bae
|bae|
/beɪ/
favorite person / beloved
Etymology
'bae' originates from English, specifically as a clipped form of the word 'babe' (ultimately from 'baby'), where 'baby' originally meant 'infant' or 'young one'.
'bae' changed from the English words 'babe'/'baby' and emerged as a clipped, colloquial form in African American Vernacular English and online slang in the early 21st century; it was widely popularized via social media and pop culture by the 2010s.
Initially associated with 'baby' meaning 'infant' or 'young one' (via 'babe'), over time it evolved into a colloquial term meaning 'romantic partner' or 'very close person' and was playfully reinterpreted as the initialism 'before anyone else'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
informal slang: a term of endearment meaning 'babe' or 'baby' — a romantic partner or very close person.
She's my bae.
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Noun 2
playful backronym/initialism: 'before anyone else' — used jokingly or emphatically to mean someone who comes before everyone else in importance.
He calls her his bae — before anyone else.
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Noun 3
proper noun / acronym: BAE Systems — name of a major British defense, security and aerospace company (usually written in capitals).
BAE Systems announced a new contract today.
Last updated: 2025/12/30 11:44