afam
Afam (noun) means In Philippine slang, a foreigner, especially a Western man romantically involved with a Filipino woman. Example: “Her new boyfriend is an afam she met while he was working in Cebu.”
How to Use Afam
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishIn the Philippines, a foreigner — often a woman's foreign boyfriend.
Informal slang in Philippine English and Tagalog; an academic abbreviation in US universities.
Context decides: Philippine conversation means the foreigner sense, a US timetable means African American Studies.
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Her new boyfriend is an _____ she met while he was working in Cebu.
Synonyms
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is afam an offensive word in the Philippines?
It is informal rather than a slur, and it is often used jokingly. It can still carry a hint of mockery, particularly when it implies a relationship based on money, so it is not a word to use in polite or formal settings.
Does AFAM mean African American studies?
On many US campuses, yes — AFAM is the course code and shorthand for African American Studies programmes. Outside a university context that reading is unlikely.
Where does the Philippine slang afam come from?
Its origin is disputed. A widely repeated expansion of it as an acronym circulates online but is not reliably documented, so the honest answer is that the source is uncertain.