PWN

What Does Pwn Mean in a Text?

The Quick Answer

Pwn means "To own."

More Observations...

The term "pwn" is believed to have originated from an error in typing the word "own," as the letters "p" and "o" are adjacent on the keyboard. Pwn is now commonly used on war-game sites. However, it was originally used by computer hackers who referred to "owning" (i.e., taking control of) a system. Pwn does not mean to own in the possessive sense, but instead to dominate or control a game, object or situation.

Image for Pwn

When I write Pwn, I mean this:

Pwn means to own (which is a neologism for to dominate or to have control over).

Summary of Key Points

We have summarized the key points in the table below:

Pwn
Definition:	To Own (i.e., To Dominate or To Control)
Type:	Internet Slang Term
Guessability:	4: Difficult to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Examples of Pwn in Sentences

Here are examples of Pwn in conversations:

• Tony: How's the game going?
• Jordan: Ha, I pwn it.

• Tony: I'm thinking of joining the same karate club as you.
• Jordan: Yeah, I'll totally pwn you.

An Academic Look at Pwn

Pwn is a verb that derives from "to own." There is no commonly accepted pronunciation, although "pawn" and "pone" are the most popular versions.

What Did We Say before Texting and Social Media?

Before the digital era, we might have said something like "dominate" instead of Pwn.

Example of Pwn Used in a Text

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