Gender & identity

AFAB and AMAB

AlsoAFABAMABDFABDMABassigned female at birthassigned male at birthdesignated female at birthdesignated male at birthassigned femaleassigned maleAFAB/AMAB

Definition

AFAB means assigned female at birth and AMAB means assigned male at birth. They describe the sex recorded at birth without implying anything about a person's gender identity.

At a glance

  • AFAB stands for assigned female at birth and AMAB for assigned male at birth.
  • The terms describe a fact about someone's history, not their current gender.
  • They are widely used in trans, non-binary and intersex communities and increasingly in health care.
  • Assigned sex is personal information, so it is better to let people share it if they choose.

In detail

These abbreviations are common in trans, non-binary and intersex communities, and increasingly in health settings, because they refer to a fact about a person's history rather than to who they are now. A non-binary person might say they are AFAB when explaining which health screenings apply to them, for example.

The terms are generally considered respectful, but they are still personal information. It is usually better to let someone share their assigned sex if and when they want to, rather than asking about it directly.

In a sentence

  • I'm AFAB and non-binary, so I still get invited for cervical screening.
  • The leaflet uses AFAB and AMAB so it applies to people of every gender.

Where the word comes from

The abbreviations grew out of the wider phrase assigned at birth, used by intersex and trans advocates, and became common in online community spaces and health information during the 2010s.

Common questions

Is it rude to ask someone if they are AFAB or AMAB?

In most social situations, yes, it can feel intrusive. Someone's assigned sex is part of their private history. In a health setting it may be relevant, and a clinician can explain why they are asking. Otherwise, let people share it themselves.

Can a woman be AMAB?

Yes. A trans woman was assigned male at birth and is a woman. AFAB and AMAB describe what was recorded at birth, not who the person is.

Related terms