Prefaces an honest opinion, similar to “ngl” but older and more neutral.
How to use it
Works anywhere in a sentence: “tbh i never finished that show”.
Examples
- tbh pineapple on pizza is fine
Chat slang
What does TBH mean?
TBH
stands for “To Be Honest”
Stranger: do you actually like texting strangers
You: tbh i was bored. but this beats scrolling
Stranger: tbh same
You: ok so what are we talking about
Where it comes from
“To be honest”, one of the older internet abbreviations, in use since early forums and instant messaging.
Is it friendly or rude?
Neutral. It flags an opinion as sincere, and works at the start, middle or end of a sentence.
Spellings and variations
“tbh” is the standard form, and capital “TBH” reads a little more emphatic. “tbf” (to be fair) is a close relative used to give someone the benefit of the doubt, and “tbqh” (to be quite honest) is an older, more emphatic version you still occasionally see.
Common mistakes
On some social apps a lone “tbh?” was once a prompt asking for an honest opinion of the person, so it can occasionally mean “tell me what you really think of me”. In ordinary chat it never does. The more common pitfall is using it to excuse bluntness: honesty is fine, but “tbh” does not make an unkind comment any kinder.
How to reply to “tbh”
- Ask for more: “tbh about what?”
- Return the honesty: “tbh I felt the same and said nothing”.
Questions about TBH
Where does tbh go in a sentence?
Anywhere: “tbh I loved it” or “I loved it tbh”. At the end it often softens something that might otherwise sound harsh.
Is tbh rude?
Not on its own, but it often comes before a blunt opinion. Pair it with something kind if the honesty might sting.
Related slang
More in Chat Slang Decoded and random chat etiquette.
Try it: use “tbh” on a real stranger
tbh i’m just bored. entertain me?
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