Dating Slang 2025: Learn the Language of Modern Dating

What is Dating Slang?

Dating slang is a rich new way of communicating in relationships among younger generations, especially on social media. Expressing emotions, keeping up with trends, and creating strong bonds, these slangs give a unique flavor to dating in the 21st century.

Over the years, dating slang has evolved, often being influenced by social media trends, dating habits, and popular opinion.

Gen Z (referring to the generation born between 1997 and 2012, also known as the tech generation) plays a huge role in the evolution of dating slang due to their heavy use of social media, memes, and texting. 

Ghosting, breadcrumbing, or kitten fishing may seem confusing or funny at first. But these make up the fabric of modern dating and must be understood to flow with communication in the digital space, at least in the context of dating.

Must-Know Dating Slang

Flirting & Hookup Slang

1. DM slide: DM means “direct message”. To “slide into someone’s DM” is to drop a personal message or cheesy pickup lines in their private inbox on any social media platform. This is usually done to start a conversation of getting to know the person.
2. Rizz: Short for “charisma”. Similar to having “game” or being able to flirt like an expert. People who have rizz are usually intriguing, great with people and can get anyone they’re interested in.
3. Smash: This refers to having casual sex. Modern dating culture amplifies this manner of getting together with a person and having no idea who they are.
4. Sneaky link: A sexual relationship, like a fling which is hidden from public knowledge. A sneaky link is someone you wouldn’t want to be seen with.
5. Thirsty: A person who is overly eager for another’s affection or attention. Used in a romantic or sexual context.
6. Netflix and chill: Originally meant to mean staying in to watch Netflix with a partner, but now also implies that sexual relations will follow.
7. Tuning: Casual flirting without interest in anything else. This is different from breadcrumbing in the sense that both parties are usually aware.
8. Necking: Kissing someone’s neck in an intimate setting
9. Snack: A very attractive person, especially a lady. This is usually used in the context of flirting. “You look like a snack. I would definitely eat you” can be considered a compliment with a sexual hint. 
10. FWB (Friends with benefits): This refers to two friends who engage in casual sexual activities without plans for serious commitments.

Tinder Slang

Popular dating terms used on dating app like Tinder, Hinge and Bumble:

• Tindstagramming: This term is used when someone who has been rejected on Tinder, proceeds to Instagram to stalk and slide into the DMs of the person who rejected them.

• Fishing: Letting down your proverbial net by sending out as many messages as possible on dating apps and then gauging replies. This is often done when someone is trying to date and see where things go.

• Cushioning: keeping another partner while dating someone else. In case your main partner messes up.

• Flexting: Flexting is a combination of flirting and texting, and is described as someone showing off on social media to impress or get the attention of someone they like.

Slang for Boyfriend

• Bae: A name for a significant other. Often used to refer to one’s boyfriend or girlfriend. Similar to “baby” or “babe”. Sometimes given as the acronym “Before Anyone Else”.
• Boo – A casual, affectionate term for a significant other.
• Main – The primary partner in a relationship.
• King – A term used to hype up a boyfriend (“My man is a king!”).
• Himbo – A hot but goofy guy.
• ILY: Shorthand for “I Love You”. It’s mostly used in text formats and is considered cool.
• Sigma: Opposite of an “Alpha male” type of guy. An independent person, one who doesn’t follow the norms and cultures of society. Usually characterized as quiet and set in his ways.
• Zaddy: A stylish, confident and attractive older man. 

Slang for Girlfriend

1. Baddie: Gen Z slang for “hot girl”. Referring to a really attractive and fashionable young woman in this day and age.
2. Shawty – A cute way to refer to a girlfriend.
3. Wifey – A girlfriend with long-term potential.
4. ILY: Shorthand for “I Love You”. It’s mostly used in text formats and is considered cool.
5. Snack: A very attractive person, especially a lady. This is usually used in the context of flirting. “You look like a snack. I would definitely eat you” can be considered a compliment with a sexual hint. 

Modern Dating Terms

• Cockroaching: It’s said that if you see a cockroach somewhere, then there are definitely more in hiding. In this context, it refers to when you suspect that your partner has more than one lover.
• Cushioning: keeping another partner while dating someone else. In case your main partner messes up.
• DTR: Short for “define the relationship”. A dreaded conversation when two people who have been “hanging out” choose whether or not to take their relationship to the next level.
• Situationship: An unofficial relationship where both people like each other but they haven’t put an official label or tag to what they have.
• Talking stage: A period when two people who just met are starting to know each other better. Basically “testing the waters of compatibility”. A talking stage is not a relationship.
• Cuffing season: This term is used during the winter season, when people compromise on their usual requirements in a partner to “cuddle up and be loved” during the cold days. 
• Catfishing: Luring someone into an online relationship by using fake details and a fake identity e.g. name, pics, job, etc. Watch the movie Sweet Bobby: My Catfishing Nightmare on Netflix for more context.
• Uncuffing season: The opposite of the cuffing season. When it gets warm and people start ending their cuffing relationships.
• Pocketing: When you don’t let other people know about your partner. Sort of like hiding them from the world. They’re in a separate pocket from the rest of your family and friends.
• Ick Factor: This is a quality or trait in a person that makes them instantly unattractive. It could be the way they talk, or men who pull their pants all the way down to their thighs. This could also be used on someone who just eats with their mouth open.
• Serendipidating: This is a mix of “serendipity” and “dating”. It refers when you’re dating casually, almost absently but you’re secretly hoping for something more to happen by chance.
• Soft launch: When you start posting little hints announcing you have a new partner. Like a picture of two glasses of wine etc.
• Pink flags: They are similar to red flags, just not as serious or as intense. Subtle warning signs that let you know this person may not be good for you.
• Plenty fish: there’s a popular saying “there’s plenty fish in the sea”. It means there are a lot of potential people you could date. It’s usually used in the context of a breakup.
• Fauci-ing: Named after Dr Anthony Fauci. Referring to being extremely cautious.
• Simp: A person, especially a guy, who goes to extreme lengths to please a woman who doesn’t show the same level of care and respect. It is usually used in the context of mockery.
• Groundhogging: Named after the small squirrel-like creature who sees the same shadow every year. It means to date the same type of person repeatedly, despite less than stellar outcomes.
• Skibidi: Named after Little Big’s song “skibidi”, it refers to a casual or no-pressure romantic encounter. It has a sense of fun and light-heartedness attached to it. Both parties are at ease.
• Peacocking: This is described as showcasing or showing off yourself to impress and draw people’s attention to you. 

Toxic Dating Slang to Watch Out For

Famous trends used to describe unhealthy relationship:

1. Love bombing: When one person “bombs” their partner with attention and affection, all in a bid to manipulate them emotionally. They’re usually performing intense love acts in quick successions, often done to cover up their toxicity or character defects. 
2. Caspering: Named after “Casper the friendly ghost”, this is a “nice” way of ghosting someone. Slowly reducing communication, most times to avoid confrontation. It refers to the gentle and gradual ending of a relationship, typically done in an honest manner rather than abruptly.
3. Marleying: Usually when an ex reaches out to you during holidays, especially after a while of not communicating or connecting.
4. Flying monkeys: When a manipulative person has a particular person or people that they send to cause trouble on their behalf, the people sent are called flying monkeys.
5. Ghostbusting: Confronting someone who has ghosted you. Often enquiring of them why they disappeared to achieve closure.
6. Gaslighting: The act of manipulating someone into questioning their judgment, intuition, sometimes even their reality until they give up power and control to their abuser.
7. Submarining: When you’ve been dating or talking to someone for a while and then they all of a sudden disappear. Afterwards, they reappear acting as though nothing happened.
8. Cricketing: “hearing crickets” shows that something is silent. So this refers to radio silence from a partner, where they’re ignoring your calls.
9. Slow fade: This is a gradual breakup. Unlike ghosting, this does not happen suddenly. Texting, calls and attention gradually reduces before coming to an inevitable stop.
10. Kitten fishing: A less severe form of catfishing. Using deceptive or over-filtered photos to make oneself seem more attractive.
11. Catch and release: Chasing after someone and getting them interested, and then losing interest after getting them. Like a fish in a “catch and release” situation.
12. Stashing: This refers to when a person intentionally hides their partner from their family, friends and rest of the world really.
13. Micro Cheating: This means doing things that are not necessarily classified as cheating but can cause friction or a breach of trust with one’s partner, like secretly texting an ex.
14. Mosting: Ever heard of someone pretending to be deeply interested in a person and then cutting them off suddenly? That’s the perfect definition of mosting.
15. Devaluing and discarding: This is when someone initially idealises another person but then quickly turns against them, belittles them and ends up breaking up the relationship without remorse.
16. Hoovering: This is when a person manipulates another person into getting back into a toxic relationship with them.

Slang for Love

1. Hearting: A term used for showing love, either by using the heart emoji or simply saying, ” I heart you”.
2. Stan: Saying “I Stan you…her…them” means to be a fan of whatever it is you stan.
3. Crushin’: a word used to express romantic interest.
4. OTP(One true pairing): Two people who you believe are meant to be together, whether real or fictional.
5. Vibing: Getting along very well with someone. Sharing the same sense of humour, likes and dislikes etc
6. Catching feels: This refers to the process of developing  romantic feelings for another person. Especially unexpectedly.
7. Low-key flirting: Flirting in a subtle or casual way.
8. Sliding into DMs: sending a direct message to someone with the intention of flirting.
9. Thirsty: being desperate for someone’s attention.

Dating Slang Quiz

Test how conversant you are using these slangs within different contexts.