What tone and formality is CU?

"CU" has a casual & conversational tone and is considered informal in digital communication.

Reference ID: cu

Verified Reference Updated: Jan 15, 2025

CU

See you

Pronunciation: /cu/

Primary Meaning

CU stands for "See you".

"CU" stands for "See you". Commonly used in texting contexts and digital communication.

Primary Category Texting

Tone & Register Casual & conversational

Formality Level Informal

First Observed c. 2000s (SMS & Chat Era)

Real-World Chat Example

You

Doorbell just rang with our grocery delivery, CU!

Friend

All good! Take your time, talk in a bit 👋

How it works here: Here, "CU" signals a temporary pause or friendly conclusion to the current chat.

Send "CU" when you need to step away from your device or conclude a conversation politely.

Common Communication Contexts:

Text messages Direct messages (DMs) Group chats

Alternative spellings: cu, CU