Dating in Vancouver: Navigating the Modern Dating Lingo 

Are you a millennial looking for love in the recent dating scene? Or a clueless Gen Z living under a rock? Whether you’re navigating dating in Vancouver or learning the Gen Z lingo, don’t worry—here, we cover the modern dating vocabulary describing recent dating trends.

While some of these terms, like “ghosting” or “pocketing,” may seem new, the behaviours they describe have likely existed for centuries. As quirky as these new words might be, these words reflect deep emotional intelligence and heightened self-awareness.

Younger generations have found clever ways to communicate and validate each other’s shared experiences, particularly in relationships. Gen Z’s unique twist lies in labeling these phenomena with relatable, standardized language that makes them easier to understand—and perhaps one day, we’ll even see them officially recognized in the English dictionary.

Breadcrumbing

So, just like actual breadcrumbs, this person will give you bits and pieces of tiny emotional affection to keep you engaged. This Gen Z dating term highlights inconsistencies, no intention or desire to move things further than simply wanting your attention. If emotional unavailability had a face, it would be breadcrumbing. Some signs include inconsistent text messages (sometimes they send a sweet “good morning” text, other times nothing at all), no planned dates (you basically plan and initiate everything), they only contact you when it’s convenient for them (any other time they’re busy), and they never clearly define the relationship.

Signs of breadcrumbing include:

• Inconsistent texts (think: a “good morning” text one day, and silence the next)
• No planned dates (you’re always the one planning)
• They only contact you when it’s convenient for them
• No clear direction for the relationship

If you’re constantly doing the heavy lifting in a relationship, you might be dealing with a breadcrumber. Check out this article and learn how to communicate your needs and stop the breadcumbing.

Slow Fade

Have you ever met that one person that hated confrontation, like they would rather completely alienate and remove themselves from a situation than communicate? That’s the definition of a slow fader. It’s someone who slowly stops contacting you with the intention of letting the connection die out.

Look out for these signs:

• They stop sharing deeply or having meaningful conversations
• Suddenly, they’re not liking your posts or viewing your stories on social media
• They seem easily irritated or annoyed over small things

Benching

“Benching” means you’re not someone’s first choice—you’re the backup plan. You are “Plan B” if things were to fail with “Plan A”. The side chick not the main one. On the roster, but never the one they commit to. You are simply on the bench! Like in a soccer game, they keep you as the backup plan in case the main players get injured or need a break.

Signs you’re being benched:

• You’re almost always the late-night booty call
• They often talk about their past relationships
• You constantly feel like you’re an option, not a priority

Dating in Vancouver can be competitive, but if you feel like you’re on the sidelines, it’s probably time to move on.

Zombieing

Another unique Gen Z-coined term. Unlike ghosting where the individual in interest disappears with no warning or prior indication, zombieing refers to a situation where the said individual reappears after the disappearance, also with no warning or indication. Like a zombie – back from the dead.

Ghosting

One of the most well-known modern dating terms, “ghosting” is when someone you’ve been dating suddenly stops all communication without explanation. It’s a frustrating and common experience in the world of online dating, and Vancouver is no exception. You might be texting, talking, and seeing each other regularly, but one day—poof—they disappear without a trace.

Signs of ghosting:

• They stop replying to messages with no explanation
• They suddenly disappear from social media or stop engaging with your posts
• No more plans to meet up, without any clear reason

Pocketing

Pocketing refers to when someone hides you from their social circles, as if they’re tucking you away in their “pocket.” You’ve been dating for a while, but you still haven’t met their friends or family, and they avoid making your relationship public.

Signs you’re being pocketed:

• They avoid introducing you to their friends or family
• They never post about you on social media, even though they’re active
• You feel like you’re being hidden away from their real life

In Vancouver, with its tight-knit social circles, pocketing can feel especially frustrating when everyone else around you seems to be living their relationships out in the open.

Now that you know some of the key Gen Z dating terms, you can navigate the dating scene in Vancouver with more confidence.I know this post is missing a ton more terms so please share them all in the comments below, have you experienced any of these?

Has it happened to you with the same person? Let us know!!  Check out our public interview on “Gen Z Dating Terms” here 🇨🇦 Maple Life TV | 📍Vancouver | Did you know about all these Gen Z dating terms? 📲💟💬 #genz #datingterms #breadcrumbing #slowfade #benching #zombying #pockeeting #whelming… | Instagram