Explainer

What Does WBK Mean and How Do I Use It Online?

By Michael Bryant

Last Updated on August 19, 2021

WBK is an internet abbreviation you might not have heard about. Here’s a look at the term, its meaning, and how it’s being used.

Not all internet acronyms are popular and well-known. Occasionally, you’ll run into ones like “WBK,” which stands for “we been knew.” Are you still confused? Don’t be and read ahead about our latest, in a series of pieces about internet abbreviations.

What is WBK?

According to the Urban Dictionary, one would use the term WBK as “a response to indicate that whatever someone just said was obvious to a majority of people.” Additionally, the “phrasing is a play on the poor dialect that is spoken by the uneducated and ignorant.” In the most general of terms, WBK means, “I know.” The term is often used on Snapchat, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram.

wbk: An internet acronym standing for "we been knew". We been knew is… https://t.co/NrqzMiFdu1 pic.twitter.com/dh3g5olgbs

— Urban Dictionary (@urbandictionary) October 14, 2018

StayHipp takes it further and explains the term is often associated with African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and black slang. Other terms for AAVE include Black English (BE), African American Anglish (AAE), African American Language (AAL), and Black English Vernacular (BVE).

It’s also worthing noting WBK is increasingly popular on Black Twitter. It also has a following on Stan Twitter and KPop Stan Twitter. The former is a community of Twitter users that post opinions related to music, celebrities, TV shows, movies, and social media, while the latter adds in the KPop element.

Synonyms

There are other ways of saying WBK, including We Know, Obviously, No Kidding and You Don’t Say.

Other Uses for WBK

“We Been Knew” isn’t the only use of the term. Workbooks, women’s basketball, What Birds Know, Work By Night, Welcome Back Kotter, Wardrobes Bathrooms Kitchens, Wine Beer Kitchen, and many more, have also used the abbreviation over the years.

At groovyPost, we’ve looked at many internet abbreviations and how they get used in recent months. These have included PWNED, AMA, IRL, DM, FOMO, YMMV, and many more. Look for new ones in the coming weeks and months.