When you need this

Friends ask. "So, are you seeing anyone?" comes up over drinks, at weddings, and on long car trips. Sometimes you'll want to share, sometimes you'll want to keep it short, and both are fine. These phrases let you do either.

American English has a whole scale for how serious things are. "Seeing someone" or "dating someone" is early and a little vague. "Going out" is a bit more settled. "Together" means a real couple. "Nothing serious" puts the brakes on the conversation politely. "Partner" works for any relationship and says nothing about gender, which is why many people prefer it.

One more thing: "Are you seeing anyone?" is personal. Ask friends, not new coworkers. And if someone answers "not really" and changes the subject, let the subject change.

Phrases

a friendly way to ask if someone is dating

you're dating, but it's fairly new

casual; you don't want to make it a big deal

the relationship is new, so you don't want to say much

you're not rushing the relationship

present perfect: how long you've been a couple

how you met; common and natural

very common now, and nobody minds saying it

you liked each other right away

you're not in a relationship

you're not trying to date

the relationship ended

not dating, whatever people think

the person you're in a relationship with; any gender

Say it out loud

Tap a sentence to hear it. Say it after the voice.

Practice · 3 min

Say it about your love life. Situation on the left, one natural line on the right.

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Say it today

Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.