Chubby dating comes with its own shorthand — some of it about body type, some of it general dating slang you'll hit on any platform. None of it is complicated once someone explains it, but it can feel like a lot to pick up when a bio or a match's message uses a term you haven't seen before. Here's a plain-English glossary of the terms that come up most.
Terms About Body Type
What does BBW mean?
BBW stands for "big beautiful woman." It's a term used within plus-size and chubby dating communities, often as a confident self-description rather than a label applied by someone else.
What does BHM mean?
BHM stands for "big handsome man" — the male equivalent of BBW, used the same way: as a confident, self-chosen descriptor.
What does plus-size mean in dating?
Plus-size generally refers to clothing and body sizes above a standard/mainstream range. In a dating context, it's used descriptively and isn't tied to any single number or definition.
What does chubby mean?
Chubby is a casual, generally affectionate term for a fuller body type. Within chubby dating communities, it's used as a positive self-descriptor rather than a criticism.
What does curvy mean?
Curvy typically describes a body with a fuller figure and pronounced curves. Like chubby and plus-size, it's used descriptively and means slightly different things to different people — there's no strict definition.
Terms About Body Positivity
What does body positive mean?
Body positive refers to the belief and movement that all bodies are worthy of respect, love and confidence, regardless of size, shape or appearance — and that you don't need to change your body to deserve good treatment or a good relationship.
General Dating Terms Worth Knowing
A few more terms that show up across dating generally, not just chubby dating, but that are worth having in your back pocket:
What does "talking stage" mean?
The talking stage is the period after you've matched or met but before you're officially dating — getting to know each other through conversation before deciding whether to take things further.
What does "situationship" mean?
A situationship is a romantic or intimate connection that hasn't been clearly defined as a relationship — more than casual, less than committed, and often left undiscussed.
What does "red flag" mean in dating?
A red flag is a warning sign in someone's behaviour or communication that suggests a potential problem — worth paying attention to rather than dismissing because things otherwise feel good.
What does "green flag" mean in dating?
A green flag is the opposite of a red flag — a sign that someone communicates well, treats you with respect, or otherwise shows they're a good match to keep getting to know.
The Bottom Line
None of this vocabulary is gatekeeping — it's just shorthand that develops naturally in any community. BBW, BHM, plus-size, chubby and curvy are all used as confident, self-chosen ways to describe body type, and "body positive" sums up the mindset the whole space is built on: your body doesn't need to change to be worth loving.
