Affection refers to a feeling of fondness or liking for someone or something. It’s a gentler form of love and often expressed through small gestures.
His grandmother’s affection was apparent in the way she hugged him.
Attraction is the interest or pleasure that you feel towards someone, often with a desire to be romantically involved.
There was an instant attraction between them when they first met.
Dating is a stage of romantic relationships in humans whereby two people meet socially with the aim of each assessing the other’s suitability as a prospective partner in an intimate relationship.
They have been dating for three months now.
Engagement refers to the period of time when two people have agreed to marry each other.
Their engagement was announced at the family reunion.
Fiancé (for a man) or fiancée (for a woman) describes someone who is engaged to be married.
She introduced Peter as her fiancé.
Flirting involves behaving as though attracted to or trying to attract someone, but for amusement rather than with serious intentions.
He was flirting with her all evening, but it was all in good fun.
Heartbreak is a profound emotional pain or anguish felt after a major loss, especially concerning romantic relationships.
She experienced heartbreak after their breakup.
Intimacy refers to a close familiarity or friendship; closeness.
The intimacy between them grew as they spent more time together.
Jealousy is an emotion which typically refers to the negative thoughts and feelings of insecurity, fear, and anxiety over an anticipated loss of something valuable, such as a relationship.
Jealousy made him question her friendships with other men.
Long-distance relationship is a romantic relationship between two people who live far apart and are unable to meet on a frequent basis.
They managed a long-distance relationship while she studied abroad.
Love is an intense feeling of deep affection and care towards another person.
His love for her was evident in every action he took.
Marriage is a legally and socially sanctioned union, usually between a man and a woman, that is regulated by laws, rules, customs, beliefs, and attitudes that prescribe the rights and duties of the partners.
They celebrated their tenth year of marriage last summer.
Partner refers to either member of a married couple or of an established couple who are in a relationship.
She introduced Tom as her life partner.
Proposal is the act of asking someone to marry you, often symbolized by the offering of an engagement ring.
He made a romantic proposal on the beach at sunset.
Romance refers to a feeling of excitement and mystery associated with love.
They kept the romance alive by going on regular date nights.
Soulmate is a person ideally suited to another as a close friend or romantic partner.
He always believed that she was his soulmate.
Togetherness is the pleasant feeling of being united with other people in friendship and understanding.
Togetherness is what makes our family so strong.
Valentine refers to someone to whom you show affection or love, especially on Valentine’s Day, usually by sending a card or a gift.
She sent him a card, asking, “Will you be my Valentine?”
Wedding is the ceremony where people are united in marriage.
Their wedding took place in a small chapel.
Unrequited love describes a situation in which one person has romantic feelings for another person who does not feel the same way.
He struggled to overcome his unrequited love for her.
Understanding and effectively using these terms can help English language learners to better express their emotions and experiences related to love and relationships. Whether discussing a personal situation or exploring these themes in literature and film, mastery of this vocabulary enriches communication and deepens comprehension of the complex human emotions involved in intimate relationships.
