PUA

What Does PUA Mean in a Text?

The Quick Answer

When used in a text, PUA means "Pick Up Artist."

More Details

image for PUA, showing a guy trying to chat-up a girl

Traditionally a "Pick-Up Artist" (PUA) was someone (usually male) who had a natural talent for attracting romantic or sexual partners (usually female). However, since the 2000s the term has come to be associated with men who use rehearsed strategies to flirt with and seduce women, especially when employing techniques and scripted conversations promoted in books and on YouTube.

Pick-Up Artistry claimed to help shy guys build confidence, but it was called out for being cringe, manipulative, and sexist. It is now widely seen as toxic. and has driven driven into corners of the web such as the "manosphere," with the "Incels" and "Red Pillers."

Image for PUA

PUAs are generally considered cringe, manipulative, and sexist.

Summary of Key Points

PUA
Definition:	Pick Up Artist
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	3: Guessable
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

An Academic Look at PUA

image for academic look, showing a teacher with a mortar board

PUA is an initialism, as you say each letter out loud (P-U-A). It's not an acronym, as they are abbreviations you pronounce as a word (like NASA and YOLO).