ISO LTR? GSOH? Online Dating Abbreviations

If you are new to online dating, you have probably noticed many abbreviations sprinkled throughout people's profiles. These seemingly random combinations of letters can tell you a lot about an individual, but you need to figure out what they mean first. Here are a few of the most commonly used online dating abbreviations. Learn these abbreviations and you will be able to avoid those potential matches who are still LITPB (Living in their parents' basement!).

Ethnic Origins & Religious Beliefs

Many online daters indicate their race with an abbreviation. They use W for white, B for black, A for Asian, NA for Native American and H for Hispanic. Religious affiliation is indicated similarly. J stands for Jewish, LDS stands for Latter Day Saints or Mormon, and C stands for Christian.

Sexual Orientation

There are also abbreviations that explain sexual preference. BI means bi-sexual, and G means gay. Usually, straight individuals will not use any special abbreviations to let you know that they are heterosexual.

Status & Lifestyle

Sometimes, abbreviations can let you know a lot about someone's background and lifestyle. A D on a profile usually means divorced. If they occasionally indulge in recreational drugs, they will let you know by putting a 420 somewhere in their description. Social drinkers or light drinkers identify themselves with a SD or LD. If an individual does not smoke, they might let you know that fact by writing NS. Usually non-smokers indicate that they are seeking a fellow non-smoker.

Characteristics

In addition to letting you know a little bit about themselves, online daters use abbreviations to let you know what type of person they are looking for. HWP means Height Weight Proportional, indicating that they want someone who is reasonably in shape. SI means that they want someone with similar interests. GSOH means good sense of humor, something that is necessary in any relationship. ISO means in search of. So if a dater writes MISOWGHOH, that means he is looking for a woman with a good sense of humor.

Not everyone on a dating site is looking for a long term relationship. If they are looking for a long term relationship, they will indicate that by writing ISOLTR. Sometimes people just want a STR, or short term relationship. Others are looking for something even more serious. MM stands for marriage minded, so you should only contact that individual if you are ready for a very long term commitment.

Online daters even use abbreviations to let potential matches know what they like in the bedroom. BDSM or SM means that they are looking for some kinky sadomasochistic fun. One abbreviation that is showing up more frequently on dating sites is GGG. This abbreviation, coined by sex columnist Dan Savage, means Good, Giving, Game, meaning that you are willing to indulge a partner's fantasies, even if those fantasies might not be your exact cup of tea in the sack.

Think of these dating abbreviations like little clues that need to be deciphered. Your prize for figuring out the puzzle might just be finding the love of your life.

Here's a list we've managed to compile from profiles we've seen and on various places on the web. If you know of any more then please let us know using the Comments form below.