Dating

The dating terms of 2023 that you need to know

By Wieke Veenboer | #!31Sun, 29 Oct 2023 10:45:16 +0100+01:001631#31Sun, 29 Oct 2023 10:45:16 +0100+01:00-10Europe/Amsterdam3131Europe/Amsterdam202331 29am31am-31Sun, 29 Oct 2023 10:45:16 +0100+01:0010Europe/Amsterdam3131Europe/Amsterdam2023312023Sun, 29 Oct 2023 10:45:16 +010045104510amSunday=9#!31Sun, 29 Oct 2023 10:45:16 +0100+01:00Europe/Amsterdam10#10-29-2023#!31Sun, 29 Oct 2023 10:45:16 +0100+01:001631#/31Sun, 29 Oct 2023 10:45:16 +0100+01:00-10Europe/Amsterdam3131Europe/Amsterdam202331#!31Sun, 29 Oct 2023 10:45:16 +0100+01:00Europe/Amsterdam10#

So, Iam really out of the dating scene, that's for sure. I came across the dating terms of this year, and there's quite a bit of gibberish language in there for me. Seriously. And that's while I spend quite a few hours on TikTok, where I learn some new jargon daily that is apparently used by people (who are often much younger than me, maybe that has something to do with it).

Dating app Fruitz released a handy dating dictionary, in case you, like me, often fumble in the dark about what people are talking about…

1. Sneaky link
Look, I knew this one! Thanks to TikTok, because these words appeared in a trend that I think was going on during corona. A nice start for me, this. A sneaky link is a kind of secret booty call, a person you meet up with without anyone knowing. It sounds very sexy, but being someone's sneaky link because he/she is ashamed of you is something you definitely shouldn't have, so be cautious.

2. Rizz
I didn't know this one at all. ‘Rizz’ comes from the word ‘charisma’ and means exactly that – personally, I prefer to stick with the original word, but okay. Someone who has rizz knows exactly how to wrap others around their finger.

3. Zombie-ing
No, this is not how I usually spend my Sunday, although I do find it a fitting name. Zombie-ing is when someone who has ghosted you suddenly comes back around the corner (‘comes back to life’). Often this is one big red flag, especially if you are approached by this zombie in the late hours. My advice is to not engage.

4. Wokefishing
In my opinion, this applies not only to dating but also to many people: social media users (or dating app users) who pretend to be incredibly woke and socially engaged, while in real life there is no evidence of that. They just act as if they are so conscious or so political, purely to look cool online.

5. Roaching
In my opinion, this could also be called mousing, because they never come alone, just like cockroaches. Someone who is roaching is never alone, although they might not be honest about it. This grandma used to simply call that a player or a fuckboy, but in 2023, this is a roacher. Learned something new again.

6. Freckling
I think this sounds very cute: freckling. Someone who does this dates with the seasons, for example, someone who can't get enough of you in the summer, but as the days get darker, they crawl back into their cocoon. I can totally relate to this, by the way; this is basically just dating with a winter slump.