Internet
hbu
What does hbu mean?
A conversational reflex that signals interest and keeps the back-and-forth going instead of letting a chat die.
"'just chilling tonight, hbu?'"
Origin
An initialism of 'how about you,' a stock conversational phrase. It became standard texting shorthand alongside 'wbu' as messaging culture rewarded short reciprocal replies.
Frequently asked questions
What does hbu mean in texting?
It means 'how about you?' You send it to bounce a question back after answering it.
Is hbu the same as wbu?
Basically yes. 'hbu' is 'how about you' and 'wbu' is 'what about you' — both reflect the question back, and people use them interchangeably.
When do you use hbu?
Right after you answer someone's question, to show interest and keep the conversation flowing.
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