I have to admit, I am not always on top of the latest slang. I’m a quick learner but I’ve definitely had moments where I’ve seen a message from my niece or a younger friend and thought, “What in the world does that mean?” This happened to me not too long ago when I saw the letters TFW pop up in a text from my nephew.
My first thought was that it was a typo. Maybe he meant to type “the” or something similar. But then I saw it again in a different conversation, so I knew it had to be an acronym. My curiosity got the best of me. I realized that to fully understand my nephew’s messages, I had to figure this one out. So I did some searching and here is what I discovered, explained in simple language.
TFW Means on iPhone and in Texts
The acronym TFW stands for “that feeling when.” It is most often used to describe a relatable experience or emotion. It’s usually followed by a short phrase or a picture, a GIF, or a meme that perfectly captures the feeling being described.
I learned that it is a shorthand way of saying, “You know that feeling when you…” and then the person shares the feeling. It’s all about sharing a shared human experience, whether it’s funny, frustrating, or heartwarming.
Here is a simple example to help you understand it the way I now do.
- My nephew texted me: “TFW you finish a huge project at work.”
- This is his way of saying: “That feeling when you finish a huge project at work.”
He was telling me how great it felt to complete a big task, and he assumed I would understand because it is a feeling we can all relate to. It is a way to express a specific emotion without having to write a whole sentence.
TFW in Action on My iPhone
After I understood the meaning, I started noticing TFW everywhere. I saw it used in all sorts of conversations. It’s not just for big emotions; it’s for everyday things too. Here are a couple more examples of how I’ve seen it used on my own phone.
- In a text from a friend: “TFW your phone battery is at 1% and you find your charger right away.”
- What they meant: “That feeling when your phone battery is at 1% and you find your charger right away.”
- My takeaway: It’s a feeling of pure relief that we have all experienced.
- In a group chat with family: Someone sent a picture of a dog sleeping under a blanket with the text: “TFW you get to sleep in on a Saturday.”
- What they meant: “That feeling when you get to sleep in on a Saturday.”
- My takeaway: The picture perfectly captured the comfortable, lazy feeling of a Saturday morning.
I’ve even started using it myself, which has made me feel a bit more connected in conversations with my family. It’s a quick and simple way to express a feeling, and my niece and nephew now think I’m cool for using their lingo.
My Simple Guide to Using and Understanding TFW
If you see TFW on your iPhone and you’re not sure what to make of it, here is a simple guide based on what I have learned.
- Read it as a phrase: When you see TFW, just read it in your head as “that feeling when.”
- Look for what comes next: The words, picture, or GIF that follow TFW are the most important part. They are what is describing the feeling.
- Think about the feeling: Try to relate to the emotion being expressed. Is it happy? Relieved? Frustrated?
- Respond in kind: If you get it, you can respond with a message that shows you understand. You can even use TFW yourself.
Learning what TFW meant was a small thing, but it made a big difference in how I understood messages from the younger people in my life. It showed me that language is always changing and that sometimes a few letters can express a lot of meaning. I am no longer confused when I see it, and I feel a little bit smarter for figuring it out.
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