If you’ve been on the internet at all in the past week, then chances are, you would have seen the acronym AF several times. AF is one of the most common acronyms used on the internet and on messaging platforms in the year 2019.
What Does AF Mean in Text , Chat, Social Media & Slang?
But what does AF mean? The acronym essentially translates to As F**k (fill in the blanks).
AF can be written capitalized or in lowercase letters (the internet does not discriminate).
You might have noticed a slight variation – ASF- on some platforms – this means the same thing and is just a matter of user preference.
It’s important to note that while A.F. does not appear to be rude or insensitive on the surface, it can be interpreted as such. To err on the side of caution, one should definitely refrain from using the word in professional situations or when messaging people that you are not familiar with. As a rule of thumb, if you wouldn’t say it out loud to the person, then don’t send it to them via messaging either.
How Do You Use AF?
AF is an extremely versatile acronym that can work in almost any context. Because AF is such an usual word, there is really no strict established rules or guidelines for its use. Quite literally, anything goes.
It technically could be described as an adjective that is similar in meaning to very, a lot, extremely or really. In most cases where AF is used as an exclamation, it means extremely.
One of the things to note when using the word as an adjective is that it does not function like a normal adjective. A.F. is most commonly used at the end of a sentence.
In almost all situations where it’s used, the word is placed right after a verb as a means of amplifying or exaggerating its meaning.
AF, like “No Cap”, “Yeet” and “BSF” is one of the most trendy words of 2019 and is popular on social media and and messaging platforms with teens and young adults who have become accustomed to limited characters and so use abbreviations to quickly and effectively get their points across.
Circa 2012, acronyms such as OMG, LOL, and WTF, were the trendiest new phrases on the map. Fast forward to the year 2014, and a new kid was on the block. AF was first utilized in 2014 on social media platforms, and its use quickly took off, becoming fast popular thanks to texting and online chat groups.
AF’s usage can be observed on all of the most popular social media platforms and on the internet in general. The hashtag AF on Instagram displays results of more than 2.2 million posts.
Posts including the word include a photo of a woman captioned “I look good AF”. In this case, AF translates to really, essentially meaning she looks “really good”.
Another post, has a video of a man working out on a treadmill in what appears to be a gym. At the end of the video, he hops off the machine and yells into the camera that he was tired AF. In this case, AF can be interpreted as “extremely” or another similar adjective.
Around 2016, AF began to appear in Memes. In 2019, people can be observed using the expression while conversing. Its use can also be observed in elements of pop culture such as movies and web series.
In addition, the word has become popular on the music. Not only is it a popular term used by entertainers in all genres, but it is incorporated into their artistic work. The most common example of this is in music. A search on lyrics.com will produce dozens of songs that have the acronym A.F. in their lyrics. Among them, is the March 2019 single Crazy AF by group In Real Life.
Similarly, Dua Lipa’s 2017 song IDGAF includes a longer acronym that features AF but in combination with other letters. In this case, the longer acronym IDGAF means I don’t give a f**k. The combination of acronyms is a common occurrence on social media and the interwebs.
With over a decade of exploring tech, food, travel, and beyond, Jeremy Dixon knows what’s worth your attention. A seasoned content curator, he uncovers the gems that make life more interesting, backed by solid research and a passion for quality.
