character
Common
ff
Ff (character) means a pair of lowercase letters written together in old handwriting or old-style print to represent a single capital F. Example: “The historian pointed out the "ff" at the start of the surname in the old letter.”
character
1
A pair of lowercase letters written together in old handwriting or old-style print to represent a single capital F.
"The historian pointed out the "ff" at the start of the surname in the old letter."
"Some old family names, such as ffoulkes, still begin with a lowercase "ff"."
"In old parish records you might see a name spelled with an "ff" at the start instead of a capital F."
How to use ff
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old handwriting quirk where two small f's stood in for one big F — you still see it in some surnames today.
Common mistake
People sometimes assume a surname like "ffrench" is a typo or a double letter for emphasis — it is actually this old capital-letter convention.
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Word forms
- Plural
- ffs, ff's
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The historian pointed out the "_____" at the start of the surname in the old letter.
Frequently asked questions
What does “ff” mean?
The word “ff” means a pair of lowercase letters written together in old handwriting or old-style print to represent a single capital F. In plain terms, an old handwriting quirk where two small f's stood in for one big F — you still see it in some surnames today.
How do you use “ff” in a sentence?
Here is “ff” used in a sentence: “In old parish records you might see a name spelled with an "ff" at the start instead of a capital F.”
What part of speech is “ff”?
“Ff” is a character.
Is “ff” a common word?
“Ff” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What does "ff" mean in old handwriting or print?
In old handwriting and early printed texts, "ff" represents a doubled lowercase form used to indicate a single capital letter "F," particularly at the start of certain names.
Why do some surnames start with "ff" instead of a capital "F"?
Some English surnames retain the old "ff" spelling from historic handwriting conventions, where the doubled letters functioned as a capital "F," even though modern printing has mostly replaced this with a single capitalized letter.
Is "ff" used the same way in modern English as in older texts?
No. In modern English, "ff" is no longer used as a substitute for a capital "F"; the convention survives mainly in a small number of traditional surnames and reproductions of historic documents.
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