Gen Z slang for love and relationships
Beyond Main & Side: The Secret Language of Modern Romance
1. Main Chick
The primary partner in a relationship—the one given the most time, commitment, and emotional energy.
2. Side Chick
A secondary romantic interest who is often kept secret; someone the person is involved with outside of their main relationship.
3. Backup Chick/Guy
Someone kept in reserve in case the current relationship doesn’t work out—less active than a side chick but still in the picture.
4. Benchwarmer
Similar to a backup; someone who’s not currently being pursued but is kept around for future possibility.
5. Rebound
A person someone dates shortly after a breakup to distract themselves or heal emotionally—usually short-lived.
6. Placeholder
Someone dated temporarily while waiting for a preferred partner or “the one” to come along.
7. Sneaky Link
A secret romantic or sexual partner whom someone meets discreetly, often without public knowledge.
8. Sidepiece
Another term for a side chick/guy—often implies a physical rather than emotional connection.
9. Option
Not the main focus, but someone considered available “just in case” things don’t work out with others.
10. Rotator
Someone who casually dates multiple people, “rotating” them in and out of their schedule without serious intent.
11. Netflix & Chill Partner
Someone invited over mainly for casual intimacy under the pretense of watching movies.
12. Text Buddy
A person someone flirts with or talks to regularly via text but rarely meets in person.
13. Emotional Stand-in
Someone who provides emotional support (often intimacy or deep conversation) without the commitment of a full relationship.
14. Cake
A term from polyamory or cheating contexts—referring to someone who wants to “have their cake and eat it too” by maintaining multiple partners.
15. Situationship Partner
More than a friend, less than a girlfriend/boyfriend—someone in an undefined romantic space.
From Benching to Zombieing: The New Rules of Dating in the Gen-Z Era
1. Ghosting
Disappearing completely from someone's life without any explanation—no calls, no texts, no replies.
2. Breadcrumbing
Leading someone on with small, sporadic bits of attention—likes, fleeting messages—with no real intention of commitment.
3. Situationship
A romantic arrangement that’s more than friendship but not quite a defined relationship—no labels, often undefined.
4. Benching
Keeping someone “on the bench” as a backup option—giving just enough attention to keep them interested, but not enough to commit.
5. Zombieing
When someone who ghosted you suddenly comes back from the “dead” and reappears in your DMs as if nothing happened.
6. Love Bombing
Overwhelming someone with excessive affection, compliments, and attention early on to gain control or emotional dependency.
7. Cuffing Season
The time during colder months (fall/winter) when people seek out short-term relationships for comfort and companionship.
8. Pocketing
When your partner avoids introducing you to friends or family—keeping you “in their pocket” and hidden from their inner circle.
9. Orbiting
When an ex (or someone interested) stops talking to you but continues to watch and engage with your social media from afar.
10. Roaching
Hiding that you’re dating multiple people—even if one assumes exclusivity. Like seeing one roach, there are usually many more hidden.
11. Fizzling
Letting a relationship slowly die out by reducing communication gradually instead of outright ending it.
12. Cloaking
An extreme form of ghosting—when someone not only ghosts you but also blocks you on everything right after the first date.
13. Slow Fade
Gradually reducing contact and interest over time instead of having a direct breakup conversation.
14. Paperclipping
When someone pops in and out of your life randomly—like a paperclip—with no serious intent, just occasional check-ins.
15. Haunting
Similar to orbiting—mostly watching your socials without engaging, like a digital ghost lingering in the background.
16. Glamboarding
Getting fully ready (hair, makeup, outfit) for a date, only to be canceled on last minute.
17. Marleying – Staying friends with an ex even though there are still romantic feelings, often leading to confusion. (Inspired by the movie Marley & Me or Bob Marley's "no woman, no cry" vibe of lingering attachment.)
18. Gatsbying – Posting a story on social media specifically hoping one person will see it. (Named after Jay Gatsby throwing parties hoping Daisy would show up.)
19. Serendipidating – Deliberately putting off dates or decisions in hopes something better will come along.
20. Snowglobing – Creating a beautiful, idealized world with a partner—full of promises and future plans—that shatters easily when reality hits, like a snowglobe.
21. Stashing – Similar to pocketing; hiding a partner from friends, family, and social media to avoid defining the relationship.
22. Curving – Politely rejecting or diverting someone’s advances without outright saying “no”—softer than ghosting, but just as ineffective.
23. Submarining – When someone disappears (like a submarine going underwater) and then resurfaces months later with a casual message as if no time has passed.
24. Fleabagging – Repeatedly dating emotionally unavailable people, knowing it won’t work, but doing it anyway. (Inspired by the show Fleabag.)
25. Kanyeing – Interrupting or sabotaging a partner’s moment or success. (Inspired by Kanye West interrupting Taylor Swift at the VMAs.)
26. Biscuiting – When someone only shows affection or interest when it’s convenient for them—like taking a biscuit from the jar only when they’re hungry.
27. Parasocial Dating – Developing one-sided crushes on influencers or celebrities you follow online, feeling like you “know” them.
28. Catch-and-Release Dating – Going on dates just for the experience or story, with no intention of pursuing anything serious.
29. Textlationship – A relationship that exists almost entirely through texting, with little real-life interaction.
30. Whelming – Intentionally giving mediocre energy or effort in dating to avoid seeming too eager or too distant.
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