“Fav” (also spelled “fave”) is an informal short form of “favorite” or “favourite.” It is commonly used in text messages, online conversations, and social media to describe a person or thing that someone likes best.
In older or site-specific internet usage, “fav” can also be used as a verb meaning to mark or save something as a favorite. However, many modern platforms now use terms such as “like,” “save,” or “bookmark” instead.
In this article, we’ll explore the meaning and origin of “fav,” explain how it is used as a noun, adjective, and verb, and compare fav, fave, favorite, and favourite.
Fav Meaning – Created by English Study Online
Fav Meaning
What Does “Fav” Mean?
Fav is an informal short form of “favorite” or “favourite.” It refers to a person or thing that someone likes more than others. It is most commonly used as a noun or adjective in casual conversations, text messages, and social media.
“Fav” is pronounced “fayv” and rhymes with words such as “save,” “wave,” and “brave.”
The term can be used as a noun, adjective, or, in some online contexts, a verb.
For example:
- Noun: “This song is my fav.”
- Adjective: “This is my fav song.”
- Verb: “I faved the post so I could find it later.”
As a noun, “fav” refers to a favorite person or thing:
“That movie is one of my all-time favs.”
As an adjective, it appears before a noun to show that something is preferred:
“What’s your fav food?”
As a verb, “fav” or “fave” traditionally means to mark a piece of online content as a favorite. This usage is now more common on websites or apps that still have a “Favorites” feature. On many modern platforms, people are more likely to say “like,” “save,” or “bookmark.”
While “fav” is a casual and useful way to express a preference, it is not normally used in formal, academic, or professional writing.
Origin of “Fav” and “Fave”
“Fav” and “fave” are shortened forms of the word “favorite.” Of the two informal spellings, “fave” appeared earlier in written English.
The use of “fave” has been recorded since at least 1938. In 1947, the music magazine Billboard used the term while discussing disc jockeys and the bands they preferred.
The spelling “fav” appeared later and became especially familiar in short messages, website labels, online menus, and social media. Because it has only three letters, it is convenient when space or typing speed matters.
The full word “favorite” entered English in the late 16th century and was influenced by the Italian word favorito. Over time, two standard spellings developed:
- Favorite is the standard spelling in American English.
- Favourite is the standard spelling in British English and many other varieties of English.
Both spellings have the same meaning and pronunciation. Similarly, “fav” and “fave” can be used as informal shortenings of either spelling.
The popularity of online communication has made these shortened forms more familiar. However, the words are older than social media and were not originally created by platforms such as Twitter or Instagram.
How “Fav” Is Used
Fav as a Noun, Adjective, and Verb
The grammatical role of “fav” depends on how it is used in a sentence.
| Use | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | A person or thing someone likes best | “Chocolate ice cream is my fav.” |
| Plural Noun | Several favorite people or things | “These songs are some of my favs.” |
| Adjective | Describes a preferred person or thing | “She is my fav character in the show.” |
| Verb | To mark something as a favorite on a website or app | “I faved the article so I could read it later.” |
The noun and adjective uses are common in everyday informal English. The verb use is more closely connected with older social media terminology or websites that still use a Favorites feature.
Common Situations
Examples in Conversations
Texting and Social Media Examples
“Fav” is particularly common in text messages, comments, captions, and other forms of casual digital communication.
Here are some common examples:
- “What’s your fav movie?”
- “This is my fav song right now.”
- “She’s definitely my fav character.”
- “Which outfit is your fav?”
- “One of my fav memories from this summer.”
- “These are a few of my current favs.”
- “Pizza will always be my fav food.”
- “This photo is my fav from the whole trip.”
In social media captions, “fav” often appears with topics such as music, fashion, food, travel, movies, books, and beauty products:
- “Sharing my fav books of the year.”
- “Here are five of my fav places to visit.”
- “My fav look from last night’s event.”
- “Trying one of my fav recipes again today.”
Although people may still say that they “faved” something online, this is not the official name of the action on every platform. Depending on the website or app, the correct term may be “liked,” “saved,” “bookmarked,” or “added to favorites.”
Tone and Formality
One of the main implications of using “fav” is that it creates an informal and casual tone. This makes it useful when communicating with friends, relatives, classmates, or followers online.
For example:
“Hey, what are your fav pizza toppings?”
This sounds more relaxed than:
“What are your favorite pizza toppings?”
However, using “fav” can sound too casual in a formal or professional context. If you are writing an academic paper, business report, job application, or formal email, it is generally better to use the full word “favorite” or “favourite.”
For example:
- Informal: “This is my fav option.”
- Formal: “This is my preferred option.”
The best choice depends on the context and audience. “Fav” is suitable for casual communication, while “favorite,” “favourite,” or “preferred” is usually clearer in formal writing.
Fav vs. Fave vs. Favorite/Favourite
Although “fav,” “fave,” “favorite,” and “favourite” are closely related, they are not always used in the same contexts.
| Form | Meaning and Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Fav | An informal shortened form commonly found in texts, captions, labels, and online communication. | “This is my fav photo.” |
| Fave | Another informal shortened form. Its final “e” makes the pronunciation more immediately recognizable. | “That actor is one of my faves.” |
| Favorite | The standard American English spelling. Suitable for both casual and formal contexts. | “What is your favorite book?” |
| Favourite | The standard British English spelling. It has the same meaning and pronunciation as “favorite.” | “What is your favourite book?” |
“Fav” and “fave” generally have the same informal meaning and are often interchangeable:
- “This is my fav song.”
- “This is my fave song.”
The plural forms are:
- Favs: “These are my current favs.”
- Faves: “These are my current faves.”
Do not add an apostrophe when forming the plural. Write favs or faves, not fav’s or fave’s.
Which Form Should You Use?
Use “fav” or “fave” in casual writing, such as:
- Text messages
- Social media captions
- Online comments
- Personal notes
- Informal conversations
Use “favorite” in American English and “favourite” in British English when writing in a formal, professional, or academic context.
There is no major difference in meaning between “fav” and “fave.” The choice is generally a matter of personal preference, although “fave” may look more like an ordinary English word because the final “e” helps show that it is pronounced “fayv.”
Common Mistakes When Using “Fav”
| Common Mistake | Correction |
|---|---|
| Thinking that “fav” has a different meaning from “favorite.” | “Fav” is simply an informal shortened form of “favorite” or “favourite.” |
| Assuming that “fav” is mainly a British English term. | “Fav” is used informally by speakers of different varieties of English. The main regional distinction is between “favorite” and “favourite.” |
| Writing “Fav” with a capital letter in the middle of a sentence. | It is normally lowercase unless it appears at the beginning of a sentence, in a title, or as part of a label. |
| Writing “my favs songs.” | Use “my fav songs” or “my favorite songs.” The plural form “favs” functions as a noun, not as an adjective before “songs.” |
| Using an apostrophe to form the plural. | Write “favs” or “faves,” not “fav’s” or “fave’s.” |
| Using “fav” in a formal report or professional email. | Use “favorite,” “favourite,” or “preferred” in formal writing. |
| Calling every social media reaction a “fav.” | Platforms may use different terms, including “like,” “save,” “bookmark,” or “add to favorites.” |
| Saying that only “favorite” is correct. | “Favorite” is standard in American English, while “favourite” is standard in British English. Both are correct. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “fav” mean in text?
In a text message, “fav” usually means “favorite” or “favourite.”
For example:
“What’s your fav movie?”
This means:
“What’s your favorite movie?”
Is “fav” short for “favorite”?
Yes. “Fav” is an informal short form of “favorite” in American English or “favourite” in British English.
Is it “fav” or “fave”?
Both forms are used informally and have the same basic meaning. “Fave” has been used in written English for longer, while “fav” is especially convenient in short messages, labels, and digital communication.
Can “fav” be used as a noun?
Yes. As a noun, it refers to a favorite person or thing:
“This book is my fav.”
The plural form is “favs”:
“These books are some of my favs.”
Can “fav” be used as an adjective?
Yes. It can appear before a noun:
“This is my fav book.”
In this sentence, “fav” describes the noun “book.”
Quick Recap
- Fav is an informal short form of “favorite” or “favourite.”
- It is pronounced “fayv.”
- It is commonly used in texts, captions, comments, and casual conversations.
- “Fav” can function as a noun or adjective and, in some online contexts, a verb.
- “Fave” is another informal spelling with the same basic meaning.
- The plural forms are “favs” and “faves.”
- “Favorite” is standard in American English, while “favourite” is standard in British English.
- Many modern platforms use “like,” “save,” or “bookmark” instead of “fav.”
- In formal writing, use “favorite,” “favourite,” or “preferred.”
Test Your Knowledge
Do You Understand the Meaning of 'Fav'?
5 quick questions · About 1 minute