What's The Meaning Of ‘IYKYK’? The Internet Slang Term Explained

Over the last few years, odds are you’ve stumbled across the slang term “IYKYK” somewhere around the internet. If you didn’t know already (which is probably why you’re here), IYKYK is an acronym that stands for “if you know, you know.” So now that you do know, allow us to explain the finer details of this ever-prevalent internet speak so you don’t run off and use it with wild abandon.

Where Does IYKYK Come From?

Originally stemming from the long-standing expression “if you know, you know” that precedes the now-trendy acronym, IYKYK was first defined on Urban Dictionary in late 2016 with the example, “Last night's party was crazy #iykyk.” That being said, its true first usage likely predates this among smaller communities and websites beforehand.

During the late 2010s, the term was largely popularized by two major developments. Firstly, the hit song from rapper PUSHA T, titled “If You Know You Know,” was one component that saw the expression appearing in tweets and Reddit posts shortly after. Secondly, the acronym was also notably popularized through its use as a hashtag on social media platforms, such as Twitter, TikTok and Instagram in 2019.

IYKYK Usage In Memes

You may be thinking, “Well now I know, you know? So what more do I really need to know?” But wait, there’s more. While it can be used as a simple abbreviation of that phrase, the actual context IYKYK is typically used in online is often linked to things like inside jokes among communities or vague references that actually have much deeper meanings.

So, if you see “iykyk” being used somewhere, there’s probably some sort of hidden message or reference only people “in the know” will truly comprehend. This leads us to its incorporation into meme culture.

As you can see in the previous example and those below, there is a multitude of ways IYKYK can be used in memes of all shapes and sizes, but it’s most commonly used to suggest a subtle nod to a reference that only some will understand if they have previous knowledge of the topic.

She wanted to find out where her Cat went 🤣#IYKYK pic.twitter.com/bnlgvRKCet

— Retro Rave 🐜 (@RetroRave2) April 15, 2022

Where can I use IYKYK?

The slang term is often used as a hashtag on social media posts like TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram or Twitter. TikTokers and Instagram users typically use the hashtag version in the body of their post, while users on platforms like Twitter tend to attach the hashtag to tweets and retweets. Additionally, both the standalone acronym and the hashtag are incorporated into the captions of memes on sites like Reddit.

How do you use IYKYK in a sentence?

• “When the season finale completely ruins the previous six seasons. #IYKYK”
• “The word ‘loss’ has become forever tainted for me. IYKYK.”
• “You may be old but are you this old? IYKYK”

For the full history of IYKYK, be sure to check out our entry on the slang term here for even more information.