BF
Abbreviation with 4 meanings
| Stands for | Boyfriend |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 4 |
| Categories | Texting & Internet Slang, Geography & Places, Writing & Everyday |
| Also written | bf |
BF has four meanings. The most common are Boyfriend (dating and relationship) and Burkina Faso (country code); it can also stand for Breastfeeding and Boldface.
Meanings of BF at a glance
| # | BF stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boyfriend | Texting & Internet Slang › Dating and Relationship |
| 2 | Burkina Faso | Geography & Places › Country Code |
| 3 | Breastfeeding | Texting & Internet Slang › Parenting Forum |
| 4 | Boldface | Writing & Everyday › Proofreading and Correction Mark |
1. Boyfriend
Texting & Internet Slang · Dating and Relationship Abbreviations
A male romantic partner in an unmarried relationship, as in "my bf" or "bf and I." One of the most common abbreviations in texts, captions and online posts about relationships.
Example: Going to the concert with my bf Saturday, then brunch with his parents.
Some people, especially younger texters, also use "bf" for "best friend," which can cause confusion; "bff" or "bestie" avoids it. On Reddit relationship forums, posters usually give ages and genders too, as in "my bf (27M)." On parenting forums BF can mean breastfeeding, an unrelated sense.
2. Burkina Faso
Geography & Places · Country Code Abbreviations
Burkina Faso, formerly Upper Volta, took its current name, meaning land of upright people, in 1984 under Thomas Sankara. The landlocked West African country has Ouagadougou as its capital and BFA as its alpha-3 code.
Example: The film festival FESPACO in BF draws directors from across Africa.
Ouagadougou hosts FESPACO, Africa's largest film festival, every two years. BF also means boyfriend in texting.
3. Breastfeeding
Texting & Internet Slang · Parenting Forum Abbreviations
Feeding a baby breast milk directly from the breast, as in "still BF at 12 months" or "BF and pumping at work." Used on parenting forums and pregnancy apps alongside FF and EP.
Example: Still BF at night but switched to bottles during daycare hours.
In everyday texting BF overwhelmingly means boyfriend, so this sense appears almost only in parenting and infant-feeding discussions. Combination feeding, sometimes written "combi" or "BF and FF," is common. Lactation consultants (IBCLCs) are often recommended on forums for difficulties.
4. Boldface (bf)
Writing & Everyday · Proofreading and Correction Mark Abbreviations
Requests boldface type, indicated in manuscripts by a wavy underline beneath the text and bf in the margin. Editors use it for headings, key terms and emphasis in textbooks.
Example: Each glossary term should be bf on first use, so add a wavy line under "photosynthesis" here.
The wavy underline belongs to the same typewriter-era system as single underlining for italics and double for small capitals. Some editors write "bold" or BF instead. Outside publishing, BF most often means boyfriend.
Related abbreviations
More dating and relationship abbreviations
- BAE – Babe or baby (backronym: before anyone else)
- BB – Baby (term of endearment)
- BBY – Baby (term of endearment)
- DF – Dear fiancé
- DINK – Dual income, no kids
- DTR – Define the relationship
- ENM – Ethical non-monogamy
- FBO – Facebook official
See all 36 dating and relationship abbreviations →