Zombieing is the latest dating buzzword after 'rizz' took over Love Island villa

28 August 2023 , 10:52

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Dating is the wild west - and now there's a new phrase on the block (stock photo) (Image: Getty Images)

Modern day dating remains one of the most baffling and ever evolving things that adults have to deal with. Everyday there seems to be a new dating trend, a change in relationship expectations or a new term to describe the weird and wonderful things that people do in their romantic endeavours.

Now, the latest new trend to wrap your head around is 'Zombieing', according to Cosmopolitan. It may sound like something out of a horror movie but instead, this increasingly popular term describes when someone ghosts you – i.e. stops communication with you out of nowhere– and then pops back up randomly with no explanation. Although this is a world away from a literal Hollywood zombie that has risen from the dead, a date vanishing and ignoring texts without reason and then popping back up weeks or even years later is arguably just as scary as the movie monster.

If Zombieing was not already in your vocabulary and watching Love Island leaves you grasping for a dictionary, there are some other vital dating buzzwords that you need to know to help add context to the increasingly complicated world of dating.

'Freckling' continues to be used on social media by many. The term has nothing to do with freckles in the literal sense but instead has been likened to the skin feature as it describes a summer romance that disappears as winter approaches – much like actual freckles.

'Microcheating' helps to describe all of the things a partner can do that is not physically cheating but still is a betrayal. Flirting, hiding text messages and having an emotional affair can be defined as microcheating. The term is useful as it helps disgruntled partners verbalise that even though the behaviour is not physical, it can still count as infidelity and sometimes can act as a gateway to physical cheating.

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Have you ever wondered what it means when someone you used to date has stopped talking to you but continues to watch all of your social media stories and like all of your posts? This is 'orbiting'. Many people struggle to understand why people do this and wonder if it will lead to a reconciliation. Inspired by the notorious bird and its brutal hunting tactics, 'vulturing' describes when someone waits until your current relationship is at its most vulnerable before swooping in to steal you or your partner away.

'Rizz' was one of Love Island's most popular dating buzzwords this summer and both in and outside of the villa, people use the term to describe someone who is charismatic and has a high success rate in the dating world.

Have you used any of these phrases? Let us know in the comments...

Naimah Archibald-Powell