"Not gonna lie." Preface for candid or slightly-controversial statements — softens the blow of an honest take.
The app was launched in November 2021 by NGL Labs in [Venice Beach](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venice,_Los_Angeles "Venice, Los Angeles"), California.
If an [internal link](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:WhatLinksHere/NGL&namespace=0) led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.
"Not gonna lie." Preface for candid or slightly-controversial statements — softens the blow of an honest take. "NGL the new album is mid" is gentler than just "it's mid."
"NGL, the coffee here is mid."
'NGL' stands for 'not gonna lie' and is used to introduce an honest opinion, often one that is mildly critical or surprising. 'NGL, the film was kind of boring' = 'honestly, the film was kind of boring'. It softens what follows by signalling sincerity. If your teen uses it, they are simply being conversational and direct. Very common in chat and on social media. No concern.
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
Add your own interpretation of "NGL".
Head-to-head pages explaining the difference.
Viral internet speak — memes, ratios, main-character moments, and the algospeak of every platform from Twitter to Reddit to TikTok comment sections.
See all Internet & Memes slang on Slangora.
Browse all slang words starting with N.
When someone is fully in their NGL mode, they've decided to drop all the filters and say exactly what they mean — no diplomatic cushioning, no social hedging, just raw, uncut honesty. It's the headspace you enter right before delivering a take that might cause a little drama. Usually announced before a confession or critique that could land weird if people weren't warned. The vibe is less 'brutal honesty' and more 'I genuinely cannot keep pretending I'm fine with this.' Reserved for moments when politeness has officially expired.
Low key NGL is the soft-launch version of total honesty — you're admitting something true but doing it quietly, like you're slipping the confession in the back door before anyone notices. It's the hedge within the hedge: not gonna lie, but also please don't make a big deal of this. Used when the truth is a little embarrassing, a little vulnerable, or involves admitting you actually liked something you were supposed to be too cool for. The 'low key' does real work here, signalling that the honesty is genuine but the speaker would prefer it not go viral.
The unspoken NGL is the honest thought you very clearly have but are choosing — wisely or not — to keep inside your head. Everyone in the conversation knows it exists. The awkward pause after someone shares their plan? That's an unspoken NGL hanging in the air. It's the truth that social contracts prevent from being said out loud, the thought-bubble moment that your face betrays even when your mouth stays shut. Calling out an unspoken NGL is a social power move. Leaving it unspoken is sometimes just self-preservation.
"Too Much to Say"<br> <br>Released: November 20, 2024 | | | _**NGL**_ is the fourth extended play (EP) by American singer-songwriter [JoJo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JoJo_(singer) "JoJo (singer)").
'NGL' stands for 'not gonna lie' and is used to introduce an honest opinion, often one that is mildly critical or surprising. 'NGL, the film was kind of boring' = 'honestly, the film was kind of boring'. It softens what follows by signalling sincerity. If your teen uses it, they are simply being conversational and direct. Very common in chat and on social media. No concern.
'NGL' is the initialism for 'not gonna lie', used as a discourse marker before an honest opinion, often mildly critical or unexpectedly direct. Pronounced as letters (en-gee-ell) when spoken. Register: very informal, chat and social media. In formal English use 'honestly', 'frankly' or 'to be honest'. A common learner mistake is to over-use it in writing; in formal contexts it sounds slangy. Often paired with critical statements ('ngl, this is bad') but works for praise too ('ngl, this is amazing').
“The app was launched in November 2021 by NGL Labs in [Venice Beach](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venice,_Los_Angeles "Venice, Los Angeles"), California.”
“If an [internal link](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:WhatLinksHere/NGL&namespace=0) led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.”
“"Too Much to Say"<br> <br>Released: November 20, 2024 | | | _**NGL**_ is the fourth extended play (EP) by American singer-songwriter [JoJo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JoJo_(singer) "JoJo (singer)").”
No comments yet — say something.
: to tell the truth.
No comments yet — say something.