Meaning of “Ping” or “Ping Me”

Posted On: February 17, 2019

It’s common to hear someone say “ping me when you’re free.” Have you wondered what “ping” means and where it originates from?

The meaning of ping or ping me:

To send a quick, short message over a texting platform (SMS, Instant Messenger, Chat) used to check in, keep someone in the loop about something, or ask about something, with the expectation of a quick, short response from the receiving party.

Let’s look more into the origin, use in daily conversation, examples and translations of this modern-day slang.

Where does PING come from?

PING was not originally a word, but an acronym or abbreviation. PING, written in all caps, stands for Packet Internet or Inter-Network Groper. As an IT or tech industry specific jargon, “ping” is a technical term that means to check on the status of another computer or another server to see if it’s online (a sort of acknowledgment). It’s an electronic message that loosely translates to, “Are you there?”

According to Your Dictionary, “The ping command is particularly helpful in verifying whether a host is working and whether a system is attached to the Internet.”

Examples of Pings (send through text messages):
Wife to husband, “Pick up some milk on the way home.”
Child to parent, “I’m all done. Can you come pick me up?”
Business partner to business partner, “Is it ready? We are down to the wire.”
Colleague to colleague, “Wanna meet for lunch today at 12?”
Husband to wife, “I’m on my way.”
Friend to friend, “How did it go?”

Of course here, I have given examples of pings in complete sentences, but most of the time people may use texting language, abbreviations, or slang in ping messages to make them even shorter. Also, since the messages are so short, much of the context will only be known between the two parties.

Translations of Questions Using “Ping”
Using PING: “Can I ping you at 8?”
Ordinary English: “Can I send you a text message or make a quick call to see if you are free at 8?”

Using PING: “Can you ping me when you are ready?”

Ordinary English: “Can you send me an SMS or call me when you are ready?”

Translations of Statements Using “Ping”

“I’ll ping you when the meeting is over.” – “I’ll get in touch with you when the meeting finishes.”
“Ping me with the status.” – “Send me a short message by email, SMS or IM me with updates.”

How do I Ping Someone?

Pinging is done through a quick communication, usually by electronic means, but sometimes over the phone. It depends on the other person’s preference. So pings can be done over:

The cell or mobile phone (SMS, text)
E-mail
Instant Messaging (Internal company system, WhatsApp, Google, Skype, Facebook, etc.)

To “ping” someone, all one has to do is send a quick digital message, by words, emojis, or images.

How do I know which one to use?
If you don’t know the person well, say it’s your client or colleague onsite, it’s better to ask, “How do you prefer me to ping you?” Don’t assume because for instance, text messaging in the US is charged in most cases regardless of sending or receiving, but maybe receiving the message on WhatsApp or another mobile app or email may be free for that person (as long as they have a data plan).

What is Said in a Ping?
Ping messages are short. Any of the below suffice:

I’m ready.
Call me.
10 more minutes.
Let’s meet at 5 instead.
Can I call you to reschedule?
Let’s go for lunch. I’ll meet you downstairs in 5. (Meaning 5 minutes.)

Are There Synonyms for Ping?
Of course. The exact synonym depends on the person and their preferred ping method sometimes.

“Ping me at 4.” synonyms:

Get in touch with me at 4.
Call me at 4.
Send me a text at 4.
Facebook me at 4
Give me a shout out at 4. (“Shout out is another slang. Don’t actually shout!)

Have you heard any other uses of the word ‘ping’? Do you have other ideas for synonyms of ‘ping’? Feel free to ping me your thoughts on WhatsApp at +91-9539347529 or SMS in the US 385-218-0947 or ping me through LinkedIn.

Jennifer Kumar works provides customized individualized business and career coaching for tech workers. Contact us for more information.

Our Email Writing course, The Ultimate Guide to Email Writing for Ease and Professionalism, is designed to teach effective Email Communication, covering aspects like structure, tone, grammar, and etiquette. It helps participants write clear and concise emails tailored to different audiences and purposes. The course includes practical exercises and feedback to improve writing skills and build confidence in professional communication through email.

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