HRU is a short and casual way to ask, “How Are You?”
It is mostly used by young generations to initiate an online chat when they are texting their friends, sending messages on Snapchat, or posting on other social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
HRU Breakdown
HRU may seem confusing at first glance because it’s not a direct acronym for “How Are You,” but it’s used in texting and online chats to mean just that.
Let’s break down HRU letter by letter and explain it.
- “H” stands for “How,” straightforwardly taken from the first letter of the word.
- “R” represents “Are,” not by its initial letter but by how it sounds. In internet slang, “R” is commonly used instead of the whole word “are.”
- “U” stands for “You,” again based on the sound similarity rather than using the letter “Y.” As you may know, the letter “U” is widely recognized in text speak as a quick substitute for “you.”
As you can see, when putting it all together, HRU is a quick way to ask someone “How Are You?”
How to Use HRU?
Sending HRU in a text is just like asking “How Are You?” It’s a friendly way to start a conversation and show you care about the other person’s well-being or what’s going on with them.
You can use it with a question mark after it or not. Either way, it conveys a casual interest in the receiver’s status or feelings.
If you’re messaging someone you don’t know as well or in a slightly more formal context, adding a question mark (“HRU?”) can make it clear that you’re asking a question, and expecting a reply.
Furthermore, adding emojis can make your check-in feel more personal and warm.
People You Already Know
You can use HRU whenever you want to start a conversation with someone close to you – your friend, family member, partner, or cool school/work colleague. Also, if someone sends HRU to you, you can reply and ask them the same by using HRU.
Texting a friend Example:
- You: “HRU?”
- Friend: “All good, just busy with school. U?”
- You: “Same here, drowning in assignments. ☹ Got plans this weekend?”
- Friend: “Thinking about a movie night. Join?”
People You Don’t Know
Starting an online conversation with HRU can be a great icebreaker between people who haven’t met before, like on dating sites, or social media messages. People use HRU to show they’re interested in getting to know someone and to keep the conversation going.
Online Dating Example:
- You: “Hey, HRU? 😊 Noticed you’re into hiking. Got any favorite trails?”
- Them: “Hey! I’m good, thanks for asking. Oh yes, love hiking. Recently did the Appalachian trail. It was amazing! You into hiking as well.”
- You: “Absolutely, that’s awesome! The Appalachian trail is on my bucket list. I usually stick to local trails but looking to branch out. Got any tips for someone aiming for more challenging hikes?”
How to Respond to HRU?
How to respond to HRU can vary based on how well you know the person or your mood. You could simply reply with “I’m good, thanks! How about you?” if you’re feeling positive, or “Not too bad, just busy with work/school.” if you’re occupied.
It’s a chance to share a bit about your day or ask them back, keeping the chat friendly and open.
Other Meanings
It can also mean Hospital Rehabilitation Unit or High Resolution Ultrasound. However, you probably won’t use HRU in those contexts when texting.
HRU Alternatives
On the other side, HRU has many alternatives and variations. That means you can use many other similar abbreviations to ask someone how they are:
- How R U
- HAU/HAY – How Are U (You)
- HUD/HYD – How U (You) Doing
- HIG – How’s It Going
- HYB – How You Been
- HBY – How ‘Bout You (Used when someone already asks you HRU)
- HDYD – How Do You Do
- HWYD – How Was Your day
As you can see, there are many other ways to ask someone how they are to sound cool and casual when starting a conversation.
Conclusion
When you want to text and ask someone how they are, you can do it the traditional way or use HRU, which is short for “How Are You.” This (not direct) acronym is mostly popular among the younger generations.
There are also several other slang acronyms with the same or similar meaning to HRU, so you can use them as well.
