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In informal chat conversations online, I have seen Spanish speakers write the abbreviation "xq." What does this stand for, and why?

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  • I'd suggest you not to use them, It's a bad habit and mostly used by teenagers Commented Nov 26, 2011 at 19:02
  • 6
    There is a universal law that whenever you write against incorrect usage of language, you will invariably make a usage faux pas of your own for everybody to see. For instance some people would regard the omission of a full stop/period at the end of a sentence to be a bad habit. (-; Commented Nov 27, 2011 at 10:42
  • I do it when I am in a hurry, texting, lazy or feel comfortable enough with someone to use it. If is something formal I would never use it
    – cayerdis
    Commented May 22, 2012 at 4:14

2 Answers 2

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It essentially means porque

x is widely recognized as the multiplication sign. To say it one says por.

x = Por

and q is the abbreviation of que. Being just a q there are no words I can think of that are monosyllables and that start with q. So it is safe to assume it is que.

q = que

xq = porque

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    "Porque" no lleva tilde. "¿Por qué ...?" sí la lleva Commented Nov 25, 2011 at 7:32
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    «xk» means the same as «xq», just as «k» means the same as «q» and both mean «que» (or «qué»). But «xD» has nothing to do with «por». Texting is hard.
    – Brian
    Commented Nov 25, 2011 at 8:22
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    xD resembles this smiley.
    – kodkod
    Commented Nov 25, 2011 at 10:46
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    Porqué lleva tilde cuando se utiliza la forma de la pregunta "por qué" en forma indirecta, como sustantivo. Son tres formas diferentes. Ejemplo: "Le preguntaron el porqué de su vestimenta inadecuada" Commented Jun 4, 2012 at 23:04
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In SMS/chat slang:

  • xq, xk, pq means "porque" or "por qué";
  • x means "por", because it looks like × (multiplication sign);
  • q or k means "que";
  • xf means "por fa(vor)"
  • qtl or ktl means "que tal";
  • qtpsa or ktpsa means "que te pasa";
  • = means "igual";
  • + means "mas" or "más";
  • - means "menos";
  • s means "es";
  • l means "el";
  • d means "de";

etc.

Example:

"ktl?"
"+ o -"
"xk? ktpsa?"
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    It's harder to write slang than regular spanish! :P
    – Alenanno
    Commented Nov 25, 2011 at 12:48
  • It's hard to write slang in any language... except owns.
    – Braiam
    Commented Jul 30, 2013 at 19:59

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