We have not lagged when it comes to keeping you up-to-date on the new terms that are circulating the realm of Gen-Z dating, and we are not about to start now. The dating jargon has yet again evolved and has reached all corners of the country. Long gone are the days where you could just call someone by their Government name, and talk about your relationship without euphemisms.
Telling someone who is not aware of these terms that your ‘pookie’ and you are ‘slow rolling’ your relationship without any ‘benching’ might seem like you are about to partake in some strange ordeal. But you, our dear readers, will not be caught unawares no matter what Gen-Z throws at you. So, get ready to say, “Wow, there’s a name for that?” because here are 9 viral dating terms that are making the rounds in 2024.
1. Pookie
You must have seen the viral clip of Neeraj Goyat’s anecdote about him receiving DMs on Instagram where the women are calling him ‘pookie’ on The Great Indian Kapil Show. This dating term is a substitute for affectionate nicknames like ‘baby’ or ‘sweetheart’, though it is definitely a lot more fun to say. But try not to accidentally blurt it out if you are attending a work party with your partner. Just saying!
2. Slow rolling
Our attention span may be dwindling due to social media but Gen-Z is drawing a line to the practice of instant gratification in their love lives. Slow rolling is all about making the pursuit of love an experience, not a destination. Taking the time to not only get to know the other person properly and seeing if you are compatible but also in finding the right dating app and curating an authentic profile is what this viral dating term is all about.
3. Ghostbusting
Gen-Z dating is becoming a lot more sorted with their ghostbusting, which is when you drop a friendly message to acknowledge the ghosting of the would-have-been potential partner. Without blaming anyone or asking for any justification, you just let them know that you accept that the communication has died down and will remain that way. There will be no safety nets or zombieing taking place here, folks.
4. Textual tension
Bantering is one of the ways you realize if someone is on your wavelength or not. A little quipping back and forth, inside jokes, and a hint of flirting when done on text instead of in-person, is called maintaining a textual tension. It has become the first test in the realm of Gen-Z dating, and lets you know if the connection is worthy of being taken seriously before other aspects of compatibility enter the picture. Even literacy is playing a role in our love life, it seems.
5. Roaching
Gen-Z has started getting more visual when naming their experiences with terms like ‘groundhogging’ or ‘roaching’. This viral dating term is reserved for those who tend to maintain multiple relationships without disclosing the fact that they are doing so. Any form of cheating is both hurtful, and disrespectful to the other person and now it finally has a fitting name. Maybe the affiliation to cockroaches will be what finally makes someone hesitate before they breach someone’s trust.
6. Benching
All sports fanatics will know the connotation of this term when it comes to dating. ‘Benching’ is the practice of keeping a potential partner that is not really that good a match on the sidelines in case the people you actually like do not work out. This is basically the latest label that substitutes having a ‘safety net’. Incorporating this Gen-Z dating term will definitely win you some brownie points if your potential partner is an athlete.
7. Fizzling
If your relationship is slowly losing its excitement and the chemistry between you and them seems to have started to diminish, you are experiencing what kids call ‘fizzling’. Most of the romances start off brimming with the excitement of getting to know each other and finding excuses to spend time together. But if the attraction is not based on genuine compatibility, once the thrill fades, there is not much left to experience then either. Know that it is not the end, it is just one more step towards true love.
8. Breadcrumbing
The fairytale of Hansel and Gretel has manifested as the viral dating term ‘breadcrumbing’. It is when you lead someone on with just the bare minimum involvement, especially emotionally, just enough so that the person does not end it. If you are looking for something more stable and healthy, you would probably want to stay away from someone who does this. After all, breadcrumbing did not work out in the story either.
9. Throning
Though royalty has long since married and formed relationships to elevate their status, when it is done in today’s day and age to gain a better social standing it is called ‘throning’. Well, it is not just financially that one can be taken advantage of these days. If you are someone who could experience this phenomenon, keep an eye on what interests your potential partner, and how they prefer spending time with you. Always wanting to be out in public instead of spending time alone may be the sign that it will not work out.
Relationships have always been a tricky business; trusting someone with your feelings and hoping that they do not disrespect them. But Gen-Z dating terms like these not only let you know that your experiences are not isolated, it also makes communicating about them way easier.
Also Read: What is making Gen-Z Break Up with their Dating Apps?
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