bae

What it means

An affectionate term for a romantic partner, boyfriend, or girlfriend. It's also stretched playfully to anything you adore, like a favorite food or item.

Examples

• Date night with bae tonight.
• Bae just surprised me with flowers.
• Pizza is bae, no further questions.
• Spending the whole weekend cuddled up with bae.

Where it comes from

Rooted in AAVE, often backronymed as 'before anyone else,' though it most likely began as a shortening of 'babe' or 'baby.' It went mainstream around 2013–2014 via social media and hip-hop.

Related slang