Personal-ad codes - meaning and definition
AlsoSWMSWFSBMSBFDWMDWFMWMMWFISOM4FF4MM4MF4FM4WW4Mclassified ad abbreviationslonely hearts abbreviationslonely hearts codespersonal ad abbreviationsdating ad acronyms
Definition
Compact abbreviations from classified personal ads describing the writer and who they seek, such as SWM (single white male) or M4F (man seeking woman).
At a glance
- Compact abbreviations describing the writer and who they are seeking.
- Print-era codes include SWF (single white female) and DWM (divorced white male).
- Online forums added patterns like M4F, M4M and W4W, plus ISO for 'in search of'.
- Codes that lead with race make many people uncomfortable today.
- 'Married' codes usually signal seeking a connection outside the marriage.
In detail
Codes like SWF (single white female), DWM (divorced white male) and MWM (married white male) were designed to save space in print ads. Online forums later added patterns such as M4F, M4M and W4W, and ISO ("in search of").
Some of these codes put race front and centre, which many now find uncomfortable. "Married" codes usually indicate someone seeking a connection outside their marriage, with or without their spouse's knowledge.
In a sentence
- ISO someone to go to gigs with, any gender, no pressure.
- Old ads were full of codes like SWF and DWM that would read oddly today.
Where the word comes from
These codes come from classified personal ads in newspapers and magazines, where advertisers paid by the word or line. Online forums and classified sites later added the M4F-style pattern.
Common questions
What does M4F mean?
Man seeking woman. The pattern works for other combinations too: F4M is woman seeking man, M4M man seeking man, F4F or W4W woman seeking woman.
What does ISO mean on a dating post?
In search of. It introduces what or who the writer is looking for.