ngl
Ngl (abbreviation) means not gonna lie; used to flag that what follows is a frank or slightly unflattering opinion. Example: “ngl, that film was a lot worse than I expected.”
How to Use Ngl
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA way of saying "honestly" before you admit what you really think.
Texting and social media only. Out of place in email to a manager, coursework or anything formal.
Use it before a mild confession or an unexpected opinion, not before a plain statement of fact.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____, that film was a lot worse than I expected.
Etymology
An initialism of "not gonna lie".
Synonyms
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between ngl and tbh?
Both introduce an honest opinion, but ngl signals that the speaker is admitting something slightly awkward, embarrassing or contrary to what people expect. tbh ("to be honest") is broader and often just softens a plain opinion.
Where does ngl go in a sentence?
Usually at the start, followed by a comma: "ngl, I forgot completely." It can also drop in mid-sentence as an aside, as in "that was ngl the best part".
Is ngl capitalised?
Almost never. It is written in lower case even at the start of a sentence, which is normal for texting initialisms. NGL in capitals reads as shouting or as an unrelated abbreviation such as natural gas liquids.