New to gaming chats and confused by the shortcuts everyone types? You are not alone. Here is a simple glossary of common terms, so you can follow conversations without feeling lost.

AFK: Away from keyboard. A player says this when stepping away for a moment.

GG: Good game. A polite way to end a match, win or lose.

NPC: A non-player character, controlled by the game, such as a shopkeeper or guard.

Buff and nerf: A buff makes something stronger, and a nerf makes it weaker after an update.

Grind: Repeating the same task many times to level up or earn items.

Lag: A delay ***ween your action and what appears on screen, usually caused by a slow connection.

Meta: The most effective strategies at a given time, according to the community.

Smurf: An experienced player using a new account to face weaker opponents.

Not every confusing word is slang, though. Names of websites and platforms can also be unclear at first. When someone mentions Dm First in a chat, the sensible step is to ask what they mean and where they heard about it, rather than guessing. Then read the site yourself and form your own opinion.

A quick tip for learning faster: keep a small notes file on your phone. Whenever you see a word you do not know, write it down and look it up later. After a few weeks, most chats will feel natural.

Also remember that slang changes by game and by region. A word that is friendly in one community can sound rude in another. When in doubt, ask politely.

This glossary is only a start. What terms confused you the most when you began? Which short forms do you see every day? Please add more words with a simple meaning and, if you like, a tiny example sentence. Let us turn this thread into the easiest dictionary on the forum.