Raising What does WYLL mean? The texting slang, explained for parents
What does WYLL mean? "WYLL" stands for "what you look like?" According to Dictionary.com, it's used in texts and apps like Snapchat to ask someone to send a photo or describe their appearance, often in hopes of getting a picture back. It has been used since at least early 2020. It isn't rude, but Dictionary.com notes that blunt askers are often mocked as superficial or desperate.
WYLL at a glance
| Stands for | "What you look like?" source |
|---|---|
| Used for | Asking someone to send a photo or describe their looks |
| From | In use since at least early 2020; common on Snapchat by late 2022 |
| Rude? | No, though blunt senders get mocked |
Checked October 2026. Slang changes fast; meanings can differ between groups of kids.
What does WYLL mean?
Short answer: "What do you look like?"
- "wyll?" usually means "send a picture."
- Sometimes it means "describe yourself."
- Dictionary.com says it's often used in hopes of getting a picture back.
Where WYLL came from
According to Dictionary.com, WYLL has been used as a shortening of "what do you look like?" since at least early 2020. By late 2022 it was common enough on Snapchat that it was criticized on other social media platforms.
Is WYLL a bad word?
Short answer: No. It has no swear words. Dictionary.com notes that people who send it bluntly are often seen as superficial, annoying, or desperate.
The habit kids may copy: photos on request
WYLL turns a chat into a photo request. Kids who use messaging apps may get it from people they don't know.
Try tonight: a fort rule for photos
Agree on one rule: "We only send photos to people we know in real life." Practice a reply, like "I don't send pics." In our program, this is the lesson "My Fort": the few rules a child keeps no matter what.
FAQ
What does WYLL stand for?
"What you look like?"
What does WYLL mean on Snapchat?
A request to send a photo or describe your looks; Dictionary.com says it was common on Snapchat by late 2022.
Is WYLL rude?
It isn't a swear word, but blunt askers are often mocked as superficial, per Dictionary.com.
How long has WYLL been around?
Since at least early 2020, according to Dictionary.com.
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Read next →Raising Stoics is a 12-week program for ages 5–6, built on Stoic philosophy and developmental psychology. One lesson is "My Fort": the few rules a child keeps no matter what.