# What does NGL mean?

Canonical: https://postmesh.app/glossary/ngl

By PostMesh team. Published 2026-10-31; updated 2026-10-31.

NGL stands for Not gonna lie. NGL stands for not gonna lie, or not going to lie. People use it to introduce an honest opinion or admission, often a slightly surprising or embarrassing one. NGL is also the name of an anonymous Q&A app, a separate meaning.

## What NGL means

NGL is short for not gonna lie. Merriam-Webster defines it as not gonna lie or not going to lie, labels it informal, and lists lowercase ngl as the main form, with NGL as a less common variant. That matches how most people type it.

NGL works like a drumroll for honesty. It tells the reader that what follows is a genuine opinion or admission, often one the writer feels a little sheepish about. "Ngl, I cried at the ending" is a confession. "Ngl this is the best thing I've eaten all year" is enthusiasm with a wink. "Ngl, I'm not sure the plan works" is a gentle disagreement.

Nobody reading ngl assumes the writer usually lies. The phrase isn't about truth in a literal sense. It's about candor: dropping the polite filter for a moment. That's why it so often comes before mild embarrassment, a hot take or praise that feels almost too strong.

There's a second, unrelated meaning. NGL is also an anonymous messaging app, covered further down. If someone says they "got an NGL" or links one in their profile, they mean the app.

## Where NGL comes from

NGL is a plain abbreviation of the spoken phrase not gonna lie. When the short form first appeared isn't well documented. The Oxford English Dictionary has no entry for it, and Merriam-Webster's entry doesn't give a first-use date.

What is documented is how mainstream it became. Merriam-Webster added ngl to its dictionary in September 2023, introducing that update with the line "Ngl, this update is a big one", and it appears in Merriam-Webster's list of common texting abbreviations. Around the same time, the separate NGL app had made the three letters familiar in a new way.

- Unknown: First written use of ngl isn't documented by the dictionaries checked here
- 2021: The NGL anonymous messaging app launches, per the FTC
- Sept 2023: Merriam-Webster adds ngl to its dictionary
- July 2024: The FTC announces an order barring the NGL app from offering its service to anyone under 18

*From Merriam-Webster and the Federal Trade Commission.*

## How people use NGL on social media

NGL is casual and conversational, so it thrives in comments and messages.

- On TikTok and Instagram, it's everywhere in comments: "ngl this made me want to repaint my room."
- On X and Threads, it often opens a hot take or a mild confession, a softer cousin of "unpopular opinion".
- In group chats and [DMs](/glossary/dm), it's the standard way to admit something: a crush, a guilty pleasure, a mistake.
- In a [caption](/glossary/caption), it adds a confiding tone: "ngl, this trip changed me a little."
- On LinkedIn, it's rare in posts but appears in casual comments.

Some example messages, written for this page:

- ngl I thought the sequel was better
- Ngl I forgot we had plans today
- this song goes hard ngl
- ngl I'm a little nervous about the interview
- Not gonna lie, the homemade version beat the restaurant one
- ngl your haircut looks amazing

NGL can go at the start or end. At the start, it sets up the admission. At the end, it reads like a shrug after the fact: "this song goes hard ngl." It often pairs with [IMO](/glossary/imo) when the admission is an opinion, or with [SMH](/glossary/smh) when it's an embarrassing one.

## The NGL app: a different meaning

NGL is also the name of an anonymous messaging app. The app's own site describes prompts such as ask me anything, confessions, never have I ever and describe me in three words, and offers it on the App Store and Google Play. The site doesn't spell out what the name stands for.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, NGL launched in 2021. Users share a link on their social media accounts along with a prompt, and followers who click it can send that user an anonymous message in the app. That's why you'll sometimes see an NGL link in a profile, often as a [link in bio](/glossary/link-in-bio), or in a story asking people to send questions.

In July 2024, the FTC and the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office announced an order against NGL Labs and its founders. The FTC said the order would ban the company from offering anonymous messaging apps to anyone under 18, and the company agreed to pay $5 million. The FTC alleged that the app sent computer-generated messages made to look like they came from real people, and that its paid tier, which could cost up to $9.99 a week, promised to reveal who sent messages but only gave hints.

**ngl (slang)**
- Not gonna lie
- Introduces an honest admission
- Used in comments, chats and captions

**NGL (the app)**
- An anonymous Q&A app
- People share a link to get anonymous messages
- Barred from users under 18 by a 2024 FTC order

*App details from the FTC's July 2024 announcement and NGL's own site.*

The context almost always makes the meaning clear. "Ngl, that was fun" is the slang. "Send me something on my NGL" or a link in a profile is the app.

### Before you share an NGL link

Anonymous Q&A can be fun with friends, but it's worth thinking it through before you post a link to everyone who follows you. You won't know who sent a message, and the FTC's announcement pointed to the cyberbullying risks that come with anonymous messaging apps. The FTC also alleged that some messages users received weren't from real people at all, but generated by the app to drive engagement and paid sign-ups.

If you do share one, keep the audience small, be skeptical of any offer to reveal who sent a message, and stop if the messages turn mean. The FTC said the app's paid tier promised to unmask senders but delivered only hints, such as the time a message was sent and the sender's general location. Under the order, the app also isn't allowed to offer its service to anyone under 18, so it isn't something to pass around a group of younger teens.

## How to reply to NGL

NGL usually comes before something personal, so match the honesty.

**What came after their NGL?**
- A compliment → Thank them: "stop, thank you" or "that made my day".
- A confession → Make them feel normal: "same honestly" or "no judgment".
- An opinion you share → Agree: "fr" or "ngl same".
- Gentle criticism → Take it in good faith and ask for more: "fair, what would you change?"

*NGL signals candor. A warm, honest reply fits.*

A compliment that starts with ngl often feels more sincere than a plain one, because the writer is signaling they mean it. Accept it. For quick agreement, [FR](/glossary/fr) does the job in two letters.

## When not to use NGL

- On brand accounts, mostly. A company that writes "ngl, our new flavor slaps" can sound like it's imitating its customers. If your brand voice is genuinely casual, it can work, but use it sparingly.
- Before harsh criticism. "Ngl, your work isn't good" still lands as harsh. The phrase doesn't soften it as much as you think.
- In formal writing or with people you don't know well.
- When you mean it literally about lying. In a serious conversation about trust, write the full sentence.
- With readers unfamiliar with shorthand. The full phrase is short and clear.

**NGL fits when**
- [ ] You're admitting something light, like a guilty pleasure or a surprise
- [ ] You're giving a compliment you really mean
- [ ] The setting is a comment, chat or casual caption
- [ ] Your audience already uses internet shorthand

For creators, ngl in your own captions can make a post feel more personal, as long as what follows really is candid. "Ngl, this took me 40 tries" under a [TikTok](/platform/tiktok) video invites people into the process. "Ngl, you need this product" under an ad does the opposite. Readers can tell the difference between a confession and a sales line wearing one's clothes.

## NGL vs TBH, FR, ISTG and NGH

Several abbreviations signal honesty, each with its own shade.

| Term | Stands for | How it's used |
| --- | --- | --- |
| NGL | Not gonna lie | Introduces an admission or candid opinion |
| TBH | To be honest | Similar, often before something blunt |
| FR | For real | Agrees or stresses that something is true |
| ISTG | I swear to God | Seriousness, frustration or awe |
| IMO | In my opinion | Marks a view without the confessional tone |

NGL and TBH are the closest. Merriam-Webster defines TBH as to be honest, and in practice the two are often interchangeable. NGL tends to feel a bit more playful and confessional, TBH a bit more direct. [ISTG](/glossary/istg) is louder, closer to an oath.

> Watch the keyboard. Know Your Meme reports that TikTokers have joked about accidentally typing ngh instead of ngl. Ngh is usually read as a moaning sound, so the typo can be embarrassing. Check before you send.

## Questions

### Is NGL rude?

No. It's casual and friendly. It only feels rude when it introduces a harsh comment, which it doesn't really soften.

### What does NGL mean from a girl or a guy?

The same thing from anyone: not gonna lie. From a crush, ngl before a compliment usually means they really mean it.

### What's the difference between NGL and TBH?

They're close. Both introduce honesty. NGL often feels more playful and confessional, while TBH can sound more direct.

### What is the NGL app?

An anonymous messaging app. Users share a link, and people who click it can send them anonymous messages. A 2024 FTC order bars it from offering the service to anyone under 18.

### Is NGL in the dictionary?

Yes. Merriam-Webster added ngl in September 2023, defined as not gonna lie or not going to lie.

### Is it ngl or NGL?

Both are fine. Merriam-Webster lists lowercase ngl as the main form and NGL as a less common variant.

## Related terms

- [FR](https://postmesh.app/glossary/fr)

- [IMO](https://postmesh.app/glossary/imo)

- [ISTG](https://postmesh.app/glossary/istg)

- [SMH](https://postmesh.app/glossary/smh)

- [ONG](https://postmesh.app/glossary/ong)

## Sources

- [Merriam-Webster: ngl](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/NGL)

- [Merriam-Webster: We Added 690 New Words to the Dictionary for September 2023](https://www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/new-words-in-the-dictionary-september-2023)

- [Merriam-Webster: 93 Common Texting Abbreviations](https://www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/93-common-texting-abbreviations)

- [Merriam-Webster: TBH](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/TBH)

- [FTC: FTC Order Will Ban NGL Labs and its Founders from Offering Anonymous Messaging Apps to Kids Under 18 (July 9, 2024)](https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/07/ftc-order-will-ban-ngl-labs-its-founders-offering-anonymous-messaging-apps-kids-under-18-halt)

- [NGL: official site](https://ngl.link/)

- [Know Your Meme: What Does 'Ngh' Mean? (July 2023)](https://knowyourmeme.com/editorials/guides/what-does-ngh-mean-and-why-are-tiktokers-embarrassed-to-accidentally-type-it-the-meaning-of-ngh-explained)