In texting, HBU is an abbreviation for "How about you?". It is commonly used in casual written conversations such as texts, informal emails, and direct messages. People often use this phrase as a follow-up when asked how theyre doing. HBU is one of a group of terms and initialisms that are often used to keep a conversation going. It can be used to learn more about another person you just met. For example, in an online dating app, someone might ask if you enjoy a particular activity. After you state your opinion, you might ask "HBU?" to learn more about the other persons interests.