10 Phrases for Describing Relationships

Useful phrases for describing relationships in English! Relationships can be complicated. The list below provides helpful phrases for describing relationships in all the different phases.

1. I’m single

2. I have a boyfriend/girlfriend.

3. We’re engaged. (We’re going to get married)

4. We’re getting married in June.

5. I’m married.

6. I’ve been married for… [10 years]

7. I’m divorced.

8. I’m widowed. (My husband/wife has died)

9. I’m just separated. (I’m not divorced yet)

10. I’m not looking for anything serious.

11. I’m not quite over my ex. (I still have feelings for my ex-boyfriend/girlfriend or ex-husband/wife)

Vocabulary for describing a relationship

1. Vocabulary when you are not in a relationship:

Single

Meaning: If you’re not married or dating anyone, you’re “single”.

Are you still single? 

Just friends

Meaning: Imagine that you have a friend. Someone asks if you’re dating this person. You’re not, so you can say:

We’re just friends.

A platonic relationship

Meaning: A more specific and formal way to say that you are “just friends” is:

Our relationship is strictly platonic.

2. Vocabulary when you begin a relationship:

Into (someone)

Meaning: When you’ve met someone and you both seem attracted to each other, you can say that you’re “into” each other:

I think he’s into me. I’m kind of into him too.

 (someone) Asked (someone) out

Meaning: Traditionally, one person asks the other person to go on a date. You can describe it this way:

He asked me out.

 Hook up

Meaning: Sometimes relationships start differently. If you kiss someone or have some kind of sexual experience before going out on a date, you can use this slang expression:

We’ve hooked up.

 Seeing each other

Meaning: If you’ve been on a few dates or hooked up with someone a few times, you can describe it as “seeing each other”. But you might still not be completely committed to each other:

We’re seeing each other. It’s nothing serious, though.

3. Vocabulary when you are in a relationship

Dating

Meaning: Once you’re sure that you and the other person are seriously dating each other, you can announce it:

We’re dating.

Boyfriend / girlfriend

Meaning: This person also gets a title:

This is my boyfriend. / This is my girlfriend.

In a relationship

Meaning: In a more formal situation, you might describe your situation this way:

I’m in a relationship.

Get engaged

Meaning: After some period of dating, you decide to marry each other. First, there’s an “engagement”:

Scott and I just got engaged!

We’re engaged.

Newlyweds

Meaning: Next comes marriage. For the first year or two after a couple gets married, you can call them “newlyweds”:

Back when we were newlyweds, he’d bring home flowers once a week.

Happily married

Meaning: After you’re no longer newlyweds, you’re just “a married couple”. It’s common for married people to call themselves “happily married”:

I’m happily married, with two kids, a boy and a girl.

Partners

Meaning: Some people in a serious relationship never get married. This might be because they don’t think marriage is a good idea. Or it may be because they’re gay and are not allowed to get married in the area where they live. In this case, you can call the person who you live with your “partner”

My partner and I took a trip to Italy last year.

4. Vocabulary when you end a relationship

Broke up

Meaning: If you’re dating someone, and the relationship ends, you can say that you “broke up”:

A: Where’s Jane?

B: Actually, we broke up.

Through

Meaning: If you break up with someone angrily, you can talk about it this way:

He and I are through!

Dump (someone)

Meaning: Sometimes both people agree to break up. Other times, one person makes the decision and “dumps” the other person:

I can’t believe he dumped me!

Separated

Meaning: When a married couple ends their relationship, there are two parts. First is the “separation”:

My wife and I are separated.

Divorced

Meaning: Sometimes a couple gets back together after a separation. If not, they finalize their separation legally:

We’re getting divorced.

He and I are divorced.

Exes

Meaning: After a couple has broken up or gotten divorced, a couple becomes “exes”:

My ex took the house and the kids.

Hey, isn’t that your ex-wife over there?