Chat SlangGroup chat words
Terms for what happens in WhatsApp and Telegram groups.
Group chats have their own culture, and their own words. Admins, forwards, mutes and good-morning messages are part of daily life for millions of people. This page names them, so you can talk about them and manage a group better.
If you run a group, agree the rules early and write them down. Most conflicts start when members assume different rules.
Admin
A person who manages a group and can add or remove members.
Example: "ask the admin to add me"
Forward
To send on a message you received.
Example: "I forwarded the notice"
Forwarded many times
A label on a message that has been passed along a lot.
Example: "this one is forwarded many times, check before you trust it"
Mute
To stop notifications from a chat.
Example: "I muted the group"
Broadcast
A message sent to many people at once without a group.
Example: "I sent a broadcast"
Status
A post that disappears after a day, visible to your contacts.
Example: "check my status"
Archive
To hide a chat without deleting it.
Example: "I archived the old group"
Pin
To keep a chat or message at the top.
Example: "pin the notice"
Mention
To tag a person in a message with @.
Example: "mention him so he sees it"
Good morning spam
A flood of morning greetings in groups.
Example: "too much good morning spam"
Read receipt
The blue ticks that show a message was read.
Example: "I turned off read receipts"
Left on seen
Seeing a message and not replying.
Example: "he left me on seen"
Poll
A question the group votes on.
Example: "make a poll for the date"
Community
A space that holds several related groups.
Example: "the school community"
Voice note
A recorded audio message.
Example: "send a voice note"
Disappearing messages
Messages that delete themselves after a set time.
Example: "turn on disappearing messages"
View once
A photo or video that can be opened a single time.
Example: "he sent a view once photo"
Reaction
An emoji response to a message.
Example: "I reacted with a heart"
Join link
An address that lets people enter a group.
Example: "share the join link"
Lurker
A member who reads but rarely writes.
Example: "half the group are lurkers"
Questions people ask
Do these words mean the same everywhere?
Mostly, but not always. Slang changes with the group, the app and the year. Use the meaning here as the usual one and check with the context.
Why is a word not listed?
We list words that are common and not mainly abusive. Tell us on the contact page if you want one added.