What does NGL mean? The slang and the app, explained

NGL stands for "not gonna lie." People use it in texts, DMs, and TikTok captions to signal that what they're about to say is honest — usually because it's an opinion they expect pushback on, or a compliment they want to make sound less rehearsed.

It's also the name of a popular anonymous-messaging app (ngl.link) where people put a link in their Instagram bio so anyone can send them anonymous questions. The two meanings come up in different contexts, so people often get confused about which one is being referenced.

NGL as slang: "not gonna lie"

The slang meaning came first. Examples:

• "ngl this pizza is the best i've had in months"
• "ngl that movie was kinda bad"
• "ngl i was nervous about meeting him but he's actually nice"

You'll see it written as "ngl," "NGL," "not gonna lie," or — in older usage — "not gon' lie." It's casual, used mainly in texts and social media, and works as a small hedge: it tells the reader "I'm being real with you here, take this seriously."

It's loosely related to other text-honesty markers like:

• tbh — to be honest
• imo / imho — in my (humble) opinion
• lowkey / highkey — quietly / loudly (in terms of how much you mean it)

NGL as an app: anonymous Q&A

The app called NGL launched in 2021 and went viral on Instagram in 2022. The product is simple: you get a link like ngl.link/yourname, you put it in your IG bio or story, and anyone can use it to send you an anonymous question. The app shows the messages in your inbox, and you can screenshot them to post replies to your story.

It became extremely popular among teens. Most US Gen-Z users have either used it or know someone who has.

The app's been controversial — the FTC fined it $5M in 2024 for misleading marketing around anonymity. We wrote about that here.

How to tell which meaning someone means

Context. If someone says "ngl that's hilarious," they mean the slang. If someone says "send me an NGL," they mean the app — they're asking you to send them an anonymous message through the link in their bio.

If you want to send anonymous questions to someone but don't want to use NGL specifically, our app anonymousquestion.com does the same thing for free, without the FTC-investigated "reveal" features.