Definition

Abbreviation for "I love you," used as a quick way to express affection or strong positive feeling toward someone, often used between close friends or romantic partners in digital communication.

Example Usage

ily babe, thanks for always being there for me.

Origin

Text-speak abbreviation that became common in mobile phone messaging and instant messaging during the late 1990s and 2000s.

Fun Fact

"ILY" is sometimes accompanied by a hand gesture showing the sign language for "I love you" (pinky, index, and thumb extended), which originated in Deaf culture.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

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