What does 'GL HF' stand for in online multiplayer games?

“What does ‘GL HF’ stand for in online multiplayer games?” — “Good luck, have fun.” Players commonly type this greeting at the beginning of a match to wish opponents or teammates well and establish a sportsmanlike tone.

The abbreviation usually appears as “GL HF,” “GLHF,” or lowercase “gl hf.” “GL” means “good luck,” while “HF” means “have fun.” The two parts are often written separately because they began as short chat commands that could be sent quickly before play started.

GL HF is closely associated with online multiplayer culture, including real-time strategy games, massively multiplayer games, and competitive esports. It is normally sent before the match, while “GG” or “GG WP” is generally sent afterward to mean “good game” or “good game, well played.”

The greeting can occasionally be sarcastic, particularly when a player expects an easy victory or uses it to taunt an opponent. That ironic use does not change the standard expansion. “Great luck” and “happy fun” are plausible-sounding but nonstandard alternatives.