If you’ve ever heard someone say, “He totally ghosted me after love bombing” or “I think I’m being pocketed,” and had no idea what they were talking about, don’t worry, you’re not alone. The Gen Z dating scene comes with its own dictionary, and if you’re not keeping up, it can feel like a whole new, confusing world of romance.

From breadcrumbing to zombieing, these terms might leave you wondering what they actually mean. And what better way to explain these dating terms than by using our favorite Kapamilya teleserye characters? 

So whether you’re a Gen Z navigating the dating scene, a millennial trying to keep up, or just someone who wants to understand the ever-evolving love lingo, here's your crash course in Gen Z dating terms—teleserye edition!

Breadcrumbing 

This happens when someone gives you just enough attention to keep you interested, but they never actually intend to take things seriously. It’s like tossing crumbs of affection without ever offering the whole meal.

Teleserye example: Justin (Grae Fernandez) in "Pamilya Sagrado" when he played hot and cold with Felicia (Alyanna Angeles)—one moment, he’s sweet and charming; the next, he’s distant and emotionally unavailable. He would give her just whatever's left of his time and energy, just enough to keep her around, but never pushes to make their relationship official because he’s only in it for his convenience. 

Catfishing 

Catfishing happens when someone pretends to be a completely different person online—whether by using fake photos, a made-up identity, or even someone else’s persona—to deceive others. It’s a classic case of “expectation vs. reality,” but instead of a disappointing online purchase, you end up with a fake relationship.

Cha (Belle Mariano) in "How To Spot A Red Flag" thought she was forming a genuine connection with Matt (Donny Pangilinan), her ka-talking stage online, but little did she know, the person behind the screen wasn’t him—it was actually JR (Jameson Blake), who had stolen Matt’s identity to win her over.   

Just a little red-flag check, if someone avoids video calls, makes endless excuses for not meeting up, or their profile seems too perfect, you might be dealing with a catfish. Always double-check before you dive into those late-night deep talks!

Delusionship 

A delusionship happens when you believe you're in a romantic connection with someone even when they have no idea. Maybe your crush smiled at you once, called you "cute," or let you borrow their pen, and suddenly, you're mentally planning your wedding. 

Bea (Karina Bautista) in "Viral Scandal" is the definition of peak 'delulu.' Just because her crush Brax (Sky Quizon) was sweet to her—like giving her cheesecake and calling her pretty—she thought there was something special brewing between them. But plot twist, Brax wasn’t into her at all. And it turned out that he was actually crushing on Bea’s best friend, Pogs (Aljon Mendoza), the whole time.

Spoiler alert: Not every sweet gesture is a confession of love, bestie. Friendly doesn't always mean flirting. Sometimes, a cheesecake is just a cheesecake.

Gaslighting

It's a manipulative tactic where someone twists the truth to make you question your own reality, feelings, or memory. It’s when they do something wrong but instead of taking accountability, they make you feel like the villain.

For instance, when Marites (Cherry Pie Picache) confronted Rigor (John Estrada) about his affair with Lena (Mercedes cabral) in "FPJ's Batang Quiapo," instead of owning up to his mistake, he flipped the script and made Marites feel like she was the problem. He blamed her shortcomings as a wife and kept bringing up her past to justify his cheating acts. He used these excuses against her over and over until she slowly started believing that maybe it was her fault all along. Classic gaslighter move!

Ghosting 

Ghosting is when someone you’re dating (or even just talking to) suddenly disappears without a word—poof! One day they’re making promises, and the next, it seems like they've fallen off the face of the earth. No closure, no explanation, no calls or texts, just a whole lot of unanswered questions.

Remember Roxy (Xyriel Manabat)'s POV in "High Street"? Before Archie (Elijah Canlas) left after their high school graduation, he promised he’d be back in time for their child's birth. But when the time came, Archie was nowhere to be found. From Roxy’s POV, he completely ditched her and left her to raise their baby alone. Although, what she didn't know was Archie had been unable to reach out due to serving time in another country. 

Pocketing

This happens when someone keeps you a secret. They don't introduce you to friends and family, and there's no proof that you exist in their life beyond closed doors. It's like they hit 'delete history' the moment you step outside after they acted sweet in private. 

There was a 'season' when Tim (Zaijian Jaranilla) and Poch (Miggy Jimenez) had to keep their relationship under wraps on campus, with friends, and especially with Tim's family in "Senior High." Because Tim was still publicly with Roxy and no one knew Tim and Poch were actually in love with each other. For a while, their relationship only existed in stolen moments-like secretly touching hands under a table in the cafeteria.

Sure, Tim and Poch eventually found the courage to be open, but let’s be real, not everyone in a pocketing situation gets their happy ending.

Love Bombing

Love bombing is a manipulative tactic where someone drowns you in affection too fast, too soon to win you over. But the effort disappears once they have you hooked. 

Enter David (McCoy de Leon) in "FPJ’s Batang Quiapo"—the king of pa-fall. He showered Camille (Yukii Takahashi) with gifts and treated her like a queen. But the sweet and loving David was gone once he got her pregnant. The 'charming prince' turned into a walking red flag.

Just a piece of advice, if it feels overwhelmingly fast, trust your gut. True love takes time, hindi one-day shipping.

Slow Burn

Not all love stories start with kilig overload from Day 1. Some take time to build. Slow burn is when two people develop feelings for each other gradually, often after spending a lot of time together, usually starting as strangers, acquaintances, or even 'enemies.'

Ali (Kathryn Bernardo) and Eloy (Daniel Padilla)'s unhurried love story in "2 Good 2 Be True" is the perfect example. From their cat-and-mouse dynamic, it took time, and countless 'asaran' before they finally became a couple. And it was worth the wait. Well, if someone is willing to take their time to truly know you, that's a green flag. 

Zombieing

Ever had someone disappear from your life without a trace, only for them to pop back up like nothing happened? That’s zombeing—when someone who previously ghosted you suddenly comes back, acting like they never left. 

Sounds familiar? You've probably seen Tyrone (Jericho Rosales) pull the ultimate zombeing move in "Lavender Fields" when he disappeared on his wife Iris (Janine Gutierrez) and his mistress Jasmin (Jodi Sta. Maria), leaving them both wondering what happened. And then, out of nowhere, he resurfaces like it’s just another day. 

Love in this era comes with its own vocabulary, so stay updated!