What does 1337 mean?

[liliwinnt6]

What does 1337 mean to you yanks? It seemed to be anywhere funny.

[King Snarf]

This should explain some things. Basically, it's an internet language that some people find hilarious.

[liliwinnt6]

Oh? Any further explanation?

[WilloWisp]

It's internet shorthand for "elite", synonymous with "awesome" or "cool." "Leetspeak" use is generally limited to adolescent males, although "Textspeak," its close cousin, is in wide use across the genders and generations. Even some adults sometimes use Textspeak.

Textspeak is the use of phonetic abbreviations (often making use of numbers, such as "m8" instead of "mate") to use fewer characters via cell-phone texting systems, and thus make for quicker communication. To those unfamiliar with the practice, it merely looks like incomprehensible gibberish.

[Gorgo]

Always sounded to me that things like "elite-speak" and "text speak" are for people who don't care too much for the English language.

[Saya]

Well, when it started out, it was more of a "hacker code" or "geek speak". Sort of an attempt at making an internet "language". But like everything ever on the internet, it got so wide spread it eventually got completely worn out. Now it's mostly used by gamers who think using it makes them sound cool.