MFW

What Does MFW Mean in a Text?

image for MFW showing a shocked face

MFW means "My Face When." This is an abbreviation that gained popularity on 4chan imageboards, where it served as the opening line of reply posts and greentext stories. Typically, it is used to show how a person would respond to a situation. It may be hypothetical or based on experiences of real life. "MFW" posts are usually accompanied by a reaction face image (in the form of a gif, emoji, or picture). For example:

  • MFW Sam proposed after Ali caught the bouquet.
  • MFW I have no money one day after payday.
The use of MFW has spread beyond 4chan culture. Reaction image threads can now be found all over social media, together with similar abbreviations such as TFW ("That Feeling When") and YFW ("Your Face When").

Image for MFW

When I write MFW, I mean this:

meaning of MFW

MFW is usually accompanied by a picture or emoji with a context-appropriate facial expression.

Summary of Key Points

"My Face When" is the most common definition for MFW on Snapchat, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.
MFW
Definition:My Face When
Type:Abbreviation
Guessability:guessability level 2
2: Quite easy to guess
Typical Users:typical user

Adults and Teenagers

An Academic Look at MFW

MFW is classified as an initialism abbreviation, as it is pronounced one letter at a time. Other examples of initialisms are:
  • AI - "Artificial Intelligence."
  • EW - "Electronic Warfare."
Initialisms are different to acronyms, which are abbreviations spoken as words.

Example of MFW Used in a Text

MFW
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