Bae ( ) is a

slang Slang is vocabulary (words, phrases, and linguistic usages) of an informal register, common in spoken conversation but avoided in formal writing. It also sometimes refers to the language generally exclusive to the members of particular in-gro ...

term of endearment A term of endearment is a word or phrase used to address or describe a person, animal or inanimate object for which the speaker feels love or affection. Terms of endearment are used for a variety of reasons, such as parents addressing their ch ...

primarily used among youth in communities. It came into widespread use around 2013 and 2014 through

social media Social media are interactive media technologies that facilitate the creation and sharing of information, ideas, interests, and other forms of expression through virtual communities and networks. While challenges to the definition of ''social medi ...

and hip-hop and R&B lyrics. The term originated as an abbreviation of the word ''baby'' or ''babe''. It has been suggested that the term originated as an acronym for "before anyone else," but this is unlikely; this

false etymology A false etymology (fake etymology, popular etymology, etymythology, pseudo-etymology, or par(a)etymology) is a popular but false belief about the origin or derivation of a specific word. It is sometimes called a folk etymology, but this is also a ...

is probably an example of a

backronym A backronym is an acronym formed from an already existing word by expanding its letters into the words of a phrase. Backronyms may be invented with either serious or humorous intent, or they may be a type of false etymology or folk etymology. The ...

Popular usage

Several

Internet meme An Internet meme, commonly known simply as a meme ( ), is an idea, behavior, style, or image that is spread via the Internet, often through social media platforms. What is considered a meme may vary across different communities on the Internet ...

s have caused the widespread adoption of the term. "Bae caught me slippin featured people posting pictures of themselves pretending to be asleep that were supposedly taken by their partners. Lexicographer

Grant Barrett Grant Barrett (born 1970) is an American lexicographer, specializing in slang, jargon and new usage, and the author and compiler of language-related books and dictionaries. He is a co-host and co-producer of the American weekly, hour-long public ...

wrote that this was "a kind of incompetent narcissistic guile which may capture the spirit of our age." "Cooking for bae" featured people posting photos of failed dishes, often called "struggle meals," supposedly created for their partners. "You got a bae? Or nah?" originated on

Vine A vine (Latin ''vīnea'' "grapevine", "vineyard", from ''vīnum'' "wine") is any plant with a growth habit of trailing or scandent (that is, climbing) stems, lianas or runners. The word ''vine'' can also refer to such stems or runners themselv ...

and featured people chanting the phrase. The word's use in song lyrics dates to at least 2005, according to lyrics posted on

Genius Genius is a characteristic of original and exceptional insight in the performance of some art or endeavor that surpasses expectations, sets new standards for future works, establishes better methods of operation, or remains outside the capabiliti ...

. In 2014,

Pharrell Williams Pharrell Lanscilo Williams (; born April 5, 1973) is an American record producer, rapper, singer, and songwriter. Alongside close colleague Chad Hugo, he formed the hip hop and R&B production duo the Neptunes in the early 1990s, with whom he ...

used it in the title of his single "

Come Get It Bae "Come Get It Bae" is a song written, produced, and performed by American musician Pharrell Williams, with guest vocals from Miley Cyrus, from the former's second studio album ''Girl (Pharrell Williams album), Girl'' (2014). "Come Get It Bae" was ...

." Chris Kelly of ''

Fact A fact is a datum about one or more aspects of a circumstance, which, if accepted as true and proven true, allows a logical conclusion to be reached on a true–false evaluation. Standard reference works are often used to check facts. Scient ...

'' wrote sarcastically that "nothing says timeless like a song with 'bae' in the title." The word was a runner-up for the

Oxford Dictionaries Oxford dictionary may refer to any dictionary published by Oxford University Press, particularly: Historical dictionaries * ''Oxford English Dictionary'' (''OED'') * ''Shorter Oxford English Dictionary'', abridgement of the ''OED'' Single-volume d ...

2014 Word of the Year. Barrett nominated it for the

American Dialect Society The American Dialect Society (ADS), founded in 1889, is a learned society "dedicated to the study of the English language in North America, and of other languages, or dialects of other languages, influencing it or influenced by it." The Society p ...

's 2013 Word of the Year. The term has been adopted by corporate social media. The

Twitter Twitter is an online social media and social networking service owned and operated by American company Twitter, Inc., on which users post and interact with 280-character-long messages known as "tweets". Registered users can post, like, and ...

account Brands Saying Bae highlights the use of corporate Twitter accounts employing the term. ''

The Verge ''The Verge'' is an American technology news website operated by Vox Media, publishing news, feature stories, guidebooks, product reviews, consumer electronics news, and podcasts. The website launched on November 1, 2011, and uses Vox Media' ...

'' labeled this use as an "appropriation of urban

youth culture Youth culture refers to the societal norms of children, adolescents, and young adults. Specifically, it comprises the processes and symbolic systems that are shared by the youth and are distinct from those of adults in the community. An emphasis ...

References

{{Reflist American slang 2000s neologisms 2005 neologisms Internet memes Romance 2010s slang