What it means
Your mandem is your tight group of mates, usually the lads, the people you roll with on a night out or just posted on the block. It’s lifted from Jamaican patois man dem, and UK grime and street chat made it mainstream. Can be said jokingly, but it still signals crew loyalty.
Usage examples
"I’m meeting the mandem by the chicken shop after work, then we’re cutting through to the rave. If you’re about, link up."
"Linking up with the mandem later for a kickabout in the park, then we will grab food after if it stays dry."
Where it comes from
Straight from multicultural London English with Jamaican roots, mandem means your crew, your boys, the tight circle of mates you roll with. Man plus them, pluralised the patois way. You text the mandem to sort the weekend, you rep your mandem with pride. The female counterpart is the galdem.
Other ways to say it
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