Dating slang, decoded
Acronyms and shorthand from dating-app bios, texting, and DMs — the informal, internet-native register of the vocabulary, as opposed to established relationship-status or behavior-pattern terms. Every entry is plainly defined, sourced where a claim is made, and written for a reader who just saw the term for the first time.
420-friendly means a person uses cannabis, or is comfortable dating someone who does, stated openly as a profile compatibility signal.
"420" in a dating bio is cannabis-culture shorthand: the poster uses cannabis, or is at minimum comfortable around it.
BWC stands for "big white cock," a slang initialism used on dating and hookup apps to reference a white man's penis size as a stated preference.
A catfish is someone who creates a fake online identity, often using stolen photos, to deceive people into an online romantic relationship.
CD stands for cross-dresser, a dating-profile term for someone who wears clothing typically associated with another gender.
DDF stands for "Drug and Disease Free," a self-disclosure used in dating profiles to indicate no drug use and no known STIs.
E-dating means forming or pursuing a romantic relationship with someone mainly through internet communication rather than in-person contact.
GGG stands for "good, giving, and game," a standard for being an attentive, generous partner, coined by columnist Dan Savage.
GH stands for "glory hole," a hole in a wall or partition for anonymous sexual contact, common in gay/MSM hookup-app chat and profiles.
Catfishing's milder cousin: a real but heavily flattering version of yourself online, old photos, an inflated title, a rounded-up height. Coined by Hinge.
MFM stands for "male-female-male," a threesome arrangement involving two men and one woman.
NFS on dating apps is genuinely ambiguous: usually "no funny stuff" (a boundary-setting signal), but also "not for sale" and app-specific senses.
Continuing to watch someone's social-media activity after ending or never starting a relationship: viewing stories, liking posts, not communicating.
An upside-down pineapple is a symbol used to signal interest in swinging or consensual non-monogamy ("the lifestyle").
SFW stands for "Safe For Work," meaning content, photos, or messages appropriate for public or professional viewing, not sexually explicit.
Subtly revealing a new romantic partner on social media without naming them: a hand in a photo, a shadow at dinner, an unnamed silhouette.