What does 1337 mean? English can be a complicated language. English internet slang can be even trickier. Knowing what a word means is one thing, but what do you do when the word doesn’t even seem to be a word and is instead a series of numbers? This lesson is focused on the internet slang term (and unofficial language) “1337,” which is pronounced “leet.”
1337 Meaning and Origin
What Does “1337” Mean?
In the simplest terms, “1337” is a dated piece of internet slang that means “elite.” More context follows, but first, a translation: “elite” is shortened and shifted to “leet,” and then the letters are replaced with numbers that approximately resemble them, resulting in “1337.” (l=1, E=3, 7=T).
Origin of “1337”
“1337” is just one of the words that has stuck around from an internet “language” known as leetspeak. It’s pretty common now, in text, to see words shortened, letters mixed up, and numbers replacing letters, but that wasn’t always the case. During the rise of the internet, especially the late 1980s and into the 1990s, message boards, short character limits, and word filters resulted in leetspeak. It’s not an official language as much as a way of typing, but it grew in popularity, not really starting to fade until Discord and Vent and other voice chat platforms took over as the primary way to communicate while gaming.
Other Meanings of “1337”
Though the actual meaning is still the same, some of the connotations with leetspeak in general and with “1337” in particular have shifted. For instance, it was originally used to refer to elite players, people who were really good at one or more games. As it grew in popularity, the usage grew a little more sarcastic, so it was often used for people who mistakenly thought they were good at a game. This is closer to the current connotations, although now that the term is a little older, it’s also used to refer to people who are out of touch with current internet lingo or people who are good at classic games.
Who Uses “1337”?
People who spend a lot of time online are more likely to use “1337,” as are people who started using the internet in the 1980s or 1990s.
When to Use “1337”
You can use “1337” if you’re trying to be silly or mean, especially in the context of online games, calling someone an elite player either genuinely or sarcastically.
Examples of 1337
Here are some examples of how you might see “1337” used online or in text.
Examples in Statements
- Hard mode is the 1337 way to play.
- Dude, I thought you were 1337.
- U a n00b or u 1337?
The last sentence translates to, “Are you a newbie, or are you elite?”
Examples in Conversation
- Person A: That was some 1337 playing, bro.
- Person B: …are you being sarcastic rn?
- Person A: Are you 1337 or are you lame?
- Person B: 1337. Obviously.
- Person A: Some 1337 players already made the new level cap.
- Person B: For real? I thought that was impossible.
In the first set of sentences, “rn” is short for “right now.”
Alternatives to “1337”
Instead of “1337,” you can use “elite” or “really good” or “the best,” or any other term that fits your intended meaning.