What does snail mail means

A blast from the past!

"Snail mail" is a colloquialism that refers to traditional, physical mail sent through the postal service, as opposed to electronic mail (email). The term is thought to have originated in the 1980s, when email was becoming popular and people began to compare the speed of email with the slower pace of traditional mail.

The phrase is a play on words, suggesting that traditional mail moves as slowly as a snail, while email is much faster. Over time, the term has become a common way to refer to physical letters, postcards, and packages sent through the mail, as opposed to digital communications like email and text messages.

For example, you might say, "I'm going to send you a birthday card through snail mail" or "I'm waiting for my package to arrive via snail mail."

So, the next time you receive a letter or package in the mail, you can say you're enjoying some good old-fashioned snail mail!