Thread: Prolly????

OK, i"ve checked several of my dictionaries and my computer dictionary and this word "prolly" does not exist! I have never heard the word used in any conversation that I have had in my lifetime, but since discovering this sight I occasionally run across the word.
Can anyone tell me what it means, or, is it just poor spelling and I can't figure out the word?

Mark,

This is a guess: is it short-hand for probably?

James.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Mark,

This is a guess: is it short-hand for probably?

James.

Maybe!? I never learned shorthand though.

It's punk/text speak for probably. If you hang out with younger, lazy people enough, they actually do use it in conversation. It's enough to make you tear your hair out.

It's a text-messaging contraction for probably....sad as that may be.

it's lazy speak for "probably"

I can understand the need to butcher words when you are texting. If you turn off any assisting software, it takes typing speed and some creativity in butchering the language while still being understood, to communicate effectively. Same as customized plates, just faster.

It's short for 'probably' in the UK too, generally used by the same people who shorten 'Christmas' to 'crimbo'.

Urban dictionary:

http://www.urbandictionary.com/defin...=prolly&page=1

Originally Posted by Quick Orange

It's punk/text speak for probably. If you hang out with younger, lazy people enough, they actually do use it in conversation. It's enough to make you tear your hair out.

Well, since a language is a fairly dynamic thing, may be we have to get used to this kind of changes. If the youngsters decide that's how it is, than that's how it will end up being.
I've seen in my own language spellings that would be wrong 20 years ago become correct. Usually there is a transition period when both spellings are correct as long as you are consistent throughout the text and I guess in another generation or two the more complicated one becomes obsolete.
It's hard for me to effortlessly understand old texts in my own language and I doubt most can read Shakespeare and get a solid idea what he's talking about. Also I've noticed is that us foreigners who studied Shakespeare translated seem to appreciate it a lot more than native english speakers who study it in the original language.

I bet a while ago 'color', 'center' and 'theater' were making people cringe too.

Though the two words I've got an issue with are 'nucular' and 'Democrat' used as an adjective. For the first I like to think that a president ought to be capable to use the official language of the country he's president of, and not a local dialect, at least when doing the official job. The second is much worse, as to me a desire for political slur can never justify this level of disrespect to one's language. So I have little sympathy for people who complain that they need to 'press 1 for english' yet cannot demonstrate a command of that language.