It’s hard to keep up with the dating lingo these days, with new terms cropping up all the time.
But now, all the dating words you need to know have been explained in a helpful infographic.
The handy guide by Glowing Embers comes as ‘cuffing season’ is just getting under way, referring to the autumn and winter months when people decide to tie themselves to one person.
While some of the terms – like ‘ghosting’ – will be familiar to most, others – such as a amatonormativity – are less well known.
So if you’re single – and looking – here’s the lingo you need to know this season…
The handy guide by Glowing Embers explains all the new dating lingo that you need to know
Zombie-ing
This is when someone has already ghosted his or her way out of a relationship – but then tries to come back.
An example of this would be an ex who mysteriously vanished suddenly liking a picture on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
R-Bombed
It’s happened to everyone at some point or another. Someone’s read your messages, but never actually responds.
It’s disappointing to see the double blue tick on WhatsApp, but never see those three little dots showing they’re typing back…
Sapiosexual
A sapiosexual is a person who values intelligence over all other qualities in a potential partner.
These people are more likely to rate your conversational skills, over what you look like.
‘Cuffing season’ refers to the autumn and winter months when people decide to tie themselves to one person (file photo)
Ghosting
This is a term that most people will be familiar with by now. It’s when a person cuts off all communication, ending the relationship without spelling it out.
It can happen when you’ve met up a few times, or even after things get serious.
Slow Fade
This is where someone gradually backs away from a potential relationship, but doesn’t cut all ties immediately.
Amatonormativity
As in, ‘Stop being so amatonormative!’ This is the assumption that all singletons want to be in a monogamous relationship – and that they would be better off in one.
Breadcrumbing
This is when someone leaves a trail of small but flirtatious messages for a potential date, with no intention of meeting.
They seem very complimentary, tempting you with crumbs of attention, but plans just never get made.
Breadcrumbing is when a potential suitor sends you lots of texts – but never intends to meet up in person (file photo)
Benching
This is likely to happen when someone is dating more than one person at a time. It’s when someone agrees to a date, before rescheduling – probably on more than one occasion.
They’ll keep their options open and literally put a potential date on the ‘bench’ – where there might be several others waiting.
Cuffing Season
This is the time of year when ‘Netflix and chill’ comes into play.
It’s that cold period between October and February when staying in – and ‘cuffing’ yourself to one other person – is more appealing than going out.
Demisexual
A person who is demisexual needs a strong emotional connection with someone, before feeling sexually attracted to them.
Matrimania
This term is used to describe the over-the-top hype of marriage and coupling. ‘I just can’t deal with the matrimania of wedding season,’ one might say.
On a thing
You might have heard of ‘having a thing’, but now ‘on a thing’ is the official term for describing how you’re casually dating someone.
Peacocking
Peacocking itself is not a new term, but in the modern dating world it refers to someone who dresses up on social media – or even in real life – to get the attention of someone else.
Sliding into his/her DMs
This is another term that will be familiar to many. It’s when someone tries to flirt by moving the conversation to direct messages.