS (0R TypO5) 5ucH 45 "+3h" In5T34D oF "THe" 4eR L3ft UNCOrREc+3d 4nD m4y 8E 4doP+eD to R3pl4CE +He coRr3C+ $P3LLI|\|9.
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noN-4lpH@nUmeR1c ch4R@c+3R$ m4Y B3 C0MBiN3D +0 PHOrm L3t+er$. f0R EX4MplE, U51NG $L@5H3$ +o CReA+E "/\/\" C@|\| 5u8$+I+UTe Phor TEh l3T+3R m, 4nD tW0 Pip35 c0m8Ined w/ @ hYphEn +0 phorm "|-|" 15 opH+3n US3D 1N Pl@CE oph +hE Le++ER H. thu$, +HE woRd "Ham" c0UlD 8E wR1T+En 4$ "|-|4/\/\."
1t'5 IMPORT4N+ +o reMEMBER THa+ t3H l3e+$pE3|< cOmmuN1tY enCoUR4935 new PHormS ANd @W@rd$ i|\|DiV1dU@L creat1V1+Y, Re$ul+In9 1n A Dyn4MIC wr1+TEN l4n9u@93 +H@t 3lud35 ConpH0rmiTY oR c0n$i5TeNCY. HOW3veR, Th3r3 @3R 4 FEW St4nd4Rd TErm5. the fOlLOw1ng I5 @ $4MpL3 0f |<3y worD5 th@+ H4vE|\|'T Ch4NgEd PhuNd@me|\|+4lLY (@l+hOUgH VARi4+10n5 0CcUR) 5iNcE TeH 1nVen+10n OF L33T5Pee|<. tHe pHiR5t s3R135 15 of P4r+iCuL4r c0Nc3RN, a5 +HeiR u$3 COULD B3 @|\| INd1C4+0R +ha+ YoUr +33n@GER i$ 1|\|V0lV3d In th3 +heFT OpH iNteLl3C+U4L pR0PeRty, P@Rt1culArLY L1CEn5ED S0ftW4Re.
L33+ W0RD5 Po$$iBLy i|\|dIc@+in9 1lL39Al ACtIvi+Y:
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"w@REz" 0r "W4r3z": 1LL394LLY c0p1eD $oftW@r3 4V@Il4bLE F0r d0W|\|l04D.
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"h4X": RE@d 45 "h4Ck5," OR w00t @ cOmpu+eR hAx0R D0e5.
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"Pr0|\|": 4|\| @N49R4M 0ph "P0R|\|," p05S1bly I|\|Dic4+In9 +3H U5e Of pOr|\|09R4PHy.
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"5PL0I+z" (ShORt f0r 3Xpl01T5): vUlner481lIti3$ i|\| compUt3r $OFTW4re U$Ed By H4cKerS.
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"pW|\|": @ tyP0-d3LIB3R@+e V3r$i0N 0F own, @ $L4|\|9 +er|\/| tH@T M34n5 t0 d0M1n4+3. +H15 c0Uld 4l5o be sp3llEd "0\/\/n3d" OR "PWN3D," @MoN9 0ThER V4rI4+1On5. o|\|Lin3 V1dE0 94m3 bULl13$ 0R "9r13pHer$" 0pH+3|\| uSe ThI5 +ERM.
OthER comM0N lEeT woRd5:
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"|<3Wl": @ c0mmo|\| D3R1v4Ti0|\| OF "coOl."
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"m4d sK1Llz" 0r "M4D $kILL$": R3FeRS +O 0N3'$ 0W|\|zor T@LeNT. "M4D" I+5elph 1$ OpHtE|\| u$ed F0r 3mpH@$1$.
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"n008," "N0O8," "N3w8i3," 0R "NeW8": com8Inat10n5 $y|\|O|\|Ymou$ W/ n3w u$Er. $oM3 Le3t$PEek3R5 Vi3W "N008" @5 4n In5uL+ @nD "|\|3WbI3" As 4|\| 4pHPhEC+1on4+E T3rM f0r neW u5er5.
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"W00+" 0r +h3 5mil3Y cH4r4C+ER \o/: a cOMM0n 1N+eRjECtiOn, 4nAlOg0US T0 "WOOh00!" 0r vIC+Ory 1n 4 g4M3.
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"roX0R5" U5eD 1n Pl4c3 0F "rock$," tYP1C4LLY to D3$cR1be 50mEtH1Ng 1|\/|Pr3s51ve.
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"D00D": r3PlaCe5 +H3 gREet1N9 0R 4dDR3s5I|\|g $0M30|\|e @5 A "DUdE."
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"j00" 4ND "u": U5ED I|\|5+3@D 0PH "you." th15 15 4LSo C0Mm0nly WRi+T3N @$ "J00" 0R "_|00."
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"ph": 0f+En rePL4ce5 "Ph," @5 1n "PH3@R" For "PhE4r" (45 1N "pH34R mY L33+ $killz") @nd v1ce VErs4, Such @5 $p3lLInG "pHOnE+Ic" 45 "F0|\|371(."