1337 (pronounced "leet") language, also known as leetspeak or elite speak, is a type of internet slang that originated from the hacker subculture in the 1980s and 1990s. It involves the substitution of letters with numbers, symbols, or misspellings to create a secret code or language.
For example, in 1337 language, the word "elite" might be written as "3l1t3," with the letters "e" and "i" replaced with the numbers "3" and "1" respectively. Other common substitutions include using "@" for "a," "0" for "o," and "$" for "s."
1337 language was initially used as a way for hackers to communicate with each other and avoid detection, but it eventually spread to other online communities and became a form of internet slang. Today, 1337 language is still used by some internet users as a way to express a sense of exclusivity or to signal their familiarity with hacker culture.