fave

IPA/feɪv/
KK[fˈev]IPA/feɪv/

fave — noun

  • favesingular
  • favesplural

1. An informal shortened form of 'favourite'. A person or thing that you like more

1.nounB1
Definition

An informal shortened form of 'favourite'. A person or thing that you like more than any other in a particular group or category.

Example

Eshe's favourite food is sushi, but Darius always orders pizza — his fave.

possessive + fave: his / my / her fave

The librarian asked each child to bring their fave book for story time.

fave + noun (fave book / fave movie / fave song)

Common collocations
  • absolute fave
  • all-time fave
  • personal fave
  • old fave
  • fan fave
  • my fave
  • a big fave
Synonyms
  • favourite

    The standard, full-form equivalent; suitable in all registers including formal.

  • darling

    Used mostly for people, with a warmer, more affectionate tone ('the darling of the team').

  • go-to

    Emphasises reliability as a default choice in a specific situation ('my go-to snack').

  • pick

    Suggests a deliberate selection from options ('the critic's pick').

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

someone's fave

a/the fave

Usage Note

Used mainly in casual conversation, social media posts, blog comments, and pop-culture contexts. Avoid in formal or academic writing — use 'favourite' instead.

Common Mistakes

I'd like to introduce you to my fave colleague, Dr. Chen.
I'd like to introduce you to my favourite colleague, Dr. Chen.
'Fave' is too informal for a professional introduction.
This is my fave among the three options.
This is my favourite among the three options.
Use 'favourite' in neutral or formal writing; 'fave' is reserved for casual settings.

fave — adjective

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Fave is the informal shortening of favourite and belongs to casual speech, social media, and pop culture. Favourite is the standard form, appropriate in any register. Darling adds a layer of affectionate fondness and is most often applied to people ('the darling of the team'). Go-to describes a reliable default choice for a recurring situation ('my go-to coffee shop'). Pick emphasises a deliberate selection from a set ('the coach's pick for captain'). Unlike favourite and fave, which work for people, objects, or experiences, darling is usually personal and go-to is situational. In formal writing, always choose favourite; in conversation or online, fave is natural.

fave ↗favourite ↗darling ↗go-to ↗pick ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

Phrases

  • all-time fave
  • old fave
  • absolute fave

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Formed by clipping the word 'favourite' (British spelling) or 'favorite' (American spelling), removing the longer suffix while keeping the first syllable. This type of shortening is common in informal English, similar to 'bro' from 'brother', 'movie' from 'moving picture', or 'phone' from 'telephone'. The clipped form dates back to the early 20th century and became especially popular in the age of digital communication.