mandem
/ˈmandɛm/
CommonBritish slang for a group of male friends, your crew.
Originally from Multicultural London English. Can be used by the group members themselves ('the mandem went out') or by observers. Carries a street credibility association but has become mainstream through UK music and social media.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | linking the mandem tonight | Meeting up with the friend group later. | instagram, 2023 |
| 02 | the whole mandem came through for my birthday | All his friends showed up for his birthday. | instagram, 2024 |
| 03 | man and the mandem are going ends | Me and my friends are going to the area we're from. | x, 2023 |
| 04 | nah the mandem would never let that happen | His friend group would step in or prevent that situation. | tiktok, 2024 |
Use it when
- Referring to your close group of male friends.
- Describing a group of guys doing something together.
- Talking about yourself and your friends as a collective.
Do not use it when
- You are referring to a mixed-gender group.
- You are writing anything formal or professional.
Origin and context
From Multicultural London English, influenced by Caribbean creole where 'man dem' referred to a group of men. Spread widely through UK grime and rap music from the mid-2000s onward.
- First seen
- early-2000s
- Confidence
- medium
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/mandemUpdated: 2026-08-28License: CC BY 4.0