What does DW mean on Snapchat?

Kawter Abed
Snapchat, Instagram, and WhatsApp logo on phone

‘DW’ is a popular term you might have come across on social media apps like Snapchat, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Twitter. Here’s everything to know about what it means.

Snapchat continues to be one of the most prominent platforms for people to communicate with their friends and loved ones online, through the means of disappearing messages, photos, videos, and more.

On the app, millions of users often employ slang terms and acronyms to chat more efficiently, and many of these terms are also used across other popular social media platforms.

You might have seen ‘DW’ used by friends or contacts on Snapchat, whether that’s in the caption of a snap, or in a message sent directly to you. If you aren’t sure what it means, here’s everything you need to know.

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DW meaning on Snapchat

On Snapchat, DW usually stands for ‘Don’t Worry.’ This phrase is used to reassure someone or to downplay concerns in a conversation. It can also be employed in a playful or humorous context, to dismiss petty mistakes or mishaps in a light-hearted way.

For example, if a friend sends you a message apologizing for not responding to your earlier message, you might reply with “DW, I wasn’t in a hurry.” This indicates that there’s no need for them to worry about the delay.

Or, if someone shares a minor mishap or embarrassing moment on their Snapchat story, you may respond with “DW, it happens to everyone,” offering reassurance and normalizing the situation.

Although it frequently pops up on Snapchat, the term is not unique to the platform, so you may see people use it on other apps like Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and more.

If there are any other terms and phrases you don’t know the meaning of, you can check out our guide here to learn all about Snapchat’s most popular slang.