Phrase guide

F in the chat

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American, Received-Pronunciation: /ˌɛf‿ɪn ðə ˈt͡ʃæt/
  • General-American: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

condolences, regret, or sympathy.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Internet, figuratively, idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Originally a call for streamers on the online platform Twitch to type “F” in chat windows as a way to express sympathy when an unfortunate event occurs. This refers to the prompt “Press F to Pay Respects” in the PC version of the video game Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (2014) which directs the player during a funeral cut scene to press the F key to touch the coffin of a soldier who was killed in battle saving the player’s life. The prompt became a meme, where people would be asked to “press F to pay respects” in non-gaming contexts to suggest that credit, recognition, or sympathy should be given.

Across languages

Translations

1 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: F chattiin — expression of condolences, regret, or sympathy