ファボ

• Reading: ファボ
• Romaji: fabo
• Kanji breakdown: From English 'favorite' → ファボリット → abbreviated to ファボ
• Pronunciation: /ɸa.bo/

Meaning

A like or favorite on social media — from the old Twitter 'favorite' (star) button before it became a heart.

ファボ is short for ファボリット/ファボリート (favoritto, favorite), originating from when Twitter used a star-shaped 'favorite' button. Even after Twitter changed to a heart-shaped 'like' button in 2015, many Japanese users continued saying ファボ. 'ファボる' (faboru, to favorite/like) is the verb form. While いいね (iine, like) has become the official term, ファボ persists among long-time Twitter users and has nostalgic appeal. Some users differentiate: ファボ feels more personal and deliberate, while いいね feels more casual.

Examples

1. いい投稿見つけたらとりあえずファボしてる。 Whenever I find a good post, I just fave it.
2. ファボはしてくれるけどRTはしてくれない。 They fave my stuff but never retweet.
3. ファボ欄見られると趣味バレるから気をつけて。 Be careful — if someone sees your faves, your interests are exposed.

Usage Guide

Context: Twitter/X, social media, online discussion

Tone: casual, nostalgic

Do Say

• ファボありがとう！ (Thanks for the like!)
• ファボだけして去っていく人いるよね。 (There are people who just like and leave without commenting.)

Don't Say

• Twitter以外でファボと言う (Don't use ファボ for non-Twitter platforms — use いいね for Instagram/Facebook likes)

Common Mistakes

• Using ファボ for Instagram or Facebook likes — ファボ is specifically associated with Twitter culture
• Not knowing that ファボ is technically outdated (Twitter changed to 'likes') but still widely used by long-time users

Origin & History

Abbreviated from ファボリット (favoritto, favorite), from English 'favorite.' Originated with Twitter's star-shaped favorite button (pre-2015). Even after Twitter switched to heart-shaped likes in 2015, the term persisted in Japanese internet culture.

Cultural Context

Era: Early 2010s, persisting after 2015 UI change

Generation: Millennials and older Gen Z (long-time Twitter users)

Social background: Twitter/X community

Regional notes: Used across Japan among Twitter users. Has nostalgic appeal for users who remember the original star-shaped favorite button.