TIL means "today I learned" in texting, and people put it in front of a fact they have just discovered.
This guide shows how to use TIL in a text, gives examples, separates it from 'til, traces it back to Reddit and lists acronyms that work the same way.
TIL meaning in texting at a glance
TIL is an initialism of "today I learned." It works as a label that tells the reader a new fact follows.
| If you see | It means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| "TIL the library has free museum passes" | The sender just learned that fact | React to the fact, not the acronym |
| "TIL" alone as a reply | "I did not know that until now" | Read it as surprise or thanks |
| "brb, til 5" | Probably 'til, short for until | Read it as "until 5" |
| A post titled "TIL …" | A shared fact, often with a source link | Open the link to check the claim |
What does TIL meaning stand for?
Each letter stands for one word, and the phrase is always written in the past tense. The acronym is normally typed in capitals so it does not read as the word "til."
| Letter | Word | What it adds |
|---|---|---|
| T | Today | The discovery is new, not something you always knew |
| I | I | The sender is speaking about their own knowledge |
| L | Learned | A fact follows, usually in the same sentence |
Some people write "TIL that" before the fact; others drop "that" and use a colon. Both are common and both are clear.
Where and how to use TIL
TIL fits casual places: text messages, group chats, comment threads, social posts and work chat with colleagues you know well. It sits at the start of the message.
- Start the message with TIL in capitals.
- Add the fact in one plain sentence, for example "TIL our gym opens at 5 on weekdays."
- Keep the fact short enough to read in one glance.
- Add a link or the source if the fact sounds surprising, so the reader can check it.
- Send it to someone who will care about the topic, rather than to a formal contact.
- Skip TIL in emails to clients, reports, school essays and job applications; write "I recently learned" instead.
TIL examples in texts and social media posts
| Where | Example | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Text to a friend | TIL my phone can scan documents from the camera app | Shares a useful discovery without a long setup |
| Group chat | TIL the cafe on Main Street closes at 3 on Sundays | Passes on practical news to everyone at once |
| Social post | TIL that Reddit was founded in 2005 | A short fact invites replies and shares |
| Reply in a thread | TIL, thanks for explaining | Signals the other person taught you something |
| Self-deprecating joke | TIL I've been saying that word wrong for 20 years | Admits a mistake in a light way |
TIL vs. 'til: Don't confuse these two meanings
TIL and 'til look alike but do different jobs. The capitals and the apostrophe are the quickest clues.
'til is a non-standard contraction of until. Till is actually the older word, and until is derived from it, so "till" needs no apostrophe.
| Form | Meaning | Example | Use it in formal writing? |
|---|---|---|---|
| TIL | Today I learned | TIL the bus runs later on Fridays | No, texting and social media only |
| 'til | Until (informal contraction) | Wait 'til Friday | No, write until or till |
| till | Until (standard word) | The store is open till 9 | Yes |
| until | Until (standard word) | The store is open until 9 | Yes |
When a lowercase "til" appears next to a time or day, it almost always means until. When "TIL" opens a sentence that states a fact, it means today I learned.
The history of TIL meaning and its origins
TIL is labelled Internet and Reddit slang because it is tied to Reddit's r/todayilearned community, where people share facts they have just picked up.
| When | What happened | Effect on TIL |
|---|---|---|
| June 2005 | Reddit is founded in Medford, Massachusetts | Creates the forum system where subreddits like r/todayilearned later appear |
| After 2005 | The r/todayilearned subreddit forms around sharing newly learned facts | The subreddit's name gives the acronym TIL its meaning |
| June-July 2015 | r/todayilearned joins IAmA, pics and science in temporary protest shutdowns | Shows how central the subreddit had become |
| Today | TIL appears in texts, group chats and social media posts | Most people meet it outside Reddit, often without knowing the source |
How to reply to a TIL text
| Your reaction | Sample reply | Tone |
|---|---|---|
| You did not know it either | No way, TIL too | Shares the surprise |
| You already knew it | Yes, I read that last year | Friendly, not dismissive |
| You doubt it | Really? Where did you see that? | Asks for the source politely |
| You want more | That's wild, what else did it say? | Keeps the conversation going |
| No time to reply | A reaction emoji | Acknowledges without a full message |
Acronyms like TIL: TBH, TMI, TL;DR and TTYL
TIL belongs to a family of chat acronyms that compress a common phrase. Several of them often appear in the same conversation, alongside labels such as YMMV for personal opinions and NSFW for content warnings.
| Acronym | Stands for | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| TIL | Today I learned | Before a new fact |
| TBH | To be honest | Before a frank opinion |
| TMI | Too much information | When someone overshares |
| TL;DR | Too long; didn't read | Before a one-line summary of a long post |
| TTYL | Talk to you later | To end a chat |
| TYT | Take your time | To tell someone there is no rush |
When not to use TIL in a message
| Situation | Use TIL? | Better choice |
|---|---|---|
| Text or chat with friends | Yes | TIL works as is |
| Work chat with close teammates | Usually | TIL, if the team already uses acronyms |
| Email to a manager or client | No | "I recently learned that…" |
| Essay, report or cover letter | No | State the fact and cite the source |
| Message to someone unfamiliar with slang | No | Write the full phrase "Today I learned" |
TIL meaning FAQ
What does TIL stand for in a text?
TIL stands for "today I learned." The sender puts it before a fact they have just discovered, such as "TIL the park has a free concert tonight," to share the surprise with the person reading the message.
Is TIL the same as 'til?
No. TIL in capitals means today I learned, while 'til with an apostrophe is an informal contraction of until. Context settles it: 'til sits next to a time or day, and TIL opens a sentence stating a fact.
Is 'til or till correct?
Till is correct. It is a standard word and actually older than until, which is derived from it. The form 'til with an apostrophe is a non-standard contraction, so formal writing uses till or until.
Where did TIL come from?
TIL is Reddit slang tied to the r/todayilearned community, where people post facts they have just learned. Reddit launched in June 2005, and the abbreviation later moved into texting, group chats and other social networks.
Where can you use TIL?
Use TIL in casual messages, group chats, comment threads and social posts. Avoid it in emails to clients, reports, school essays and job applications, where "I recently learned" reads better and nobody has to decode an acronym.
Should TIL be written in capitals?
Yes, capitals are the clearest choice. Writing TIL in uppercase separates it from the lowercase "til" that people use for until, so the reader knows a fact is coming rather than a time.
Bottom line: when to use TIL in a text
Use TIL in capitals at the start of a casual message to share a fact you just learned, and write until or till when you mean a time. The capitals and the position at the start of the sentence make the meaning obvious, while mixing TIL with 'til is the one mistake that confuses readers.
