Abbreviations are common these days, especially in digital communications, but it’s not always obvious what they mean.

If you’ve seen the abbreviation TBH on the internet or in conversations, you might be wondering what it refers to.

Most commonly, TBH is an abbreviation for the phrase to be honest. People use it in various ways depending on the context.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways people use TBH.

TBH Definition

TBH is a contraction for the phrase to be honest. You can think of it as a shorter way to say “in my honest opinion.”

Some other related words to TBH include frankly, in all honesty, and in all sincerity.

Occasionally, people also use TBH as an acronym for to be heard. People might use this form of TBH to say that they aren’t being heard in a group setting or to express that they feel overlooked in a social or political context.

This second form of TBH is much rarer than to be honest. You can usually figure out which one someone means based on the context of the sentence.

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TBH Meaning

Like any acronym, TBH can be used in slightly different ways in different contexts. Let’s take a closer look at all the meanings TBH can have.

TBH Meaning in Text

When it comes to texting, TBH is usually used as a slang term between friends.

People usually use the term TBH to express their honest opinions, admit embarrassing things, or simply to add emphasis to a statement.

For example, you might say, “TBH, I don’t actually like pizza,” or “I don’t know if I want to go to the party, TBH.”

TBH Meaning in Chat

TBH means the same thing in chat as it does in text. You might see someone using this acronym on a chat platform like Facebook Messenger.

TBH Meaning in Social Media Posts

On social media, TBH has now taken on a slightly different meaning. Many teens use a TBH post to give someone a compliment.

The Washington Post profiled a 13-year-old girl who posted over nine pictures on Instagram with a caption like “Like all my pictures for a tbh.” When people liked her pictures, she’d give them a compliment like “tbh, you’re nice” or “tbh, you’re pretty.”

These days, a TBH can be seen as a type of currency on Instagram because you can give someone a TBH in exchange for more likes and comments on your own posts. It’s a way to get more engagement by saying nice things about others.

Meaning of TBH for Android

At this point, you might be wondering how many different meanings of TBH there are. Luckily, the meaning of TBH on Android is the same as on any other type of phone. You can use a simple TBH to express your honest opinions about something.

Examples of How to Use TBH

Let’s take a look at some examples of how TBH might be used in a sentence.

• I’ve never actually liked the Harry Potter movies, TBH.

• TBH, I don’t even get why everyone thinks he’s attractive.

• TBH, I think you look amazing in your prom dress.

• TBH, I feel like everyone in this group is ignoring me, and I wish my voice could be heard more.

• Like my Instagram post for a TBH!

Remember that TBH is frequently used in conversations between friends, but it might not make sense in professional settings. You can use ProWritingAid’s Paraphrase report to help reword your writing for more formal situations.