ICQ

/ˌaɪ siː ˈkjuː/

Uncommon

One of the first widely used instant messaging services, launched in 1996 and known for its iconic 'uh-oh' sound.

ICQ is almost exclusively referenced as a historical artifact now. Mentioning it signals serious early-internet seniority. Younger internet users generally have no idea what it is.

Real-world examples4 examples

#	Example	What it means	Source
01	if you remember ICQ you were genuinely early to this whole internet thing	ICQ predates the mainstream instant messaging era, so remembering it signals early online presence.	x, 2022
02	the ICQ uh-oh sound is burned into my brain. i will hear it on my deathbed	The notification sound was so distinctive and pervasive that it left a permanent memory.	reddit, 2021
03	people complain about screen names but at least you had a name. icq just gave you a number	ICQ's numeric user ID system was even more impersonal than later messaging platforms.	reddit, 2020
04	ICQ was doing presence indicators and online status in 1996. we've basically reinvented it 5 times since	ICQ pioneered core features that every modern messaging app still uses.	x, 2023

Use it when

Referencing the very earliest era of consumer instant messaging.
Establishing credibility as someone who was online before AIM or MSN.
Discussing the history of instant messaging.

Do not use it when

You mean instant messaging broadly.Use “DM” instead.
You're talking about early chat rooms specifically.Use “aol-chat-room” instead.

ICQ vs MSN Messenger

ICQ

ICQ launched in 1996 and identified users by number. It was the first mainstream IM client.

msn-messenger

MSN Messenger launched in 1999 and used email addresses as identifiers. It reached a larger mainstream audience.

Origin and context

ICQ was developed by Mirabilis and launched in November 1996. It was acquired by AOL in 1998. At its peak it had over 100 million registered users. The name is a phonetic pun on 'I seek you.'

First seen: 1996
Confidence: high

Cite this page

Use this stable URL to reference the entry.

https://slang.fyi/icq

Updated: 2026-08-28License: CC BY 4.0

ICQ