Although I am a millennial, I have a hard time understanding the language of GenZ (how cheesy!). I confess that I never managed to understand my generation’s slang – the GenZ slang is much more complicated (Moms and Dads, I’m with you!).

Social media can be intimidating for people like me who are pretty old school. To stay, as they say, “relevant,” I even try to learn the meaning of internet slang words from Google (I’m not stubborn like GenY). One of those terms is “HG,” which is pretty common, not just on Snapchat but pretty much all over the internet, even in one-on-one conversations.

Quick answer: Leaving aside the literal meaning, “HG” is an acronym for “Holy Grail”. On Snapchat and elsewhere on the internet, people use this term for whatever they like, and they guarantee it works.

So we’re going to have fun sharing other Snapchat slang words with you. Stick around to learn a thing or two (because there’s no shame in learning new things, even if they seem silly).

What does “HG” stand for?

HG stands for ‘Holy Grail’, which has quite a deep history.

According to the Britannica dictionary, Holy Grail means: “Something which one longs for, but which is very difficult to obtain or achieve.

The Holy Grail in history: For centuries, the Holy Grail has remained an object of mystery and fascination. The Holy Grail is believed to be the cup that Jesus drank from at the Last Supper. Likewise, during the crucifixion of Jesus, Joseph of Arimathea used the Holy Grail to collect the blood of Jesus. Even today, people are looking for the Holy Grail. Many legends are associated with it, which further reinforces its enigma and has encouraged people, for centuries, to discover it.

This is the real meaning of the Holy Grail, not what young people mean by it. However, in the internet world, it has a slightly different meaning; let’s dig it!

What does “HG” mean on Snapchat?

Snapchat is still relevant for the younger generation, despite the TikTok revolution. Every day over 319 million users connect to this fun and entertaining platform. Despite its qualities, the place can get overwhelming (especially for old souls like me). It becomes instantly creepy if one doesn’t know the popular slang, acronyms, and pop culture references.

One of those terms is “HG” or “Holy Grail” – it’s popular slang on Snapchat, in fact, everywhere (even in one-on-one conversations). Although I must admit that its meaning is not as complicated as others that can be found on this platform.

“HG” is again an acronym for “Holy Grail” on Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and everywhere you hear it on the internet.

The “Holy Grail” or “HG” is used when people want to tell you something is their favorite, and they guarantee it works. You often find Youtubers talking about their “Holy Grail” or “Holy Grail” products for that month or that month. I see beauty gurus making videos like this (yes, I watch beauty channels on YouTube).

Plus, if someone wants to convince you something works, they call it HG – meaning they swear by it. For example, according to the Economic Times India, the Dell XPS 13 is the HG of laptops. This means that this laptop is their favorite (or the one they paid for) and they guarantee that it performs better than any other laptop.

Another meaning of “HQ” (not on Snapchat)

  • HG also means Hectogram (100 grams).
  • In school, HG/SG stands for “Higher Grade”.
  • HG can also mean “homegirl”.
  • HG can mean Hyperemesis gravidarum (pregnancy complications).
  • HQ is the chemical symbol for mercury (Hg – hydrargyre).

Other acronyms and slang words on Snapchat

  • ESB – Everyone Snap Back; asks everyone who watches the story to come back to the user so they can have a conversation with them.
  • MMS – Makes Me Smile or multimedia messaging service.
  • AIR – When you ignore or erase someone.
  • SMO – Serious Mode On or Shout Me Out (depending on the context).
  • ICYMI – I See You Missed I; when your friend missed your Snap.

Conclusion

Although a fun place, Snapchat can instantly become a scary place. This can happen when you don’t know its culture, language and references.

Learning internet slang is a fun way to bridge the generation gap and stay relevant for younger kids. So in this article, we learned the meaning of many Snapchat phrases and abbreviations, including “HG” (Holy Grail).

The internet is full of social media slang; try them out in your spare time. Maybe you’ll remember one or two of them the next time you have a conversation with your young nephew or niece and become famous among the youngsters.