Rizz? Soft-launch? Ahead of Valentine's Day, we're breaking down modern dating slang

To say the digital age has changed dating would be an understatement. It may not come as a surprise then that the way people speak about love lives has also changed significantly.

In an era of dating apps and online communication, there's a plethora of terms and phrases to add to your romantic rolodex.

Love may be a four-letter word, but it doesn't stop there. No matter if it's Valentine's Day or any other day, here is some slang to help describe your dating woes and triumphs.

Love, dating slang words

• Situationship - A romantic or sexual relationship that lacks commitment and doesn't have defined terms.
  • Example: It took me longer to get over my three-month situationship than my ex of three years.
• LOML - Stands for "love of my life."
  • Example: Harry Styles is the loml.
• Red flag - A characteristic or action that is questionable and/or negative and can be cause for ending a relationship.
  • Example: If someone doesn't like animals, that's a red flag.
• Beige flag - Used to describe a trait that makes someone appear boring or uninteresting. Alternatively, it can also mean an attribute or quirk that isn't inherently good (a green flag) or bad (a red flag).
  • Example: It's such a beige flag to have opinions about pineapple on pizza on your dating profile.
• Rizz - Short for "charisma." Often used to describe someone's ability to flirt and be charming.
  • Example: He has rizz.
• Cuff - As a verb, "to cuff" means "to make someone your romantic partner." Cuffing season refers to the period from late fall until early spring when people will get into short-term relationships.
  • Example: Let's see how long these cuffing season couples last after Valentine's Day.
• Love bombing - An emotional manipulation tactic when someone expresses grand gestures of affection early on in dating.
  • Example: My last ex love bombed me so bad that I considered moving across country just to be with him.
• Paperclipping - When an ex reaches out intermittently not because they're interested in you, but rather to keep you on the back burner as an option.
  • Example: My ex won't stop paperclipping me. He keeps checking in like once a month.
• Breadcrumbing - When someone gives you just enough attention to keep you interested, but will not commit to a relationship.
  • Example: I can't tell if she's breadcrumbing. She never responds during the day and only wants to hang late at night.
• Ghosting - To end a relationship without warning or explanation and cease all communication.
  • Example: I feel bad for ghosting them but I just wasn't interested anymore and didn't want to hurt their feelings.
• DTR - Stands for "define the relationship."
  • Example: I think on our date later we're going to DTR.
• The ick - A sudden feeling of repulsion that appears because of a romantic partner's actions, characteristics or interests.
  • Example: She wouldn't stop chewing with her mouth open on our date. I immediately got the ick.
• Simp - Derives from "simpleton." Describes someone who goes above and beyond for the person they like.
  • Example: He's such a simp. He'd do anything I'd ask him to.
• Hard-launch - To share and unveil your new relationship on social media in a straightforward manner.
  • Example: I know I've only been dating them for a few weeks but I'm going to hard launch on Instagram tonight.
• Soft-launch - Conversely, this method shares a new relationship in subtle ways to keep the identity of your partner private.
  • Example: Whose hand was in the back of her Instagram story the other day? Is she soft-launching someone new?

Just Curious for more? We've got you covered

USA TODAY is exploring the questions you and others ask every day. From "How to start a conversation on a dating app?" to "What's my love language?" to "What's the olive theory?" – we're striving to find answers to the most common questions you ask every day. Head to our Just Curious section to see what else we can answer.

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