Gen Z Slang

What Does "Talking Stage" Mean?

Quick Definition
The period before an official relationship where two people are getting to know each other romantically.
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What "Talking Stage" Really Means

The "talking stage" is the ambiguous pre-relationship phase where two people are in consistent contact, possibly romantic, but haven't labeled the relationship. It's when people go on dates, flirt heavily, and develop emotional connection without official commitment. This phase can last weeks or months and often transitions into a "situationship" if labels are avoided. Gen Z coined the term to name a previously unnamed phase of modern dating.

Origin & History

Gen Z dating vocabulary; mainstream ~2019-2021.

Tone & Context

This slang is generally considered neutral in tone. Dating discussions, social media. Very common relationship term.

Example Sentences

  • "We're in the talking stage — I don't know if we're exclusive yet."
  • "The talking stage is the most exhausting part of dating."
  • "We graduated from the talking stage — we're official now."
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Related Slang

What does "Situationship" mean? What does "Ghosting" mean? What does "The Ick" mean? What does "Lowkey" mean?

Explore More Gen Z Slang

Browse our full Gen Z Slang dictionary for more terms, or check the complete slang glossary.