Not in a relationship

1. single

If you’re not married or dating anyone.

A: Are you seeing anyone?

B: No, I’m single.

2. just friends

If you’re not in a romantic relationship with someone, you can say “We’re just friends.”

A: Hey! Is that your new girlfriend?

B: No, we’re just friends.

At the beginning of a relationship

3. to be into someone

When you feel you like someone or someone likes you, you can say “I think she’s into me.”

A: That girl in the corner is totally checking you out!

B: Yeah!  I think she’s into me.

4. ask someone out

If you are into someone, you may decide to ask him/her out.

A: What’s going on between you and Max?

B: I guess he’s gonna ask me out soon.

5. see someone

If you are seeing someone, it means you have been on a few dates, but you might still not be committed to each other.

A: Who was that guy you were with?

B: We’re seeing each other. It’s not serious though.

The relationship

6. date (verb)

If you have been seeing someone for quite a long time and things are getting serious between you two, you can tell people: “We’re dating.” Dating couples are called boyfriend and girlfriend.

A: I’m glad you finally found someone.

B: Me too. Mary and I are dating now.

7. in a relationship 

It’s a more formal way of saying that you have a girlfriend/boyfriend.

A: I think you’d better update your FB status to “in a relationship“.

B: I’m not really sure. I’ve been seeing him only for a week now.

8. get engaged

After some period of dating, you may decide to marry each other, exchange rings and enter the engagement phase.

A: Is that a ring on your finger or what?!

B: Yay! We’re engaged!

9. newlyweds

You’ve just married? Then you’re called “newlyweds”.

A: They are newlyweds.

B: No wonder they buy so many flowers from our store!

10. partners

For a relationship to be serious and long-lasting, the couple don’t have to get married. Instead, they may prefer living as common-law partners.

A: What is your marital status?

B: We are common-law partners.

The end of a relationship

11. break up with someone

People break up when they decide to stop dating each other.

A: Are you and Robert still dating?

B: No! We broke up last week.

12. dump someone

If only one of the sides decides to break up, he/she dumps the other person.

A: I don’t think this is going anywhere.

B: What? Are you dumping me?

13. separated

When a married couple ends their relationship, the first stage is called “separation”.

Susan and I are separated.

14. divorced

Some couples may get back together after a separation while some may finalise their separation legally by getting divorced.

A: Did things work out between you too?

B: No. We’re getting divorced.

More from you!

We have included only 14 phrases in this lesson. But is that all?!

It is now your turn to add your favourite English phrases about relationships. We’d love to read your comments below. So, what are you waiting for?