Alr stands for alright: OK, fine, sure. It's a quick way to agree in a chat: alr, see you at 7. Alr can also ask how someone is: u alr? means are you OK? It's for chatting with friends only. To a colleague, client or teacher, write OK, sure or sounds good; out loud, say alright, and in an essay words like these aren't needed.
Could you drop alr into a text?
Write a short message — we'll show the mistakes right away and suggest how to say it more naturally.
The check is taking longer than usual. Your feedback will appear here automatically.
alr, + plan (alr, see you at 7); u alr?; i alr + past verb (= already)
- alr, I'll grab the tickets and meet you at the entrance
- you alr? you left the chat so suddenly last night
- no need to send the file, I alr downloaded it
What changed
First versionHi Mr Patel, alr, I'll send the signed contract by Friday.
RevisionHi Mr Patel, sure, I'll send the signed contract by Friday.
An email to a client about a contract is business correspondence, and alr comes from chats, so it looks careless there. In this kind of email, agreement is expressed with sure or certainly. Only alr was replaced.
Mid-sentence, alr sometimes means already: I alr told you means I already told you. Position helps: at the start of a reply or after u it's alright; before a past-tense verb it's already. If it matters that you're understood clearly, write the word in full.
Your turn
A: I'm ten minutes late, the bus is stuck in traffic. B: ___, I'll wait for you at the café.
Show the answer
alr — Your friend warned you they'll be late, and you agree to wait: OK, fine, which is alr. Ikr, I know, right?, is a reply to someone's opinion, and your friend wasn't giving one, only sharing news.
A friend suggests changing your evening plans. Write a reply that starts with alr and add where and what time you'll meet.
alr, let's skip the cinema then, meet me at the pizza place on Green Street at 8.
Learn to use new words without mistakes
Write phrases with the words you are learning. LetsWords shows mistakes in usage and grammar, suggests corrections and explains them, and review helps the words stick.