123

What Does 123 Mean in a Text?

The Quick Answer

123 means "I Agree."

More Observations...

The numerical sequence 123 is a quick way to express agreement. For example:

• Shelley: Dave is definitely the best-looking guy in the band.
• Cara: 123.

• Krista: I can't wear this dress; it makes my bum look big.
• John: 123. Oops! Did I just say that?

The origin of 123 as shorthand for "agree" is unclear. It appears to be based on 123 rhyming with "agree" and being a simple sequence that is unquestionably correct. Confusingly, 123 is sometimes used to mean "I love you." The origin of this meaning is also unclear. It may be a mistyping of the term 143, which counts the number of letters in each word of the phrase "I Love You." When followed by a question mark (123?), it means "Do you agree?"

Image for 123

When I write 123, I mean this:

123 means "I agree."

Summary of Key Points

"I Agree" is, by far, the most common meaning for 123 when it is used in a text. (Bear in mind that it could have another meaning if used in a different context.)

123
Definition:	I Agree
Type:	Internet Slang Term
Guessability:	5: Extremely difficult to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

An Academic Look at 123

In both meanings ("I agree" and "I love you"), 123 is used as a standalone declarative sentence (i.e., a statement). In other words, it is not used as another part of speech within a wider sentence. 123 is classified by our team as an "internet slang term" as opposed to an initialism abbreviation or an acronym. Initially, "internet slang terms" were introduced for brevity, but, particularly with the advent of predictive texting and on-screen keyboards, they are now mostly employed for fun. "Slang terms" differ from icons because they are not pictorial representations.

What Did We Say before Texting and Social Media?

Before the digital era, we would have just said "I agree" or "I love you" instead of using 123.

Using Numbers in Texts

This video shows the different ways that numbers are used in "text speak":

Example of 123 Used in a Text

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