idk
Stable🌍UniversalDefinition
Abbreviation for 'I don't know.' The most versatile three letters in texting. Can express genuine uncertainty, passive-aggressive deflection, or 'I know but I don't want to tell you.' Tone is everything and completely invisible in text. Good luck.
Translation for Parents
It means 'I don't know.' But fair warning: when your kid texts you 'idk' in response to 'what do you want for dinner,' they absolutely have a preference. They just don't want to be the one to say it.
Examples
“idk maybe”
“I don't know, maybe (translation: probably not)”
“idk ask mom”
“I don't know, ask mom (translation: I do know, but this isn't my department)”
Cringe Score
Safe to use
If 'idk' is cringe to you, you may have actually been frozen in ice since 1995. Welcome to the future. We have abbreviations now.
Category
abbreviation
Last Verified
2026-02-25
Sources
editorial