Internet
talking stage
What does talking stage mean?
Used to describe romantic limbo where feelings exist but commitment doesn't.
"The talking stage is exhausting, just ask me out already."
Origin
Gen-Z dating vocabulary that spread on TikTok and Twitter in the late 2010s, naming the unlabelled getting-to-know-you phase before a relationship.
Frequently asked questions
What does talking stage mean?
The talking stage is the early phase of getting to know someone romantically before you're officially dating.
How long does a talking stage last?
There's no rule — it can be days or months before it becomes a relationship or ends.
What does talking stage mean on TikTok?
On TikTok it describes the flirty, unlabelled early phase of a potential relationship.
Is the talking stage a relationship?
No — it comes before a relationship, with interest but no commitment yet.
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