What does stfu mean?

Stfu is a classic internet acronym used to shorten a series of words so that emails and text messages can be typed faster. The "s" stands for "shut". The "t" stands for "the". The "f" stands for the classic four-letter profanity word that was changed in the television series "Battlestar Galactica" to "frack" so that the characters could use a profanity that was allowed on televison. The "u" stands for "up". Together, the phrase equates to typing the words "shut the fu** up!"

Stfu is used in many situations and can either be done in anger or as an exclamation.

The angry examples are situations in which conflict is present. However, "stfu" has much less impact when done over email or text message than when the words are spoken face-to-face. To some extent, the shortening of the phrase into acronym form helps diffuse tension, though that's not to say that the use of such a combination of letters might not lead to further conflict.

The exclamatory examples are much more positive. Although technically a profanity is being used, the acronym also serves to blunt the impact of the actual words, increasing the acceptability in everyday speech. One can liken the use of "stfu" to "oh my God!" in terms of an exclamation. "Stfu", with its crass origins, is a good example of how the Internet has shifted our language by making profanity more acceptable.

Below are a few examples of how one might use stfu in a text message.

Angry examples:

"This boy was all in my face, telling me my shoes were old and my clothes were nasty, so I just turned to him, put my finger in his face, and told him to stfu."

Messager 1: "I know you want my man, but you are ugly.

Messager 2: "No. You're ugly. Now stfu."

"If you could just stfu for two seconds and listen to what I'm telling you, you might actually be able to improve your life."

Messager 1: "You're a ho."

Messager 2: "Stfu."

Exclamation-type exchanges:

Messager 1: "So I was over at Jane's and I was thinking that Jane was coming on to me, but she left the room and suddenly her mom started coming up to me. Next thing I know, I'm in her bed and I'm sleeping with Jane's mom!"

Messager 2: "Stfu!"

Messager 1: "Hey, I won the Powerball!"

Messager 2: "Stfu!"