---
name: "wtf"
section: "6"
platform: "linux"
package: "bsdgames"
version: "2.17-35"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/wtf"
---

# wtf(6)

translates acronyms for you

## NAME

**wtf** – translates acronyms for you

## SYNOPSIS

**wtf** \[**-f** *dbfile*\] \[**-t** *type*\] \[*is*\] *acronym* *...*

## DESCRIPTION

The **wtf** utility displays the expansion of the acronyms specified on the command line. If the acronym is unknown, **wtf** will check to see if the acronym is known by the [whatis(1)](/whatis/1.md) command.

If “is” is specified on the command line, it will be ignored, allowing the fairly natural “wtf is WTF” usage.

The following options are available:

- **-f** *dbfile*

  Overrides the default acronym database, bypassing the value of the ACRONYMDB variable.

- **-t** *type*

  Specifies the acronym's type. Simply put, it makes the program use the acronyms database named */usr/share/games/bsdgames/acronyms.type*, where *type* is given by the argument.

## ENVIRONMENT

- ACRONYMDB

  The default acronym database may be overridden by setting the environment variable ACRONYMDB to the name of a file in the proper format (acronym\[tab\]meaning).

## FILES

- */usr/share/games/bsdgames/acronyms*

  default acronym database.

- */usr/share/games/bsdgames/acronyms.comp*

  computer-related acronym database.

## SEE ALSO

[whatis(1)](/whatis/1.md)

## HISTORY

**wtf** first appeared in NetBSD 1.5.