HBU
HBU (phrase) means How about you — used in texting to turn a question back on the person you are messaging. Example: “Not much going on this weekend, hbu?”
How to Use HBU
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishText shorthand for and you?
Informal messaging only.
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Not much going on this weekend, _____?
Etymology
An initialism of how about you.
Synonyms
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between HBU and WBU?
Nothing meaningful. HBU stands for how about you and WBU for what about you, and both are used to bounce a question back. WBU is slightly more common on some platforms; the choice is personal habit.
How do you reply to HBU?
Answer whatever question was just asked of you. If someone says doing fine, hbu?, they are asking how you are, so reply with your own news rather than repeating the abbreviation back.
Is HBU flirty?
Not in itself. It simply keeps a conversation going, though because it invites the other person to keep talking, it often turns up early in flirty exchanges.
Featured In
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