Putting together a profile on a dating app can be really hard. First, it should truly express your identity, and second, it should avoid becoming a tedious laundry list of essentials.
When you finally get your self-introduction in good shape, you have to swipe through a sea full of faces attached to your bio, full of acronyms and lifestyle descriptions. And there are lots of ever-evolving terms to describe how dating itself actually goes.
Are their photos full of beige flags? Their profiles say “sub”.Your friend texted with a man she met bumble Last month we “zombified” her. What does that mean? Here is a list of terms that you will see on the app or that are used to describe your or someone else’s modern dating app experience.
asexual
Asexuality is a sexual identity in which people do not experience sexual attraction or desire in the traditional sense. Although there is diversity in how they desire and experience relationships, emotional attraction, and excitement, some people are aromatic and do not experience romantic feelings. “Ace” and “aspek” is an umbrella term for people on the asexual spectrum.
BDSM
BDSM is an acronym for bondage and discipline, domination and submission, sadism and masochism, and refers to consensual power relationships, role-playing, and sexual acts. Physical and/or controlling, restraining, and psychological factors feelings.
beige flag
A beige flag is a feature or behavior that stands out, but is usually considered boring or common, so it’s nothing to worry about. Specifically, when it comes to your dating app background, you might cite things like your love of tacos and your fluency in sarcasm as your points of interest.
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benching
Benching is usually the act of putting people in a situation. You like them enough to keep in regular contact and maybe even date casually, but you don’t commit so you keep them on the bench. They are on the bench because they are not in the starting line-up.
bisexual
bisexual Sexual identity refers to individuals who may have romantic or sexual feelings not only for their own gender, but also for other genders.
twin curiosity
Bisexual curiosity refers to people who are attracted to other genders as well as their own.
bot
Matching app bots are chatbots coded for human-like interaction with matched users. Unlike fake accounts with humans behind them, bot accounts are actually run by computer programs.
under
A label used primarily by the LGBTQ+ community, usually below which is the partner penetrated.
breadcrumbs
breadcrumbs It’s when someone is involved enough to seem interested in you. They do things like giving you vaguely nifty tidbits on text messages or constantly doing your best to his IG stories, but in the end they just take you for no reason at all.
cis or cisgender
Cis or cisgender defines a person who identifies with the gender assigned at birth.
cuffing season
Cuffing season refers to the colder part of the year when singles try to settle down temporarily for short-term partnerships.
curve
Curve is a verb and means to reject someone. Usually this is done in an indirect or more passive way.
date
Interestingly, while there are plenty of people looking for “nothing serious” who are only looking for men who are 6 feet tall or larger than a third of their polycules, there are others who are looking for good old fashioned dating. Dinners and movies, picnics in the park, mundane hours spent getting to know potential romantic interests.
demisexual
Demisexuality is a sexual identity in which you are sexually attracted only to people with whom you have developed a strong emotional connection.
Dom or Dominant
The dom in BDSM sexual encounters is the aggressor, ruler, or person with power, and usually defines a role between the dom himself and the submissive.
dry date
A dry date, also called a sobriety date, is a date without alcohol. Bumble reported that 34% of users are less likely to drink while dating. than before the pandemic.
DTRMore
abbreviation of “define relationships”, DTR Check-in or chat about relationship status. During this conversation, someone may ask, “What are we?” This is a great opportunity to see if expectations are aligned.
ENM or ethically non-monogamous
ENM is an acronym for Ethical Non-Monogamy or Consensual Non-Monogamy (CNM), an approach to relationships that allows individuals to participate in multiple romantic or sexual relationships if all parties are aware and consent to it.
free sexual
A sexual orientation on the asexual spectrum, they are sexually attracted to people they don’t know very well, but lose that interest as they get to know someone more deeply. They are more interested in imagining you than actually knowing you.
FWB
FWB stands for Friend with Benefits and refers to friends who have sex. Their relationship usually resembles a friendship rather than a romantic and committed relationship. This may be the result of DTR.
gender fluid
Individuals whose gender identity may fluctuate between genders, or whose gap may occasionally occur, regardless of the sex assigned at birth, are gender fluid.
GGG
word coiner Sex Advice Columnist Dan Savage, GGG Stands For Good, Giving, And Gaming and define the qualities of a good sexual partner. That is, games for being good in bed, giving “equal time and pleasure,” and being inquisitive and open-minded.
Ghosting
The old dating nightmare, Ghosting This means that someone suddenly cuts off all communication with a person in a romantic or intimate relationship without any explanation or warning, i.e. radio silence.
green flag
Green flags point to positive and attractive traits and behaviors that a potential partner possesses. Examples of green light include good communication, respect for others, and other healthy, consistent, non-romantic relationships.
green date
Green dating is the tendency to date people who prioritize shared values centered around environmental awareness in each other.
Ick
Chic is a sudden reaction in which the behavior or attitude of someone you’re interested in (or dating) quickly puts you down. Common examples include how someone eats, How to use voice memos on dating apps.
love bombing
Lovebombing is when someone overwhelms you with excessive affectionate attention or displays of affection in order to greatly influence or manipulate you later.
non-binary
NB or enby, short for non-binary, is a gender identity for those who do not identify themselves within the bounds of conventional binary gender understanding.
ons
Not to be confused with the UK’s Office for National Statistics, ONS are also known as one-night stands and are usually found on profiles of people trying to hook up once and for all.
open relationship
Parameters may vary from relationship to relationship, but if someone lists themselves as being in an open relationship on a dating app, this means they are in a relationship that allows them to have romantic or sexual relationships with other people outside the app.
pansexual
Pansexuals experience attraction to others regardless of their gender identity.
Polyamory
Polyamory, when people enter into romantic or sexual relationships at the same time with the consent of all parties, is an ethically non-monogamous form of dating.
queer
queer An umbrella term for multiple sexual orientations and gender identities outside of traditional heterosexual and cisgender norms.
red flag
Red flags are obvious behaviors or traits that warn of major problems or inconsistencies in a relationship in the future, and should prompt a complete rethink of the relationship. The main red flags include someone being physically aggressive, gaslighting, verbal abuse (even in the context of a joke), and lack of respect for your personality and boundaries.
Liz
Liz, formerly known as the game, is flirting, or the ability to charm or charm someone with an interest.
sapiosexual
Sapiosexual people are sexually attracted to or aroused by intelligence.
sensual
If you see a sensual person on a dating app, it means they are especially interested in giving and receiving pleasure to stimulate the senses.
situational awareness
A situationship is an undefined romantic and sexual relationship with less clear boundaries, relationship status, commitment, etc.
sneaky link
When used as a noun, sneak link refers to someone secretly having sex with. When used as a verb, it is the act of going to have sex with someone secretly.
obedience / obedience
Submariners in BDSM sexual encounters take pleasure in relinquishing power and control to others or to dominance.
switch
Switches in BDSM sexual encounters end up enjoying both dominant and submissive roles.
talking stage
The conversation stage portends “dating”. Its purpose is to get to know someone before any kind of romantic label or relationship development.
Up
Usually a label within the LGBTQ+ community, top is a label that indicates that the person is a pervasive partner.
transgender
Transgender refers to people with a different gender identity than the gender assigned at birth. This often leads to social, medical, or legal transitional processes to conform to an affirmed gender.
Verse
Vers is a label for those who prefer to play both top and bottom roles.
yellow flag
A yellow light is a behavior or pattern to consider and should take a little more care or perhaps a little more time to assess the relationship. An example of this is someone who talks about their ex-lovers or ex-partners as if they are insane, with little awareness of their role in the relationship.
Zombification
Zombification, also called haunting or orbiting, is the reappearance of an old dating app match or ex-lover who disappeared from your life (or ghosted you) without any explanation. This is usually done via text or DM.