Like GG, GLHF is a cornerstone of PC gaming jargon. Players often say this at the start of competitive multiplayer game matches. But what does GLHF mean, where did it come from and how to start using it?
Good luck, have fun!
GLHF is an abbreviation for “good luck, have fun.” Used at the start of competitive online games to establish a sense of sportsmanship or manners. GLHF is something you say at the beginning of the match, and GG (good game) is something you say at the end of the match. Both phrases have the same function, but are used at different stages of the game.
Unsurprisingly, GLHF is a keyboard-based PC gaming phenomenon. It’s rare to see the phrase in controller-based console games, though it can appear in some situations. When it arises, you are not required to respond in any way. Ignoring a GLHF is not rude, but it is good manners to return the gesture.
Some people shorten GLHF to GL or HF. These smaller abbreviations mean “good luck” and “have fun.”
GLHF is classic PC gamer jargon
Like GG, GLHF is a staple of competitive gaming culture. Since the 1990s, the phrase has gained popularity through games like Quake, Starcraft, and Counter-Strike. It’s hard to find early examples of these phrases, as in-game chats are never properly recorded or archived (and who would want to review them anyway?).
It’s easy to imagine how competitive PC gamers started using GLHF and GG. After all, the idea of sportsmanship has been around for millennia. PC players who started using GLHF and GG in the ’90s grew up saying things like “good luck” or “that was a great game” on the softball and basketball fields. It makes sense that the same terminology would trickle down to competitive gaming.
If anything, the long history of these phrases (and their continued popularity) is a reminder that competitive gaming is nothing new. And with the ever-growing popularity of the esports industry, our favorite gamer abbreviations aren’t going away anytime soon.
How do I use GLHF?
You don’t have to say GLHF at the start of every online game; most players don’t. But it’s a nice gesture that encourages others to have a good time. And in the world of competitive gaming, that kind of positivity is valuable.
If you want to use GLHF, please do so. You can drop it at the start of a game, or you can use it while waiting in a game lobby. A simple “GLHF” will do, no need to overcomplicate things with weird grammar or punctuation. You could even throw them a curveball by shortening GLHF to just “GL” or “HF.” Most people will understand what you are trying to say.
