leetspeak

(ˈliːtˌspiːk) n (Computer Science) a jargon used by some internet groups, in which standard English is translated into a mixture of letters, numerals, and symbols found on a computer keyboard. Also called: 1337 [C20: from elite + -speak]

leetspeak

A form of online jargon in which alphabetical characters are habitually replaced by numerical or nonalphanumerical characters (such as hyphens, underscores, and punctuation symbols) For example the word “leet” may be spelled “l33t.” Deliberate misspellings are also common. For example “cool” is commonly spelled “kewl.”

leetspeak

An informal or coded writing system used primarily in Internet-based communications in which certain ASCII characters are substituted for standard letters that have a similar appearance, such as 3 for E, 0 for O, 1 for I or L, etc. We started writing in leetspeak so our parents wouldn't be able to understand what we were saying if they saw it. A: "WH3r3 Sh0uLd w3 m337 UP 70N19h7?" B: "Just write normally, dude. I don't understand leetspeak."

leetspeak

and hakspeak n. a way of writing or typing on the internet where letters are replaced by number or other symbols. (From elite speak.) The word is spelled p1$t01, rather than pistol in “leetspeak.”

leetspeak

A form of geek spelling, in which letters are substituted with the digit that looks most like it. For example, "3" for "E" and "4" for "A." In leetspeak, the word leetspeak is "13375p34k." Also called "hakspeak," leetspeak was first used to fool spam filters, text scanning and search systems. The word "d00d" is leet spelling for "dood," emphasizing the "oo" sound in "dude." Likewise, "newbie" is shortened to "noob" and "n00b."

Leetspeak is Not an Acronym
Coined from "elite speak," leetspeak is not "digispeak" or "geekspeak," which refer to acronyms such as IMHO for "in my humble opinion." See digispeak.

N3rd Street in Philadelphia

With a high concentration of tech startups, North 3rd between Market and Girard Streets in Philadelphia was officially dubbed Nerd Street in 2014.