Gen Z Dating Slang Why Only Few Digest! A Guide to Modern Romance.
Arshi Tahir
February 15, 2025. 4 minute Read
Gen Z Dating Slang: A Guide to Modern Romance
We have rightfully entered the ‘commitment-phobic yet emoji-expressive’ era where the GenZ rules. Here, the GenZ dating slang, or the ‘Lingo’ as they call it, has a (significant) place.
Your know-how about the lingos decides if you are ‘In’ or ‘Out’ of the crowd.
Now, heavily equipped with dating apps, social media dating slang, and the new-age love language, the ‘crowd’ is all set to set rules in their social circles. Now that you have already been delivered to the doorsteps of this new era, it is time to familiarize yourself with the GenZ dating terms and trends.
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So, we at ‘The One Liner’ will give a sneak-peak of how dating looks like the current Gen Z tribe.
The Latest in the GenZ Dating Language
Here are a couple of trending terms you should be aware of:
1. Ghosting
This is what it sounds like. One moment, you are all over each other, and the next, you have vanished along with your ‘search history.’ Ghosting is a term the latest crowd uses when they do not want you around anymore. As commitment-phobic as the current generation is, it is a no-brainer that they do not want a confrontation or a closure. So you could be a part of a steam cuddle date one moment, and the next, you have been ‘blocked’ without a trace.
2. Breadcrumbing
This one is brutal.
With the rise of Narcissism in the current generation, breadcrumbing is a norm. The term applies to giving just enough attention to keep the partner interested in you with hope. It is more like keeping someone in a ‘limbo’ hanging by the thread. It is pretty cruel when the opposite partner is made to feel like a fool to hang around waiting to be ‘fetched’ by you.
3. Situationship
Situationship has become a mantra for the current generation, where you want all the benefits of a relationship but do not want the responsibility that comes with it. The scenario loosely relates to ‘textationship’ where you do ‘hook up,’ have fun and move on. No Strings attached till you feel the need to do so.
4. Simp
This is quite the opposite of a situationship!
Here a person regularly makes all the right moves and grand gestures and treats their partner or crush like a celebrity. If you have encountered a ‘Simp’ in your life, you have won in today’s time and age.
5. Cuffing Season
Another GenZ lingo that describes the current commitment-phobic attitude they have established.
Cuffing season is when you suddenly feel cold and want warmth and care.
At this time, you rush over to cuddle and stick with your partner for a ‘season’ only. Once you finish your thing, you return to being single. The mood of your relationship is much like the changing seasons.
6. Woke
Millennial counterpart of ‘being in,’
This is the millennial counterpart of ‘being in,’ where the word describes being progressive, aware of current events, and socially conscious of the latest dating scene. For the GenZ crowd, being ‘Woke’ is after being accepted.
7. BAE
BAE stands for ‘Before Anyone Else’.
BAE implies a situation where you have a handful of people lined up for you, but there is that one person among the lot who is the most important. This is the BAE, once again, not someone you have committed to but someone you have made past the situationship stage.
8. Stan
This is more like a fandom, where you are obsessed (in a healthy way) with a person. You know if a person is stanning you if your texts are being replied to instantly, or you know precisely what kind of coffee you like.
9. Thirsty
This is a crude word for being desperate.
So, if you find yourself constantly DMing someone or replying to their stories even at 2 am, then it means that you are ‘thirsting’ over that particular person.
The Dating App Slang That Will Make You Swipe ‘Left’
Now that you know a bit about the everyday lingo, let us take a look at some of the dating app slang that might make you ‘woke’ online as well:
1. Catfishing
This term describes someone who uses a fake name and identity to ‘fool’ someone just for the thrills. In online frauds and deepfakes, catfishing is a term you might have encountered at least once. It is not a desirable trend, but you should be aware of it, primarily online.
2. Love Bombing
Yet another term that has arisen out of the current narcissistic world that we live in. This implies being over-the-top, all love-dovey at the start of a relationship. Love bombing is precisely as it sounds: bombarding a love interest with the best of yourself so they are left with no choice but to love you. However, the term is not a good one, as it is a major ‘red flag’ where once the person has been ‘baited’ upon, it is usually rejected, abused, and discarded.
3. Benching
Well, this is yet another one of the GenZ lingos that best describes their lack of commitment. It refers to a person left on the background only to be removed or bought froth when and if the main love interest is ‘on a break’. You know you have been ‘benched’ if you are not allowed to have a life of your own or made to commit completely, either. Brutal, I’d say.
4. Orbiting
This GenZ lingo is as it sounds.
This implies an ex who wouldn’t leave you alone but would not talk to you. It is much like hoovering around you and ensuring they know your daily routines without being a part of your life. They do this by lying about all your posts and stories and almost walking you online. This way, while they might not be a part of your life or inner circle, they orbit around you.
5. Pocketing
You are being pocketed when someone keeps you a secret from their friends and family. They might show you wedding dreams, but their Instagram profile is securely ‘single.’
6. Cuddle Date
This explains itself:
You jam up just to have a good time between the blankets, some Netflix, and Pizza. You’re not exactly friends, but you might have been brought to light from being ‘benched’ for some time.
7. ENM-Ethical Non-Monogamy
This sounds more like a non-sexual orgy of sorts, where everyone is aware that everyone else’s ‘situationship’ is alright with it. ENM is an understanding where you end up being one big happy family where everyone is or has dated everyone else in the group and is happy about it. Here, having multiple sex partners is quite right as long as you communicate with each other.
8. Tase
This is the GenZ lingo for flirting that involves a bit of teasing and praise. Tase is borderline roasting in a playful manner, for example, saying something like, “Wow, you’re really bad at replying, but at least you’re cute.” That’s a classic tase energy.
9. Cookie Jarring
Nothing sweet or cute about this one, but it simply means keeping a backup option open in case the current romance falls apart. In a sense, you are the safety net that a person falls back (safely) into wherever they require emotional support. You could also be the ‘Granola bar’ they chew on if their prime romance appears to crumble apart. I’d say that is more like being a ‘doormat.’
Related Article: https://theoneliner.in/why-relationships-need-a-digital-detox/
The GenZ Dating Trends That Make No Sense But Are Relevant (to them)
This is the era of nonsense, where nothing seems related yet is relevant, atleast to the people using it. Here are a couple of them to think about:
1. Sober dating
I don’t know the relevance, but this lingo is used when the ‘GenZ’ crowd is (finally) serious about someone. Here, no connections are made over alcohol or when being drunk. It is all about some serious dedication in a sober tone, whatever that means.
2. Daterview
Yes, this happens, especially when the attention span is short-lived and you are ‘too busy doing nothing.’ Daterview is about rapid-fire style questions, no vibe checks, and you must impress quickly. This is more like a ‘speed dating’ setup, where you meet up, shoot a couple of questions you need answers to, and ‘boom’! You have made your choice.
3. Love Haze
Oh! We have all been there. Remember when your besties told you that a guy was ‘trouble’ and you needed to stay away? But you ignored all the signals and red flags and continued the relationship.
4. Green Dating
Well, how about we talk about being eco-friendly even when dating? You are all in for this person if they ride their bike to work, get their own cup, and are in for a cleaner, greener future. Duh…
5. Neck On Deck
This is yet another favorite lingo of GenZ, where you keep someone in the background or as a backup in case your current romance flops. No cool guys.
Final Thoughts
In a nutshell!
Have you heard any of these? Indeed, you might have heard them, but you were too busy deciphering their meanings. Dating, romance, and intimacy have come a long way from when ‘love’ was eternal and ‘romance’ was sacred. Now, it is the age of ‘shorts,’ ‘quickies,’ and everything in between. While we think of the GenZ dating scene as fickle-minded and commitment-phobic, we can still learn something from them. While open relationships might not be favorable, yet open communication is something that we can learn from GenZ. While ‘situationship’ can be frowned upon, knowing that you need clarity with your relationships is something to take back home. How about understanding that ‘relationships’ need time before you finally zero in on the kind you can settle down with? While that is quite some thought to chew upon, how about ‘benching’ for a while?
Related Article: https://theoneliner.in/why-relationships-need-a-digital-detox/
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