Bae - meaning and definition
Alsobabebefore anyone else
Definition
An affectionate term for a partner or crush, often read as "before anyone else" though it most likely comes from "babe".
At a glance
- An affectionate term for a partner or crush.
- Most likely derived from 'babe', though often read as 'before anyone else'.
- Peaked online in the mid-2010s and is still widely understood.
- Also used jokingly about best friends or favourite foods.
In detail
Bae is a term of endearment used about a boyfriend, girlfriend or partner, and sometimes jokingly about a best friend or a favourite food. It peaked online in the mid-2010s and is still widely understood.
Calling someone bae early on can be sweet or can feel like a lot, depending on how established things are.
In a sentence
- Date night with bae, phones off.
- Pizza is bae, honestly.
Where the word comes from
Bae is most likely a shortened form of 'babe' or 'baby' used in African American English. The 'before anyone else' explanation is a popular backronym rather than its real source. It spread widely online in the mid-2010s.
Common questions
Does bae stand for 'before anyone else'?
That reading is popular, but the word most likely comes from 'babe'. The acronym explanation was attached later.