Leetspeak

Leetspeak (or 133t5p34k) is a way of communicating online in a sort of code by changing the spellings of words. It most likely originated in bulletin board systems, where people wanted to talk about piracy and hacking without board administrators filtering their discussions. It then spread from bulletin boards to other online communities, especially online gamers.

Leetspeak is not a consistent system, since there can be many different spellings for one word. It also does not follow any grammar or capitalization rules. It often substitutes numbers for letters (e.g., 3 for e or 5 for s), or letters for other letters that sound similar (z for s). The result is messages that are nearly indecipherable to the uninitiated. For example, the phrase "Frequently asked questions" could become "PHr3Ku3N7ly H4s|{3d K0o£St330nZ."

Leetspeak is related to other systems of abbreviations and acronyms that kids use to communicate online, such as chat code. Parents should have a basic knowledge of these acronyms and spellings so they can know if their child is doing anything unsafe. Guides like Wikipedia's entry on Leet  and Leet to English translators  can help you understand what your kids are saying to others online.