If you don’t text a lot or spend much time on social media, you might not know what NGL means. The most common NGL meaning is “not gonna lie,” though it has some other uses that we’ll cover. To learn about how to use the term and what those other uses are, please keep reading!
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What Does NGL Mean?
NGL stands for “not gonna lie.” So, what does it mean? This acronym means that you are admitting to something or offering an honest opinion. It can also be used to express criticism. For instance, your friend asks your opinion about his or her outfit, and you respond with, “NGL, your top doesn’t match your pants.”
Now, here are other examples of using it. You don’t typically capitalize NGL, but we’re capitalizing it for readability and emphasis.
- NGL your clothes really don’t match today.
- NGL I’m completely in the mood for pizza.
- I’ve seen better movies NGL.
When To Use NGL?
When you use NGL, you’re expressing an intent to be honest about something. The occasion can be trivial or serious, but there are definitely some circumstances where using it is inappropriate. A legal proceeding is one example. If you were testifying, raising your hand and stating “NGL” wouldn’t go over well with the judge.
A more appropriate circumstance would be admitting something. Another would be offering a mild criticism or complaint. Remember to use this acronym with caution because it can come off as an insult.
How To Use NGL?
NGL typically appears at the beginning of a sentence to soften the blow of your honesty. Younger people do not capitalize NGL, though that’s not an ironclad rule. Another important thing to keep in mind is that NGL is exclusively used in texting and on social media platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok.
In fact, speaking out “N-G-L” in real life would be just as bad as speaking “L-O-L.” At least it wouldn’t be as bad as saying LOL as a word, though. Even other adults would stop taking you seriously after that!
You might have noticed in the examples that there is no comma before or after NGL. An English teacher will tell you that there should be, and that’s correct. However, it’s not how most people do it. Texting has its own set of rules now, and insisting on proper grammar won’t get you anywhere.
Other Meanings of NGL
There are some other possible uses for NGL. The good news is that they’re all different enough that people are unlikely to misunderstand your usage. Here are a few:
- NGL is a popular social media app that lets people receive anonymous messages from friends. Although it was designed for integration with Instagram, it works with almost any platform.
- NGL is also an acronym for Natural Gas Liquids. Unlike LPG (liquified petroleum gas), these are liquid hydrocarbons (hydrogen and carbon) used in many sectors of the economy.
- There is also a corporation called NGL Energy Partners. Unless you work there, you’re probably not going to confuse anyone by using NGL.
Final Thoughts
For most people, the proper NGL meaning is “not gonna lie.” They use it to prepare someone else for an honest take, sometimes a bluntly honest one. Think of it as an alternative to TBH (to be honest). As always, know your audience when using terms like NGL and keep it only in your personal digital communication.
