fam
/fæm/
Very CommonA close friend or trusted person. Used as a direct address or to describe your inner circle.
Can be sincere or used lightly depending on the relationship. When used with strangers or acquaintances it functions more like a neutral address than a real claim of closeness.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | nah fam that film was actually peak | No, that film was genuinely bad. | x, 2023 |
| 02 | trust fam, she's not worth it | Believe me when I say she is not worth your time. | instagram, 2022 |
| 03 | the whole fam came through for the BBQ | Everyone from the close group showed up. | tiktok, 2023 |
| 04 | you good fam? | Are you doing alright? | x, 2024 |
Use it when
- Addressing a close friend directly.
- Describing your crew or inner circle.
- A general casual address to anyone you are speaking to.
Do not use it when
- You literally mean a blood relative.
- You are speaking formally or to someone you do not know at all.
Origin and context
Short for family. The use of family to mean close non-blood friendships comes through African American Vernacular English and Jamaican Creole, both of which influenced MLE.
- First seen
- 2000s
- Confidence
- medium
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/london-slang-famUpdated: 2026-08-29License: CC BY 4.0