ILU
ILU has 2 meanings
- 1.I love you
- 2.I like you
I like you
If the person you're talking to likes you but doesn't love you, ILU stands for "I like you." You might see ILU used this way in messages like "ILU, but only as a friend" or "ILU, but I don't see us being together."
This, of course, can be very confusing - as ILU also stands for "I love you." So if a message that contains ILU left you a bit confused, it might not be entirely your fault.
Example
ILU a lot - but not in that way
Related Slang
IYQ | I like you |
ITILY | I think I like you |
frnd | Friend |
Friend zone | A relationship where a person's love interest thinks of them as just a friend |
BFF | Best friends forever |
LULAF | Love you like a friend |
AAF | As a friend |
FML | F*** my life |
ILU is a common way to tell a person you love them when texting, messaging, online, etc. While people typically send ILU to romantic partners (SOs), they may also send it platonically to family members and friends.
For example, you may text your gf, "I can't wait to see you tomorrow. ILU!!!!" Or, you may message your husband, "im sorry I missed your call. ill be free the rest of the night if you have time to call back. ilu and can't wait to hear how your first day went!"
If you want to respond in kind, you can reply to ILU with ILU2. You can also send back ILY, 143, iluvu, or any number of other acronyms and abbreviations that mean I love you.