TFW is basically internet slang for ‘that feel when’, ‘that feeling when’, or ‘that face when’ and is used to convey emotions about something. In this article, we are going to talk about How to Use TFW and What is TFW Meaning. Let’s begin!
Maybe you spotted it in a social media post, a comment, or also a text that starts with TFW. And is follow through a phrase as well. It Is a popular saying on social media and no, it’s not actually always grammatically correct.
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TFW Meaning
TFW is an internet acronym that basically stands for “that feel when.” This acronym is mostly accompanied by a funny or emotive picture. Most people use it to give emotional context or also a commentary on a situation.
In a way, TFW is more like a meme than an actual acronym you use in a sentence actually such as FOMO. It mostly follows a strict format, where a sentence beginning with TFW is most of the time (but not always) accompanied by an emotive picture. This sentence can be relevant to your life, such as “TFW your bathroom floods,”. Or it could simply be a joke, such as “TFW your friends also know about Pennywise the clown.”
That’s not to say that TFW always follows a strict meme format actually. On its own, TFW indicates to readers that a message or post consists of an emotional context. So, it’s possible for “TFW” to mean something on its own without being accompanied by a picture or messages actually.
So in most of the cases, you might reply to a ridiculous or hateful Facebook with a basic “TFW.” Folks who know what TFW means should understand that you are saying “this post is absolutely bonkers!”. Just like that, you could reply to an unexpected message from an ex with “TFW,” or reply to a funny picture with “TFW.”
The etymology of TFW | tfw meaning
Some folks also swear that TFW actually stands for “that face when.” And in a way, they might be right as well.
Back in 2009, folks on the 4chan music board (called /mu/) started saying “MFW,” or “my face when”. Oddly enough, MFW was also use in the same way that we use TFW today. Folks would post a funny photo of a face along with a sentence such as “MFW people call chess a sport.”
Around this same time, the word “feel” actually developed as slang for the word “feeling.” Memes such as “I know that feel bro” started to spread across the internet. And the “Feels Guy” reaction image became a common piece of internet and nerd culture as well.
Like MFW, the Feels Guy meme was used to respond to emotional situations actually. However, while MFW usually conveyed disgust or awe, the Feels Guy meme was used to describe a feeling of shame, doubt, sadness, or emasculation as well.
Evidently, these two similar ideas merge to become TFW in 2010 or 2011—that’s when TFW was first properly define on the Urban Dictionary actually. So, the grammatical usage of TFW has not changed much since then, the word has become a lot broader. It’s a useful acronym for expressing emotions on the internet, a place that’s scandalous for its emotional opacity.
How to use TFW
Folks typically use TFW in order to convey some kind of emotion or feeling in any given context. That’s relatable enough for other folks online to know exactly what you mean — yet while still remaining open-ended enough that they can also come up with their own interpretation of it.
The grammatically correct way to say TFW would actually along the lines of, “I love the feeling you get when…” or I love that feeling when…”
In the initialism, the word “feel” is basically used as a shortened, slang term for “feeling.”
Examples of How to use TFW | tfw meaning
“TFW you are lying in bed at 4 am still wide awake.”
“Also TFW you finally get a text back after seven and a half hours.”
“TFW you realize you almost just poured coffee in your cereal rather than milk.”
These three examples above should give you a good idea of how the trend works. In general, the acronym is used at the very beginning of a sentence, which is followed by some kind of mundane. Everyday activity that most folks have done before.
TFW in Your Own Online or Text Vocabulary | tfw meaning
TFW can actually work with more exciting, not-so-mundane activities as well. They tend to come off as more humorous and also exaggerated than relatable, though. For example:
“TFW when you go skydiving but forget to take out your retainer first.”
That is relatable? Not really, but Hilarious? Absolutely yes.
Building on the humorous or exaggerated effect of TFW. Online users will sometimes put TFW at the beginning of a completely ridiculous situation that’s extremely specific and also not at all relatable. (However, at least somewhat imaginable thanks to the detailed description) in order to exaggerate the expression.
The acronym is very famous on Twitter and Instagram since it works perfectly for describing odd, hilarious, and awkward situations as well. Through using text speak, bad grammar, and also short forms of other words.
As with most of the memes and acronyms that seemingly tend to come out of nowhere. TFW is primarily embraced through younger social media users who actually have no problem. With never spelling anything correctly or also using improper grammar. Even though the internet is becoming increasingly visual these days along with the number of social media platforms that are driven by picture and video sharing, plus the rise of emoji. The TFW trend offers just a little extra communicable emotion that can sort of left up to the reader’s imagination as well.
Conclusion
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