381

What Does 381 Mean?

381 usually means "I Love You." It can also refer to the "381 Movement" (an activist group). Here is more information about each of these definitions with examples.and explanatory videos.

I Love You

The number 381 is an "internet slang term" widely used with the meaning "I Love You." The figure 3 represents the number of words in "I Love You," the 8 represents the total number of letters in the phrase, and the 1 tells us the number 381 has one meaning.

Using numbers such as 381 allows the sender to to express devotion without suffering the embarrassment felt by some people when saying "I love you."

Other numbers used to express devotion in the same way include:

• 143 = I love you (the number of letters in each word).
• 721 = Love you (7 letters, 2 words, 1 meaning).
• 831 = I love you (8 letters, 3 words, 1 meaning).

Video Summarizing 381 as "I Love You"

Here's a short video explaining how to use 381 with the meaning "I Love You." Check out our guide to text-speak using numbers.

381 Movement

In June 2020, an activist group calling itself the "381 Movement" emerged in Richmond (Virginia), during the protests surrounding the death of George Floyd, who was killed on 25 May 2020, by Minneapolis (Minnesota) police officer Derek Chauvin.

Organizers of the "381 Movement" stated that the name was inspired by the 381-day-long Montgomery (Alabama) bus boycotts of the 1950s, and they would be protesting for 381 days. They explained, "... the 381 Movement aims to promote change and equality for the people of the world."


(#381Movement)

Video Summarizing the 381 Movement

Here is a short video summarizing the rise of the 381 Movement.

Image for 381

When I write 381, I mean this:

381 can also refer to the activist group the "381 Movement."

Summary of Key Points for First Definition of 381

"I Love You" is the most common definition for 381 on Snapchat, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.

381
Definition:	I Love You
Type:	Internet Slang Term
Guessability:	5: Extremely difficult to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Summary of Key Points for Second Definition of 381

"381 Movement" is another definition for 381.

381
Definition:	381 Movement (Activist Group)
Type:	Internet Slang Term
Guessability:	5: Extremely difficult to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Examples of 381 in Sentences

Here is an example of 381 being used in a (shouted!) conversation:

• Protestors: 381! 381! 381!
• Police officers: We love you too!

An Academic Look at 381

When used with the meaning "I Love You," 381 is classified by our team as an "internet slang term" as opposed to an initialism abbreviation or an acronym.

"Slang terms" like this one 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 love you" instead of using the internet slang term 381.

Using Numbers in Texts

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

Example of 381 Used in a Text

Quiz

Try our fun quiz to test your knowledge of slang and texting abbreviations. Show Instructions