Neither “favs” nor “faves” is technically wrong. Both are informal, shortened forms of “favorites,” and dictionaries treat them as acceptable slang rather than as one correct word and one incorrect word. The real difference is style: “faves” more closely matches how the word sounds, while “favs” is the shorter, more compact option often seen in buttons and tags. Your choice comes down to tone and context, not grammar rules.
Quick Answer: Favs vs. Faves at a Glance
Favs and faves are both plural, informal short forms of “favorites” (or “favourites” in British spelling). They mean exactly the same thing: a group of preferred items, people, or things.
The Simple Rule
- Use faves when you want the word to look and sound natural, especially in writing meant to be read aloud in your head — blog posts, captions, casual reviews.
- Use favs when space is tight or you want a clipped, label-like feel — app buttons, hashtags, short lists.
Correct: These songs are my faves right now. Also correct: Tap the star to add it to your favs. Incorrect: These songs are my fav’s right now. (An apostrophe is never needed here — this is a plural, not a possessive.)
Which Form Is More Common?
Dictionary coverage gives a hint about how each form is treated. Merriam-Webster and Cambridge Dictionary both have full entries for “fave” and “faves,” while “fav” is generally listed as an alternate spelling of “fave” rather than its own headword. That suggests faves has slightly stronger footing as an established informal word, though both forms are widely used online.
What Do Favs and Faves Mean?
Favs Meaning
Favs is the plural form built from “fav,” itself a clipped version of “favorite.” It refers to more than one liked item, person, or piece of content.
Example: Save your favs before the app update.
Faves Meaning
Faves is the plural form built from “fave.” It carries the identical meaning — multiple favorite things — but with a spelling that mirrors the word’s pronunciation more closely.
Example: Here are three of my faves from the new album.
Singular vs. Plural: Fav/Fave vs. Favs/Faves
It’s easy to mix these up, so it helps to separate them clearly:
| Form | Number | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Fav | Singular | This café is my fav spot downtown. |
| Fave | Singular | Pizza is my fave food. |
| Favs | Plural | These shoes are my new favs. |
| Faves | Plural | Comedies are my go-to faves. |
The pattern is regular: add “s” to make either singular form plural, the same way you would with most English nouns.
Pronunciation Guide
Both “fav” and “fave” are pronounced the same way: /feɪv/, rhyming with “wave” or “gave.” It’s a single syllable with the stress automatically falling on that one sound. The extra “e” in “fave” doesn’t change the pronunciation — it simply signals the long “a” sound the way English spelling normally does (compare “cap” vs. “cape”). “Favs” and “faves” are pronounced the same as their singular forms with an added “z” sound at the end, as in “waves.” (Pronunciation confirmed via Cambridge Dictionary and Merriam-Webster.)
Favs vs. Faves: What’s the Actual Difference?
Spelling Difference
“Favs” drops the silent “e” that “favorite” would otherwise keep in its shortened form. “Faves” keeps that “e,” which is why it looks closer to the full word and to how it sounds.
Meaning Difference
There isn’t one. Both words mean the same thing: a set of preferred items. Neither carries a different shade of meaning or a separate use case tied to meaning.
Tone and Style Difference
This is where the real distinction lives. “Favs” tends to feel slightly more clipped and utilitarian — think interface labels and quick notes. “Faves” tends to feel a touch warmer and more conversational, which is why it shows up often in lifestyle writing, entertainment coverage, and casual recommendations.
Where Favs and Faves Come From (and Are They Real Words?)
The Origin of Fave and Favs
“Fave” traces back to informal usage from the late 1930s as a clipped form of “favorite.” Merriam-Webster records its first known use in this sense from 1938. “Favs” developed later as an alternate, more compressed spelling, gaining traction alongside texting and early social media, where shorter forms were practical.
Are “Fav” and “Favs” Real Dictionary Words?
“Fave” and “faves” appear as their own entries in Merriam-Webster and Cambridge Dictionary, both labeled informal. “Fav,” however, is generally treated as an alternate spelling of “fave” rather than a separate dictionary entry — Dictionary.com, for instance, defines “fav” simply as a variation of “fave.” In practice, this means “favs” is best understood as a spelling variant of “faves,” not a competing word with its own identity.
Fav, Fave, Favs, and Faves vs. Favorite: How They All Relate
When to Use Favorite
Use the full word “favorite” in any writing where tone matters: professional emails, reports, academic papers, or content aimed at a broad or formal audience.
Example: My favorite approach to this problem is the simplest one.
When to Use Fav or Fave
Use either singular form in casual, conversational writing when referring to one liked item.
Example: That restaurant is my fave for date night.
When to Use Favs or Faves
Use either plural form in casual writing when referring to more than one liked item — texts, captions, playlists, or informal lists.
Example: These three shows are my current faves.
Is Favs vs. Faves a British vs. American English Issue?
American English Usage
In American English, “favs” and “faves” both appear frequently online, with no regional rule favoring one over the other. The choice is stylistic, not dialectal.
British English Usage
British English shows the same pattern. Both forms circulate in casual UK writing and social media without a clear national preference.
How This Differs from Favorite vs. Favourite
The real US/UK spelling split happens at the full word: “favorite” is standard American spelling, and “favourite” is standard British, Canadian, and Australian spelling — the same pattern seen in “color/colour” and “honor/honour.” That regional difference does not carry over cleanly to “favs” and “faves,” since both short forms are used informally across English-speaking regions regardless of which spelling of “favorite” a writer normally uses.
Full Comparison Table
| Form | Number | Formality | Typical Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Favorite | Singular | Formal/neutral | Essays, professional writing, general use |
| Favourite | Singular | Formal/neutral (British) | UK, Canadian, Australian formal and general use |
| Fav | Singular | Informal | Buttons, tags, casual notes |
| Fave | Singular | Informal | Conversational writing, captions |
| Favs | Plural | Informal | App interfaces, short lists |
| Faves | Plural | Informal | Blog posts, casual writing, reviews |
When Should You Use Favs?
Texting and Social Media
“Favs” fits naturally in quick, casual messages and posts where brevity matters more than polish.
Example: Just added these to my favs 🎧
Buttons, Tags, and App Interfaces
Many apps and websites use “favs” in navigation labels, filters, and saved-item lists because it’s short and fits tight spaces well.
Example: View My Favs
When Should You Use Faves?
Blogs, Reviews, and Pop-Culture Writing
“Faves” is common in lifestyle blogs, entertainment roundups, and product reviews, where a slightly warmer, more natural tone works well.
Example: Here are five skincare faves I keep repurchasing.
Everyday Conversation
In spoken English and casual writing that mimics speech, “faves” tends to feel more natural since it mirrors pronunciation.
Example: Honestly, tacos are one of my faves.
When You Should Avoid Both
Academic Writing
Academic papers call for the full word. Informal abbreviations can read as careless in this context.
Correct: My favorite theory on this topic is well supported by the data. Incorrect: My faves theory on this topic is well supported by the data.
Business Documents and Professional Emails
Professional communication generally favors “favorite” or “favourite” over shortened forms, even in casual-leaning workplaces.
Correct: Our favorites among the proposed designs are options two and four. Incorrect: Our favs among the proposed designs are options two and four.
Legal and Technical Writing
Legal and technical documents require precise, standard vocabulary. Informal abbreviations like “favs” or “faves” have no place here.
Real-Life Examples of Favs vs. Faves
Social Media and Text Message Examples
- Adding these to my favs list right now.
- These are officially my new faves. 😍
- Drop your favs in the comments!
Marketing, Website, and App Examples
- “Save to Favs” button on a shopping app
- “Reader Faves This Month” heading on a blog
- “Your Favs” tab in a music streaming app
Incorrect vs. Correct Examples
Correct: These are my favs from the collection. Incorrect: These are my fav’s from the collection. Explanation: No apostrophe is needed — this is a plural word, not a possessive.
Correct: Our team’s faves changed after the update. Incorrect: Our team’s faves’ changed after the update. Explanation: The extra apostrophe after “faves” incorrectly suggests possession that isn’t there.
Correct: I switched from writing favs to faves halfway through the post. Incorrect (style inconsistency): I switched from favs to faves and back to favs again in the same paragraph. Explanation: Mixing spellings within one piece of writing looks inconsistent, even though both are acceptable individually.
Which Spelling Do People Actually Use More?
There’s no single authoritative source tracking exact usage frequency between “favs” and “faves” across all platforms, so any specific percentage claim would be unverified. What can be said with confidence, based on dictionary treatment, is that “faves” has a more established presence as its own dictionary entry, while “favs” is generally classified as a spelling variant. Beyond that, usage largely depends on platform and personal or brand style rather than one form clearly dominating the other.
Favs vs. Faves: Which One Should You Use? (Decision Guide)
Ask yourself these questions:
- Is this formal writing? → Use favorite (or favourite).
- Am I writing for an interface, button, or tag with limited space? → Favs works well.
- Am I writing conversationally, for a blog, caption, or review? → Faves tends to read more naturally.
- Am I unsure? → Faves is the safer default in body text since it reads closer to natural speech; favs is the safer default in short labels.
Which Sounds More Natural When Spoken?
Since both are pronounced the same way, this isn’t about sound — it’s about how the spelling reads on the page. “Faves” tends to feel more like natural writing, while “favs” tends to feel more like a label or tag, even though nothing changes when you say either one aloud.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Treating Them as Formal Words
Mistake: Using “favs” or “faves” in a resume, cover letter, or academic submission. Correction: Replace with “favorite” or “favourite.” Why: Both short forms are informal and can undercut a professional tone.
Confusing Singular and Plural Forms
Mistake: “This is one of my faves” used to describe a single item without the plural context being clear, or writing “fav” when referring to several items. Correction: Use “fav” or “fave” for one item; use “favs” or “faves” for multiple items. Why: Matching number keeps the sentence grammatically consistent.
The Apostrophe Rule: Favs, Not Fav’s
Mistake: Writing “fav’s” or “faves'” to mean more than one favorite. Correction: Write “favs” or “faves” with no apostrophe. Why: Apostrophes mark possession or missing letters, not plurals. “Fav’s” would only be correct if something belonged to a single “fav,” which is rarely the intended meaning.
Mixing Favorite, Fav, Fave, Favs, and Faves in One Piece of Writing
Mistake: Switching between multiple spellings within the same article, post, or document. Correction: Pick one spelling and use it consistently throughout a single piece of writing. Why: Consistency makes writing look more polished and intentional, even with informal words.
Practice Session: Favs vs. Faves
Fill in the Blanks
- These are three of my ______ from this year’s releases. (fav / faves)
- Tap the heart icon to save it to your ______. (favs / fave)
- My ______ is definitely the chocolate one. (favs / fave)
- In the report, replace “our team’s ______” with “our team’s favorites.” (faves / favorites)
- She keeps a running list of her weekly ______ on her blog. (favs / faves)
- Don’t write “fav’s” — the correct plural is ______.
- Choose the correctly punctuated sentence: “These are my favs.” or “These are my fav’s.”
- Identify the singular form: “faves” or “fave”?
Answers
- faves — plural context (“three of my”)
- favs — common in app/button contexts
- fave — singular context (“definitely the chocolate one”)
- favorites — formal report context
- faves — casual blog tone fits naturally here
- favs — no apostrophe needed
- “These are my favs.” — the version without an apostrophe
- fave — singular; “faves” is plural
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “favs” or “faves” more correct? Neither is more grammatically correct than the other. Both are accepted informal plurals of “favorite,” and the choice depends on tone and context rather than a spelling rule.
Are favs and faves real words, or just internet slang? “Faves” and its singular form “fave” appear as informal entries in Merriam-Webster and Cambridge Dictionary. “Favs” is generally treated as a spelling variant of “fave” rather than a separate dictionary entry, but it’s still widely recognized and used.
What’s the difference between fav, fave, favs, and faves? “Fav” and “fave” are singular; “favs” and “faves” are plural. All four are informal short forms of “favorite,” with “fave” and “faves” matching the word’s pronunciation more closely.
Do favs and faves need an apostrophe? No. They are plural words, not possessives, so no apostrophe is needed. Write “favs” and “faves,” not “fav’s” or “faves’.”
Is “favs” British or American English? Neither. “Favs” and “faves” are used informally across both American and British English. The formal US/UK spelling split happens with “favorite” versus “favourite,” not with these shortened forms.
Can I use favs or faves in a resume or business email? It’s best to avoid both in professional writing. Use “favorite” or “favourite” instead, since informal abbreviations can come across as too casual for formal contexts.
Which is more common on social media, favs or faves? Both appear frequently, and no verified usage data confirms one as clearly dominant. Dictionary coverage suggests “faves” has slightly more established status as its own word.
Is “fave” short for “favorite” or “favourite”? It’s short for either, depending on which spelling the writer normally uses. “Fave” itself doesn’t change based on American or British spelling conventions.
What’s the plural of “fave”? The plural is “faves,” formed by simply adding “s,” the same pattern used for most English nouns.
Why do some apps use “fav” instead of “favorite”? Apps often use “fav” because it’s compact and fits well in buttons, tags, and menus where space is limited.
Is it “my favs” or “my fav’s”? “My favs” is correct. “My fav’s” incorrectly adds a possessive apostrophe to a plural word.
Which spelling should content writers use for consistency? Either is fine as a starting choice, but writers should pick one spelling and use it consistently throughout a single piece of content rather than switching between “favs” and “faves.”
Favs vs. Faves: Which Should You Choose?
Both “favs” and “faves” are acceptable, informal shortenings of “favorite,” and neither is the incorrect spelling of the other. Use “faves” when you want writing that reads naturally and conversationally, and “favs” when you need something short for a button, tag, or quick note. In formal writing, skip both and use “favorite” or “favourite” instead. Whichever short form you choose, stay consistent within the same piece of writing.
