This article takes a look back on what is HMU meaning, the various ways by which it’s used in everyday communication, how it came to be and the ways to use it without coming across as out of place.
Internet slang evolved very rapidly but there are a few abbreviations that find their way to remain around long enough to become a part of everyday digital conversation. One such term is HMU. It is used frequently within the text message – social media items, people’s online conversations have no explanation to the majority. For the non-native speaker of the language this abbreviation may not be clear at the onset. However when deconstructed, the meaning and its employment are fairly straightforward.
What HMU Actually Means
HMU is short for “hit me up.” In simple words, that’s the casual way of requesting someone to contact you later on, or get in touch when they’re available. Instead of writing a longer sentence HMU keeps the message short and casual.
For example, someone can say, “HMU when you’re free” or “HMU if you want coffee.” In these situations, then, it’s an invitation to contact me by phone at some other date. Because of its laid back nature, HMU is mostly used between friends, acquaintances or in a professional setting.
Alternative Meaning Depending on Context
While HMU often means “contact me”, there is a context in which the term can be a little different than what it would otherwise be. In some conversations it’s used in regard to talking to someone who contacts you out of nowhere or who asks you for something.
For example, a sentence like “She HMU asking for help with her project” would imply that there was an incoming request for help with some sort of project attached. This use is very close to the wider slang sense of hit up: which has been used for a long time to mean asking someone for money, a favour or time.
The abbreviation itself doesn’t really change, but depending on the words surrounding it, the purpose is more apparent.
Where You’ll Commonly Find HMU Put to Work
HMU fits in the space it is used in where no rules for casual language apply. Social media platforms, messaging apps, and online forums are the most common homes. It’s often found in the caption and stories or some of the comments, where brevity is of the utmost relevance.
Given that it’s informal, HMU is most often not used in formal emails, and in academic writing and other professional documents. Indeed, using it in the wrong situation can make a message sound too casual or not clear enough, especially when trying to have a conversation with someone not in the loop of using internet slang.
The Cultural Behind “Hit Me Up”
The term “hit me up” did not come from the internet. Its roots can be traced to the urban culture of the 90s in particular to the Hip Hop Culture. Thereby, pagers were a popular tool of communication during those times. When one person wanted to get in touch, they would “beep” a pager and this would cause the user to get in touch.
Over the years hit me up evolved into short for initiating contact, and the phrase found its way into music, pop culture and the vernacular. As mobile phones replaced pagers the expression was still relevant and carried across to new technology.
The abbreviation HMU, however, is only used more recently. It began appearing online sometime around 2009 and caught on. As of 2010, it was one of the most-used internet abbreviations, mostly through social networking.
Why HMU Was So Popular Online
Part of the reason why HMU is so successful is due to its efficiency. Internet communication is a high-paced and convenient way of communication and abbreviations can accomplish that. HMU produces a very loud and clear message in three letters which makes it more suitable for fast-fire conversation.
Another reason behind its popularity is that it is familiar. Since the common spoken phrase was hit me up, it was only natural to make it shorter. There was little learning curve to be involved which helped the abbreviation to spread quickly, and stick around.
How to use HMU Correctly in Conversations
It is not generally difficult to use HMU. It can be used instead of “hit me up” in almost any casual sentence without altering the meaning of that sentence. Examples of this include “HMU when you get home” or “HMU later tonight.” There are no special grammar rules for the phrase, however, it goes pretty nicely at the beginning or end of the sentence.
HMU can also be used in his / her description of past tense; such as “They HMU last weekend”, or “He HMU asking for advice”. In these cases it is used like a verb, with the idea of describing an action of contacting someone.
Capitalization isn’t that severe either. HMU and hmu are both commonly known, sometimes, case is used in casual and informal speech.
When HMU Might Not Be Appropriate
Despite its versatility, however, HMU is not appropriate in all situations. Formal communication is typically broader in terms of formal language. The usage of the abbreviation HMU in a business proposal or official email may make the message appear unpolished and/or confusing.
These are thoughts also for the audience. Not everybody is aware of the internet slang especially among different age groups or people from different cultures. In these cases spelling out ” contact me or get in touch will ensure that there is no misunderstanding.
Final Thoughts
HMU is a little abbreviation, but it has a very amazing history. What started as a spoken phrase that was identified with pager culture became one of the most recognisable shortcuts for the internet. Today, a convenient way is to invite a conversation, make plans or describe messages out of expectation.
To keep the digital communication clear and natural, understanding when and how to use HMU helps. Used in the right place it is nevertheless a simple, effective statement to say, “reach out when you’re ready.”
Also Read: What Does SMH Mean? A Simple Explanation
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