galdem
/ˈɡaldɛm/
CommonA group of girls or women, or girls collectively. Can be used as a term of address or solidarity.
Has strong reclamation energy in UK culture. Often used as an affectionate collective by women themselves. When used by men it can read as objectifying depending on context, though it is not inherently offensive.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | girls trip booked, the galdem are going abroad | The female friend group has planned a trip. | instagram, 2023 |
| 02 | galdem only night, no boys allowed | An event reserved for women. | x, 2022 |
| 03 | shoutout to my galdem for always showing up | Appreciation for her female friends being dependable. | tiktok, 2024 |
| 04 | the whole galdem pulled up looking peng | All the girls showed up looking really good. | instagram, 2023 |
Use it when
- Referring to your own group of female friends.
- Describing a group of women in conversation.
- Celebrating or addressing women collectively.
Do not use it when
- Referring to a single woman.
- You want a gender-neutral group term.Use “london-slang-fam” instead.
Origin and context
From Jamaican Creole, where gal means girl and dem is a plural marker. Entered MLE through Jamaican communities in London. Widely used and partially reclaimed by UK women.
- First seen
- 1990s
- Confidence
- medium
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/london-slang-galdemUpdated: 2026-08-29License: CC BY 4.0