What Does "TBH" Mean?
What "TBH" Really Means
"To Be Honest" is one of the longest-standing internet abbreviations, used to signal that the speaker is about to share their genuine, unfiltered opinion. It can precede compliments, criticisms, or confessions. In early social media (particularly Facebook), posting "TBH" was used as a prompt for others to share their honest opinions about you. Today it's simply used inline as a conversational modifier that adds sincerity to whatever follows.
Origin & History
One of the earliest internet abbreviations; widespread from the mid-2000s.
Tone & Context
This slang is generally considered neutral in tone. Universally understood and appropriate in casual digital communication.
Example Sentences
- "TBH, I don't actually like that restaurant but I didn't want to say anything."
- "TBH, you've been one of my favorite people to work with."
- "That movie was fine, tbh, nothing special."
Related Slang
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Browse our full Texting Abbreviations dictionary for more terms, or check the complete slang glossary.