If you don’t know much about texting slang, seeing MFW in a message might confuse you.
But don’t worry, the explanation is simple. The guide below shows different meanings and ways to use MFW with examples.
These examples help you add it to texts and social media posts. Keep reading to understand MFW, its origin, and why people use it in messages.
What Does MFW Mean in Texting?
MFW means “My face when.”
People use it to describe a situation and their reactions. The phrase suggests that an event causes a specific facial expression—many pair MFW with an emoji or an image to show the emotion.
Social media platforms like Reddit and Twitter often feature MFW as a reaction meme, and many also use it in texts.
Examples:
- “MFW, I feed my cat five minutes late, and she starts biting my computer 🙀”
- “MFW, my sister asks me to cancel my date to babysit for her 😡”
Using MFW
Use MFW to describe your reaction.
Type “MFW” to show how you feel about something. If you want, add a GIF, emoji, or reaction image to make it funnier. Start with “MFW…” and follow with a sentence about what happened.
Examples:
- “MFW, my headphones get stuck on the doorknob as the door closes 😵💫😵”
- “MFW, the waiter gives me a dessert menu with multiple pages 🤤”
Use MFW to make news lighter.
When sharing lousy news, MFW can make it sound less severe. It still delivers the message in a way that might make someone smile.
Examples:
- “MFW, I have jury duty the same week as my vacation 😭”
- “MFW, I get stuck at the bus stop and need a ride 🥺🙏”
Use MFW for jokes and memes.
MFW works well for jokes, whether about yourself or others. It also fits into memes. Find a funny image, write your “MFW” sentence, and add the text using a photo editor.
Examples:
- Use the “puppet monkey meme” and write, “MFW someone asks, ‘What’s that smell?’”
- Try the “man blinking meme” and add, “MFW, someone says the math test was easy.”
How to Respond to MFW
Express your emotions when someone uses MFW.
If someone reacts to an event with MFW, reply with an emoji or GIF. Show them how you feel in a fun way.
Examples:
- Person 1: “MFW, my favorite movie, is on TV again this week 🥳”
- Person 2: “Nice! 😄 What channel?”
Use humor, sarcasm, or sincerity for bad news.
If someone shares lousy news with MFW, decide how to reply. You can keep it light with sarcasm or respond with sympathy.
Examples:
- Person 1: “MFW, my dad cancels our trip to the zoo. 😡”
- Person 2: “Oh no! That’s sad. Want to do something else together? 🥰”
React with laughter when MFW is part of a joke.
Why do you get the joke if a friend sends a funny MFW meme? Reply with a laughing emoji GIF, or even create a meme in return.
Examples:
- Person 1: “MFW mom yells at me for something my brother did. 🧐🤔”
- Person 2: “Yikes! 🤣🤣🤣”
MFW Variations
People sometimes write MFW with a > symbol, like >MFW.
The abbreviation MFW began on 4chan in 2009. People used it in “green text stories,” with green-colored text. The > symbol is a standard format on 4chan.
It separates parts of a story, and each line starts with >. Those who do not know 4chan often write “MFW” instead of “>MFW,” but both have the same meaning.
- “>forgot my wallet at home / >stood in line for an hour / >had to leave everything / >MFW 😵”
- “>spilled coffee on my laptop / >took it for repairs / >they said it’s beyond fixing / >MFW 🙄”
MFW and TFW Have Similar Meanings
TFW is another text shortcut that means “That feeling when” or “That feel when.” Since MFW and TFW both show emotions or reactions, they can replace each other. A message with TFW has the same meaning as one with MFW.
- “TFW, I drop my phone and the screen cracks. 😵💫😭”
- “TFW, I prepare all night, and the meeting gets canceled! 🥴”
