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Confused how Gen-Z is labelling their relationships? From zombieing to fexting, know it all
If you've found yourself wondering what the Gen-Z lingo around relationships is all about, here's some help.
Ever found yourself in the midst of youngsters discussing their relationship in a lingo only they understand? If words like micro-mance, cushioning and breadcrumbing have had you scratching your heads, here's a guide to help you decode what they mean.
Ghosting: When someone suddenly stops replying to your messages or calls and disappears without any explanation. They cut off contact as if they vanished into thin air.
Dry Texting: Replying with very short, uninterested messages like "K," "Cool," or "Hmm." It usually signals low effort or lack of interest in the conversation.
Pocketing: When your partner keeps you hidden from their friends, family or social media, even after dating for a while. It can make the relationship feel secretive.
Cushioning: Keeping backup romantic options around while you're already dating someone, just in case your current relationship doesn't work out.
Hard launch: Officially revealing your partner on social media by showing their face or announcing the relationship publicly.
Situationship: A relationship that's more than friendship but doesn't have a clear label or commitment. You're together, but nobody has defined what you are.
Freak matching: Finding a partner or a friend who share the same quirky habits, unusual interests, or intimate preferences, making you feel especially compatible.
Affordating: Choosing date ideas that fit your budget instead of spending heavily to impress someone.
Ick: A sudden feeling of disgust, dislike or loss of romantic attention because of a small habit or behavior.
Red flag: A warning sign that someone may have unhealthy, manipulative, or toxic behaviour.
Breadcrumbing: Giving someone just enough attention or flirtation to keep them interested without intending to commit.
Orbiting: After ending communication, someone continues to watch your stories, like your posts, or stay active online without directly talking to you.
Rizz: A person's natural charm or flirting skills that help them attract someone.
Cushioning: A person kept around as an emotional or romantic backup in case the current relationship doesn't work out.
Beige flag: Describes someone or something seen as very ordinary, predictable, or lacking excitement in the dating world. Someone who's neither a red flag (bad warning) nor a green flag(good sign).
Soft launch: Hinting at a relationship online without fully revealing your partner's identity, such as posting a hand or silhouette.
Hardballing: Being very clear from the beginning about what you want—whether it's a serious relationship, marriage, or something casual.
Zombieing: When someone who ghosted you suddenly comes back into your life as if nothing happened.
DTR (Define the Relationship): A conversation where both people discuss what they are and where the relationship is heading.
Micro-mance: Think micro+romance. These are small, thoughtful romantic gestures like sharing a coffee, leaving a sweet note, or sending a good morning text.
Soul tie: A deep emotional bond where you feel strongly connected to someone, even after the relationship ends.
Love bombing: Overwhelming someone with excessive attention, compliments, gifts, or affection early on, sometimes to gain control or manipulate them.
Fexting: Fighting or arguing through text messages instead of talking face-to-face.
Benching: Keeping someone as a backup option without committing to them.
Catching feels: Starting to develop genuine romantic emotions for someone you weren't initially serious about.
Groundhogging: Repeatedly dating the same type of person, hoping for a different result every time.
Yap-trapped: Where a person talks endlessly, often on a date, trapping their date in a one-sided conversation.
Kittenfished: When someone presents a small lies or slightly exaggerated or edited version of themselves online, which are not completely fake but not entirely truthful either.
(The story is compiled by Dhanvie Sharma)
