The Gen Z Guide to Modern Dating Lingo
If you're a millennial, you must struggle to understand terms like breadcrumbing or cuffing season. At first, these terms sound made up, but that's not true; they are as real as the dynamics they describe. With the increasing influence of digital communication, relationships have evolved, and Gen Z has come up with new phrases that can leave us all a bit confused.
Not only the terms but also the way people approach relationships. It's no longer just about meeting someone and getting to know them in person—thanks to texting, social media, and apps, communication has taken on an entirely new direction (and lexicon).
In this article, we will introduce you to some of the most commonly used dating terminology among Gen Z, from "situationships" to "ghosting" to "FBOA." So, let's break down the modern vocabulary of romance.
10 Newest Gen Z Dating Terminology
The new Gen Z dating terms can be overwhelming when you first hear them. But don't worry; here are 10 Gen Z dating terms broken down for you to navigate the dating world better.
Situationship
This is among the most common Gen Z dating terms, and you must have come across this one. A situationship is an entity that makes things quite complicated. It's not exactly friendship, but it is not an actual relationship either. While a casual date heavily implies clear intentions, whether romantic or individual, a situationship incorporates confusion.
Ghosting
Next, we have "ghosting." Ghosting is what many now refer to as disappearing when someone, without any warning, severs the connection with another. It is the digital equivalent of a supernatural vanishing. Nowadays, ghosting seems to have become quite common, among the most painful acts in dating.
When compared to the hassle of confronting another person to say why things just aren't working, it is much easier to overlook a text.
Breadcrumbing
Next up is "breadcrumbing." This is giving someone just enough attention to keep them hanging while having no intention of taking the relationship forward. This person will drop flirtatious texts or throw out compliments once in a while, only to keep their options open or lead someone on without any intention of committing.
Cuffing Season
Next comes "cuffing season." This describes that time in the colder months of fall and winter when people are likely to pick a relationship in search of warmth, comfort, and companionship. It's like, suddenly, everybody wanted to cuff themselves to someone else during these chillier months. During the cold months, people spend more time inside, wishing for something cozy during the long winter nights.
Benching
It's about keeping someone as a backup plan without ever really committing to them in any major way. This is derived from the word bench. During a sports game, that person becomes the standby, with the hopes of a future together with them, but with no specific promises nor any effort.
To recognize the signs of being benched, look out for things like rash communication or the person avoiding any commitment. They keep you interested through spontaneous texts or suggestive behavior, but when it comes to any serious efforts to move the relationship along, they don't show up.
FBOA (Friends Before Anything)
FBOA, meaning Friends Before Anything, refers to building strong friendships before moving toward a relationship. The existence of a great friendship leads to a better romantic bond. Pitfalls can be common. However, one person can sometimes end up developing romantic feelings before the other is ready and feels confused.
Kittenfishing
Kittenfishing refers to the online representation of an enhanced perception of oneself, though not so extreme as catfishing.
While catfishing means to create an entirely fictitious personality to deceive someone, kittenfishing is a form more about tricking you in some relatively small way, regarding appearance or interests, to make one more attractive to the viewers around them.
It could be a profile photo from five years ago, subtly retouched. A professed love for hiking, when the closest one has come to the outdoors is scrolling through travel blogs. Kittenfishing is an exaggeration without fabrication.
Zombied
Zombied is the term used to describe someone who ghosts you, only to return months later as if nothing happened. Zombied individuals might reappear in your DMs or send a text after a long period of silence, often catching you off guard.
The reasons behind zombied behavior can vary—sometimes, the person may have realized they made a mistake, or perhaps they just wanted to keep you as an option for later.
Love Bombing
Love bombing is when a person overwhelms the other with affection and attention that feels overly intense and too premature. This behavior often hides manipulative intentions, as the love bomber might exploit extra praise, gifts, or promises to gain some control or to make the other person feel indebted to reciprocate.
The Ick
"The ick" is a feeling of sudden disgust or discomfort brought on by a person one is romantically interested in. It can begin with something trivial, like the way they chew, or maybe a habit they have. "The ick" is an instinct that something isn't right about the person, even if one can't quite put their finger on the reason behind it.
The Future of Dating Language According to Gen Z
Gen Z dating terminology is more than a trend; it is indicative of changing dynamics in romance amidst the digital age. These terms reflect how relationships have grown, focusing more on emotional closeness, relationship status, and a clear desire for more meaningful interaction.
Knowing these terms would help both people communicate more openly, while this generation's texting, social media, and app dating leave much to be desired regarding healthy relationships.
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