The Origin of TTFN—What Does It Mean?
posted at 3:13 am
on Apr. 12, 2004
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Updated: See this newer post for what I discovered about TTFN after I wrote this.
Over the years, a handful of people have asked me what TTFN means. So here, finally, is the definition of T.T.F.N.
It spread in the U.S. from the minds at Disney, and where it was (and is) an expression used by Tigger, the bouncy orange tiger-thing that was always getting into trouble for being too boisterous. It stands for “Ta Ta For Now,” and it basically means “See you later.”
Apparently, it does not appear in the books by A. A. Milne, though the expression “Ta” and “Ta-Ta” is frequently heard in England. (Side note: “Ta” sometimes also means “Thank you” in Australian baby talk, so “Ta” can be a sort of “Thank you and good night, you’ve been great, don’t drink and drive” sign off.)
I’m no big Tigger fan. But my old scout leader used to use it at the end of his messages, and I just sort of picked it up from him. And now, maybe, someone will pick it up from me.
