A-Z Dating Glossary
A
– Attraction: The feeling of being drawn to someone romantically or physically.
– Attachment Style: A psychological concept describing how individuals form emotional bonds and how they behave in relationships. Common styles include secure, anxious, avoidant, and fearful-avoidant.
B
– Boundaries: Limits that individuals set in relationships to protect their emotional well-being and personal space.
– Breadcrumbing: The act of sending sporadic, non-committal messages to keep someone interested without actually pursuing a relationship.
C
– Chemistry: The emotional and physical connection between two people that often sparks romantic interest.
– **Compatibility:** The degree to which two individuals are well-suited for each other in a relationship, often based on shared values, interests, and goals.
– **Catfishing:** The act of pretending to be someone else online, typically to deceive someone into a romantic relationship.
**D**
– **Dating Apps:** Digital platforms that facilitate meeting potential romantic partners, often by swiping through profiles and messaging.
– **Deal Breaker:** A non-negotiable factor in a relationship that leads to the decision to end or not pursue it.
– **Double Date:** A social outing where two couples participate together.
**E**
– **Exclusivity:** An agreement between two people that they will only date each other and not pursue other romantic interests.
– **Emotional Intimacy:** The ability to share one’s innermost thoughts and feelings with a partner, creating a deep bond.
**F**
– **First Date:** The initial meeting between two people who are exploring the potential for a romantic relationship.
– **Friend Zone:** A situation where one person desires a romantic relationship, but the other prefers to remain friends.
**G**
– **Ghosting:** The sudden and unexplained cessation of communication by one person in a relationship, often without any closure.
– **Green Flags:** Positive signs in a relationship that indicate a healthy and compatible partnership.
**H**
– **Heartbreak:** The emotional pain and distress caused by the end of a romantic relationship.
– **Hookup Culture:** A social environment that encourages casual sexual encounters without the expectation of a committed relationship.
**I**
– **Infatuation:** An intense but often short-lived passion or admiration for someone, often based on physical attraction.
– **Initiating:** The act of starting a conversation or making the first move in a dating scenario.
**J**
– **Jealousy:** The feeling of insecurity or fear over the possibility of losing a partner to someone else.
– **Jitters:** Nervousness or excitement, often experienced before a first date or significant relationship event.
**K**
– **Keeping it Casual:** A relationship approach where both parties agree to avoid serious commitment and keep things light and non-exclusive.
– **Kiss on the First Date:** A common question or dilemma about whether to kiss someone at the end of the first date.
**L**
– **Long-Distance Relationship:** A romantic relationship between partners who live far apart and must rely on communication technology to stay connected.
– **Love Languages:** A concept that describes how people express and receive love, typically categorized into five types: words of affirmation, acts of service, receiving gifts, quality time, and physical touch.
**M**
– **Match:** A person found on a dating app or through matchmaking services who is deemed compatible based on shared interests or attraction.
– **Monogamy:** A relationship structure where individuals commit to having only one romantic or sexual partner at a time.
**N**
– **Negging:** A manipulative behavior where someone gives backhanded compliments to undermine another person’s confidence and increase their own perceived value.
– **Non-Verbal Communication:** Communication through body language, facial expressions, and gestures, which plays a significant role in dating.
**O**
– **Online Dating:** The practice of using websites or apps to meet potential romantic partners.
– **Open Relationship:** A relationship where both partners agree that they can have romantic or sexual relationships with other people.
**P**
– **Profile Optimization:** The process of enhancing one’s online dating profile to attract more matches and better connections.
– **Physical Attraction:** The desire to be close to someone based on their physical appearance.
**Q**
– **Quality Time:** One of the five love languages, referring to giving undivided attention to one’s partner as a way of expressing love.
– **Quiet Date:** A date that involves low-key activities, such as a walk in the park or a coffee chat, often chosen to facilitate deeper conversation.
**R**
– **Red Flags:** Warning signs in a relationship that indicate potential issues or unhealthy behavior.
– **Rebound Relationship:** A relationship that someone enters shortly after ending a previous one, often as a way to cope with the breakup.
**S**
– **Situationship:** A romantic or sexual relationship that lacks clear labels or commitment.
– **Soulmate:** A person with whom one shares a deep, natural affinity and connection, often believed to be their perfect match.
**T**
– **Texting Etiquette:** The unwritten rules about how and when to text someone in the early stages of dating.
– **Trust:** A fundamental component of any relationship, involving the confidence that one partner has in the reliability and honesty of the other.
**U**
– **Unrequited Love:** Love that is not reciprocated or returned by the other person.
– **Upgrade:** The act of moving on from one relationship to a new one with someone perceived as a better match.
**V**
– **Vulnerability:** The willingness to open up and share one’s true thoughts and feelings with a partner, often leading to deeper intimacy.
– **Virtual Date:** A date conducted online via video call, often used in long-distance relationships or during times when in-person meetings aren’t possible.
**W**
– **Wingman/Wingwoman:** A person who supports and assists someone in meeting potential romantic partners, often by helping to initiate conversations or make introductions.
– **Walking Date:** A casual date that involves taking a walk together, often chosen as a low-pressure way to get to know someone.
**X**
– **X-Factor:** An elusive quality that makes someone particularly attractive or interesting, often a mix of personality, charm, and uniqueness.
**Y**
– **Yearning:** A deep longing or desire for someone, often experienced in the early stages of attraction.
– **Yes-Set:** A psychological technique used to build agreement and rapport by getting someone to say “yes” to a series of small questions or statements.
**Z**
– **Zoom Date:** A date conducted over Zoom, commonly used during times when in-person meetings are challenging, such as during long-distance relationships or health restrictions.
– **Zoning Out:** Losing focus or attention during a conversation or date, often indicating disinterest or distraction.