If you’ve ever received a text that ends with “GTG,” you might wonder what it means. “GTG” is a common texting abbreviation for “Got to go.” Itโs often used to wrap up a conversation quickly and casually.
While this phrase is handy, itโs not always the best fit for every situation. Whether you’re chatting with a friend, sending a professional message, or responding politely, you may need an alternative.
In this article, weโll explore more than different ways to say “GTG” in text messages. You’ll discover casual, professional, and polite alternatives, along with examples of how to use them. Plus, weโll provide ready-to-use texting examples to help you craft the perfect message.
Casual Alternatives to GTG
Sometimes, you just need a quick and friendly way to say goodbye in a casual setting. Here are some great alternatives:
1. Gotta run
A playful way to exit a conversation.
- “Hey, I gotta run. Talk later!”
- “Gotta run, but Iโll text you tomorrow!”
- “Busy day, gotta run. See ya!”
2. TTYL (Talk to you later)
A popular abbreviation that keeps things light.
- “Gotta head out. TTYL!”
- “This was fun! TTYL.”
- “Leaving now. TTYL!”
3. BRB (Be right back)
Best if you intend to return soon.
- “BRB, gotta grab something.”
- “Hold that thoughtโBRB.”
- “Dinner time! BRB in an hour.”
4. Catch ya later
A friendly way to wrap up a conversation.
- “Alright, catch ya later!”
- “Gotta jetโcatch ya later!”
- “Enjoy your day! Catch ya later.”
5. Iโm out
Simple and to the point.
- “Thatโs my cue, Iโm out!”
- “Leaving work nowโIโm out.”
- “Fun chat, but Iโm out!”
Polite Ways to Say GTG
In some situations, you need a more polite or formal way to end a conversation. Here are a few options:
6. I have to go now
A respectful way to excuse yourself.
- “I have to go now, but letโs catch up soon!”
- “This was lovely, but I have to go now.”
- “I have to go nowโtalk later!”
7. Iโll talk to you later
Sounds warm and inviting.
- “Gotta leave, but Iโll talk to you later!”
- “Heading out now. Iโll talk to you later!”
- “Enjoy your evening! Iโll talk to you later.”
8. Excuse me, I need to go
A more formal version.
- “Excuse me, I need to go. Letโs connect later.”
- “I appreciate the chat, but excuse me, I need to go.”
- “Timeโs up! Excuse me, I need to go.”
9. It was nice talking, but I must go
A courteous way to sign off.
- “Enjoyed this chat, but I must go.”
- “It was nice talking, but I must go.”
- “Loved catching up, but I must go!”
10. Take care, I need to go
Leaves a warm impression.
- “Take care, I need to go.”
- “Loved chatting! Take care, I need to go.”
- “Youโre awesomeโtake care, I need to go!”
Professional Alternatives to GTG
When youโre in a work-related conversation, professionalism matters. Here are suitable ways to sign off:
11. I have to step away now
- “I have to step away now, but Iโll follow up later.”
- “Busy day aheadโI have to step away now.”
- “Duty calls! I have to step away now.”
12. Iโll follow up later
- “Let me check on thatโIโll follow up later.”
- “No worries! Iโll follow up later.”
- “Got it. Iโll follow up later!”
13. Letโs continue this later
- “Great discussion! Letโs continue this later.”
- “Running into another meetingโletโs continue this later.”
- “Letโs pick this up later.”
14. I have another commitment now
- “Iโd love to continue, but I have another commitment now.”
- “Letโs wrap this upโI have another commitment now.”
- “Great insights! I have another commitment now.”
15. Letโs reconnect soon
- “Gotta go! Letโs reconnect soon.”
- “Busy day, but letโs reconnect soon.”
- “Time flies! Letโs reconnect soon.”
Creative & Fun Ways to Say GTG
Want to add personality to your exit? Try these:
16. Time to bounce
- “This was fun! Time to bounce.”
- “Got a busy dayโtime to bounce!”
- “Enjoy your day! Time to bounce.”
17. Peace out
- “Gotta goโpeace out!”
- “Peace out, catch ya later!”
- “Itโs been realโpeace out!”
18. See you on the flip side
- “Gotta dashโsee you on the flip side!”
- “Busy, busyโsee you on the flip side.”
- “Gotta runโsee you on the flip side!”
19. Iโm ghosting now (jokingly)
- “Poof! Iโm ghosting now!”
- “Gotta runโIโm ghosting now.”
- “Bye-bye, Iโm ghosting now!”
20. Hasta la vista, baby!
- “Classic farewellโHasta la vista, baby!”
- “Off I goโHasta la vista, baby!”
- “Catch ya laterโHasta la vista, baby!”
21. Iโm off like a rocket!
- “Time fliesโIโm off like a rocket!”
- “Zoom! Iโm off like a rocket.”
- “Gotta goโIโm off like a rocket!”
Texting Examples of GTG Alternatives
- “Meeting in 5โgotta run!”
- “Love this convo, but TTYL!”
- “Gotta get back to workโcatch ya later!”
- “Duty calls! Peace out.”
- “Off to lunchโtalk later.”
- “Meeting starts nowโIโll follow up later.”
- “Gotta bounceโthis was fun!”
- “Timeโs up for meโsee you later!”
- “Nice chat, I have to go now.”
- “Work awaits! Hasta la vista, baby!”
Conclusion
“GTG” is a useful phrase, but depending on your tone and audience, choosing a different alternative can make your message more effective. Whether you’re texting a friend, wrapping up a business chat, or saying goodbye politely, you now have over 21 options to express yourself. Try out different phrases and find the one that best fits your personality and context!
Which alternative do you like best? Let us know in the comments

๐’๐ฆ Celia Anneย ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ “๐๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ” ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฐ๐ ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง ๐จ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ฑ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐ก๐ฎ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ. ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ข๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ฉ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐๐ค๐ฌ. ๐ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐๐ข๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ณ๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ฆ๐๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ญ๐๐๐ฅ๐. ๐๐ญ “๐๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐๐ฌ” ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐ฆ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ. ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ง ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐๐ค๐ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐จ๐ง๐๐ฃ๐จ๐ข๐ง ๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐๐ญ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ ๐ก๐ฎ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ.