What Does Mandem Mean? A Guide for Non-Brits

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Plus, learn about the origins of this UK slang term
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In the UK, mandem refers to a group of male friends. It’s a popular slang term that has made its way across the pond to the U.S. and beyond. If you’re looking to learn more about the phrase, we’ve got you covered. In this article, we explain what mandem means , where it comes from , answer common questions about what and who it can refer to, and more!

What does mandem mean in UK slang?

In the UK, the slang term mandem refers to your group of male friends. It combines the words “man” and “them.” Although the phrase typically refers to men, it can be used to refer to women, too. For example, if you see your mixed group of friends walking down the street, say “Peep mandem down the street.”

Section 1 of 7:

What does mandem mean in slang?

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  1. Mandem is a UK slang term that refers to a group of male friends, but it can also be used to refer to a group with female friends, too. The term is a combination of the words “man” and “them” and is commonly used by UK roadmen (young, wild guys from the UK). [1]
    • Example: “I just called mandem to see what we’re doing tonight. We're going out and I’m trying to get lit!”
    • Example: “See mandem down the street? I can’t believe there’s that many guys rolling around tonight.”
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Section 2 of 7:

How to Use Mandem

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  1. For example, if you and your friends are going to the beach, say something like “Me and the mandem are about to head to the beach.” Mandem is typically viewed as informal, so try to avoid using it around people of higher status, like your boss or landlord. [2]
    • It’s best to use mandem to refer to your group of friends rather than just a random group of people that you don't know.
    • For example, if you see a large group of your buddies walking down the street, say something like “Peep the mandem down the street. They’re rolling deep.”
    • You can also use the term to refer to a group of female friends, but if you’d prefer to be gender-specific, say galdem instead of mandem.
Section 3 of 7:

Where does mandem come from?

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  1. The slang phrase mandem is borrowed from Jamaican English, which refers to a group of men as “man dem,” a shortening of the phrase “man and them.” Use was first recorded in the early 2000s among multicultural working class youth in the East End of London. [3]
    • Jamaican English is also known as Jamaican patois (or Jamaican creole), and is a mix of French and English spoken by Caribbean migrants who came to London after WWII. [4]
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Section 4 of 7:

Is mandem offensive?

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  1. Using mandem as a non-Black Briton is considered cultural appropriation in many spaces, as it originates from Jamaican English and is primarily spoken by Black Britons. [5] If you use mandem as a non-Black Briton, you may offend Black Britons, make them feel disrespected, and cause them to dislike you, which isn’t good for you or society.
    • If you do use mandem to mock or imitate Black Britons, word can travel and cause people to write you off as culturally insensitive.
Section 5 of 7:

Mandem vs. Galdem

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  1. Although mandem features the word man, it can also be used to refer to a group of women. If you’d prefer to use a phrase that’s more gender-accurate, go with galdem (also known as gyaldem). Like mandem, galdem is used to refer to a group of friends—in this case, female friends. [6]
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Section 6 of 7:

Can mandem refer to one person?

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  1. Since mandem is a combination between the words “man” and “them,” it cannot be used to refer to one person. If you were to refer to someone as mandem, they would likely understand what you mean, but it still wouldn’t be proper. To refer to one person using UK slang, go with a term like “bruv” or “bro.” [7]
Section 7 of 7:

Other UK Slang Terms

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  1. 1
    Big Man Ting In the UK, big man ting is used to refer to someone who holds high status. Depending on the context it’s used in, the term can also be an ironic way to say that someone is acting bigger than they actually are, similar to the U.S. slang term, hotshot. [8]
    • Example: “Man, did you see Gordon Ramsay on TV this week? Talk about a big man ting.”
    • Example: “You came across a little coin and now all of a sudden you’re a big man ting, eh?”
  2. 2
    Dead If someone says that something is dead in the UK, they mean that it’s boring and not worth their time. This slang term can be used to describe anything or anyone, from a movie that was bad to a relationship that’s going nowhere.
    • Example: “Man, I took the day off to go see that new movie in the theater and it was dead! The actors were weak and the story felt like it was going nowhere.”
  3. 3
    Ends In the UK, the slang term ends is used to refer to the neighborhood you’re from. This phrase has been used since the Middle Ages. When someone says “the ends,” they’re typically referring to an impoverished neighborhood. [9]
    • Example: “I took a trip back to my ends the other day to see the fam.”
  4. 4
    Peng Something that is peng is cool, appealing, or attractive. This common UK slang phrase can be used to describe anything that fits that criteria, from a really good restaurant to someone who is really good at sports. [10]
    • Example: “Man, did you try that chicken shop up the road? It’s peng! Let me tell ya.”
  5. 5
    Wagwan Wagwan is a UK slang term that’s short for “what’s going on?” Like mandem, wagwan is derived from Jamaican English. It is commonly used as an informal greeting among friends and acquaintances.
    • Example: “Wagwan man?! I haven’t seen you in forever, catch me up with your life!”
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.newsweek.com/top-boy-season-2-slang-guide-meaning-definition-netflix-1689388
      2. ↑ https://www.wordhippo.com/what-is/sentences-with-the-word/mandem.html
      3. ↑ https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/mandem
      4. ↑ https://www.york.ac.uk/language/research/projects/mle/what-is-mle/
      5. ↑ https://www.britannica.com/story/what-is-cultural-appropriation
      6. ↑ https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/gyal_dem
      7. ↑ https://www.newsweek.com/top-boy-season-2-slang-guide-meaning-definition-netflix-1689388
      8. ↑ https://archive.thetab.com/uk/london/2017/11/06/london-roadman-slang-30947
      9. ↑ https://fly.homes/blog/lifestyle/roadman-slang/
      1. ↑ https://fly.homes/blog/lifestyle/roadman-slang/

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