“867” and “867-5309” Meanings, Origins & Other Popular Texting Abbreviations

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Learn the “867-5309” joke and its influence on pop culture

Co-authored by Bailey Cho Reviewed by Candace Gasper

Last Updated: February 21, 2025 Fact Checked

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• “867” Meaning & Usage
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• “867-5309” Meaning
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• Origin & Spread of “867-5309”
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• What area code is 867?
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• Other Texting Abbreviations
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• Tips

|Show more |Show less

You might have seen “867” in texting or on social media, but what exactly does it mean? In slang, “867” refers to getting wasted and waking up in someone’s bed, usually without any memories from the night before. Alternatively, it can be a reference to the 1980s pop song “867-5309/Jenny” by Tommy Tutone. In this article, we’ll unpack everything you need to know about this iconic number, including what it means, where it comes from, and what area code it represents.

Meanings of “867” and “867-5309”

“867” is a texting code for getting drunk and waking up in a person’s bed. The number “867-5309” is not related to the texting code at all—rather, it’s a reference to the 1981 pop song by Tommy Tutone (“867-5309/Jenny”). The song is about a man who finds a girl’s phone number on a wall, but is too afraid to call her.

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Section 1 of 5:

“867” Meaning & Usage

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1. 
   “867” is a texting code for getting drunk and waking up in someone’s bed. Most people experience an “867” (or “get 867’ed”) by drinking too much alcohol and blacking out. They probably don’t know when, how, or why they’re in a person’s bed, or for how long they’ve been there.

   • “I 867’ed and I don’t remember anything 😫”
   • “I’m never drinking tequila again. I 867’ed and I don’t know their name 😭💀😭💀”
   • “Did you get 867’ed last night? I noticed you weren’t home when I got back.”
   • The exact origin of the texting code “867” is unknown, but it may have started in the late 90s when people used pagers to communicate with each other.
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Section 2 of 5:

What does “867-5309” mean?

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1. 
   “867-5309” is a reference to the 1981 pop song by Tommy Tutone. In slang, the number “867” can be a nod to the famous phone number from the chorus of the song, which is called “867-5309/Jenny.” The song is not related to the texting code “867” in any way, but it's about a man who finds a phone number on a wall, with the name “Jenny” next to it. He becomes obsessed with the idea of having a romantic relationship with Jenny, but is too nervous to call her.

   • The song peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart in May 1982. However, it was the only major success from the band, giving Tommy Tutone the reputation as a “one-hit wonder.”

Section 3 of 5:

Origin & Spread of “867-5309”

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1. 
   1
   Co-writer Alex Call says he came up with the phone number randomly. While there are conflicting stories about the creation of the song, Call has explained in several interviews that the name “Jenny” and the phone number “867-5309” came to him “out of ether,” and that neither him or lead guitarist Jim Keller had a real person or number in mind. In fact, some people say that other members of the band make up a new story every time they’re asked about the origins of the song.

   • Tommy Heath, the lead singer, once claimed that he got the phone number from a girl who wanted him to give it to Jim Keller.
   • Additionally, Jim Keller has claimed that Jenny was a girl he knew and that some of his friends wrote her number on the wall of a men’s room as a joke.
2. 
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   The song wreaked havoc for people with the actual phone number. As the song gained popularity in the 80s, it caused a trend of prank calls and harassment for anyone with the phone number. Kids began calling “867-5309” in their area codes and asking for “Jenny,” which forced some people to disconnect or change their number.

   • This wave of prank calling may have helped cement “867-5309/Jenny” in pop culture.
   • The song is associated with humor and nostalgia, and has been featured in marketing and advertising campaigns, TV shows, movies, comedy sketches, Internet memes and more.
   • Businesses are interested in the number because it’s recognizable and easy to remember, so some people seek the number for the sole purpose of selling it. Single people can also use it as a fake number when they don’t want to give out their real number.
   • The song title has sparked debate among fans, with some calling it “867-5309” and others calling it “867-5309 (Jenny).” Many people also confuse the “6” and the “7,” misremembering the number as “876-5309.” On major streaming platforms, the song is listed as “867-5309/Jenny.”
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Section 4 of 5:

What area code is 867?

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1. 
   The 867 area code is for northern Canada. Area code 867 serves the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon. It includes all cities, towns, villages, and hamlets in the region, such as Cambridge Bay, Inuvik, and Rankin Inlet.

   • The Canadian territories the area code on October 21, 1997. Some people believe 867 was selected because it spells out “TOP” on a telephone pad, which is short for “top of the world.”

Section 5 of 5:

Other Texting Abbreviations

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1. 
   Use any of these texting abbreviations to spice up your conversation. Internet and texting slang became widespread with the rise of mobile phones, especially since people had limited space for messages. Texting abbreviations, like “867,” make for a quick and efficient conversation, so use any of the following options to express your feelings with close friends and family:

   • WYD = what you doing
   • WBU = what about you
   • AF = as f***
   • BC = because
   • IDC = I don’t care
   • ILYSM = I love you so much
   • GTG = got to go
   • FYI = for your information
   • IDK = I don’t know
   • DW = don’t worry
   • IRL = in real life
   • BRB = be right back
   • RN = right now
   • LMAO = laughing my a** off
   • TTYL = talk to you later
   • NGL = not gonna lie
   • FS = for sure
   • GN = good night
   • GM = good morning
   • TMI = too much information
   • WTH = what the hell
   • WTF = what the f***
   • GC = group chat
   • WYA = where ya at
   • OMG = oh my god
   • ONG = on God
   • BF = boyfriend
   • GF = girlfriend
   • TBH = to be honest
   • ATM = at the moment
   • ATP = at this point
   • YK = you know
   • STFU = shut the f*** up
   • SMH = shaking my head
   • IMY = I miss you
   • MB = my bad
   • GG = good game
   • PLS = please
   • NVM = never mind
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Tips

• In numerology, the number 867 indicates you’re heading in the right direction. Focus on creating peace and harmony in your home, and know that your guardian angels are looking after you. As long as you put in the effort, you can manifest everything you want in life!
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