In the age of social media, there are countless terms to keep up with. Whether it is slang or abbreviations, it’s a new language. Words don’t mean what they used to, especially in the relationship world. There is more than just one type of relationship today. From having a "thing" to calling someone your bae, here’s a breakdown of what each phrase means:

Thing

This term is another way of saying “we are kind of together.” It is a loosely-defined relationship. At this point, it is nowhere near being serious, but it is some-what exclusive. A thing could also be defined such that the two people are talking.

Talking

When two people are “talking,” it’s more than a conversation. It is the stage right before dating, but there is apprehension. The talking stage is to get to know each other, but usually one party isn’t ready for a relationship. People rarely get out of the talking stage because they either get "friend-zoned" or were not looking for a relationship in the first place.

Friend-Zone

This is the ultimate form of rejection. For example, you’re out with the girls. This cute boy winks at you, so you and your friend walk over there. As you begin to say something, he looks directly at your friend and asks for her number. Yes, you’ve just been friend-zoned. Hurts, doesn’t it?

Hangout

This is when people get together. When asked to “hangout,” it’s because the person isn’t necessarily looking for something serious. They would like to see you in a casual setting. Hanging out can be associated with the infamous Netflix and chill.

Netflix and Chill

Netflix is an online television and movie site. To chill is another way to say hang out or make plans. But together, it has a completely different meaning. Typically when asked to “Netflix and chill,” the person is referring to hooking up.

To everyone, the definition of this word is different. Let’s just say that it’s any form of intimacy…that isn’t intimate. That’s an oxymoron, right? This encounter is casual. The hook-up culture is prominent in this generation, because there is a lack of a want for a relationship. Women want sexual freedom, and men don’t want the responsibility of being serious. Whether it’s a problem or not, that’s up to you.

Side Chick

If someone is referred to as a side chick, this means that they’re kept around just incase anything happens with their main. The main could be a girlfriend or boyfriend, but they don’t want to break up. The side chick is kept around for fun or simply as a rebound.

Rebound

This is similar to a side chick, but not quite. A rebound is going from one relationship to the next, in order to avoid the pain of the previous relationship. Usually, the rebound is caught off guard and ends up getting hurt.

Friends With Benefits

This is a type of relationship where no strings are attached. The people partaking in this get all the perks of a relationship without the title. There’s no worry about going on dates, meeting the family, and all that mushy stuff. It’s strictly hooking up without catching any feelings. It usually doesn’t work out, because one party ends up falling for the other.

Dating

Often, dating is referred to the action of going out. It is when two people go on dates to get to know each other better. Your parents may refer to this as going steady. Today, dating is marked by the day it becomes Facebook official. It isn’t real until that online notification. Unsure if two people are together? Just check Facebook.

Bae

This term is the ultimate expression of “love” in this generation. Standing for “Before Anyone Else,” it means that the individual is yours and only yours. It’s another way to mark territory or let it be known that the two are together. It’s also referred to as the shortened word for babe. It’s a trend. When crazy gets boring, there’s cray. When love gets old, it’ll become loe. Get it?