Casual dating abbreviations
DTF means "down to f***": someone who is up for sex, usually casual. NSA means "no strings attached": sex without commitment or a relationship.
ONS means "one-night stand", and FWB means "friends with benefits": friends who also have sex. A booty call is a last-minute invitation for sex; see our guide What is a booty call?.
Seeing these on a profile is a clear signal that someone wants something casual. It is still worth confirming before you meet.
Relationship abbreviations
LTR means "long-term relationship", and STR means "short-term relationship". ENM means "ethical non-monogamy": being openly involved with more than one person, with everyone's knowledge.
Poly is short for polyamorous; see our guide to polyamory and open relationships. MF, MFM and FMF describe the genders of a couple or a threesome.
GSOH means "good sense of humour", an old personal ads favourite that still appears on profiles.
Other abbreviations you will see
420 friendly means someone is fine with cannabis use; remember cannabis is illegal in the UK. BBW stands for "big beautiful woman"; see our guide What does BBW mean?.
DDF means "drug and disease free", though it is no substitute for regular testing. Discreet usually means someone in a relationship or who values privacy.
On escort and companion profiles, GFE and PSE are common; our guide to escort terms explains them.
Reading profiles safely
Abbreviations save space, but they do not replace a conversation. Agree clearly what you both want before meeting, and remember that anyone can change their mind.
Be wary of profiles that push you off the app straight away or ask for money; see our guide to catfishing.
And always check that anyone you meet is over 18; see our guide to the UK age of consent.
Your questions, answered
What does DTF mean?
"Down to f***": someone open to casual sex.
What does NSA mean in dating?
"No strings attached": sex without commitment.
What does ENM mean?
"Ethical non-monogamy": having more than one partner with everyone's knowledge and agreement.
