Definition
Playfully teasing or suggesting romantic interest in a light, non-serious way.
Etymology
From 'flirt,' which emerged in the 1500s, possibly from French 'fleureter' (to touch lightly). The suffix '-ious' makes it an adjective. The word originally meant to move quickly or jerk about.
Kelly Says
The word 'flirt' once literally meant 'to flip or jerk around'—and that's exactly what flirting is, a light quick movement of attention from person to person, never staying in one place too long.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
flirtatious
flir-ta-shus
ARالعربية
مُغازِلة
mu-ga-zil-ah
BNবাংলা
flirtatious
flir-ta-shus
CACatalà
flirtatious
flir-ta-shus
CSČeština
flirtatious
flir-ta-shus
DADansk
flirtatious
flir-ta-shus
DEDeutsch
flirtartig
flirt-ar-tig
ELΕλληνικά
flirtatious
flir-ta-shus
ESEspañol
coqueta
ko-ke-ta
FAفارسی
flirtatious
flir-ta-shus
FISuomi
flirtatious
flir-ta-shus
FRFrançais
flirtueuse
fleur-tyez
GUGU
flirtatious
flir-ta-shus
HAHA
flirtatious
flir-ta-shus
HEעברית
שוחרי חברה
sho-chri cha-ver-ah
HIहिन्दी
मज़ेदार
ma-ze-da-ar
HUMagyar
flirtatious
flir-ta-shus
IDBahasa Indonesia
flirtatious
flir-ta-shus
IGIG
flirtatious
flir-ta-shus
ITItaliano
flirtatious
flir-ta-shus
KKKK
flirtatious
flir-ta-shus
KMKM
flirtatious
flir-ta-shus
MRMR
flirtatious
flir-ta-shus
MSBahasa Melayu
flirtatious
flir-ta-shus
MYမြန်မာ
flirtatious
flir-ta-shus
NLNederlands
flirtatious
flir-ta-shus
NONorsk
flirtatious
flir-ta-shus
PAPA
flirtatious
flir-ta-shus
PLPolski
flirtujący
flir-too-y-chi
PTPortuguês
flirta
flir-ta
RORomână
flirtatious
flir-ta-shus
RUРусский
соблазнительный
so-blaz-ni-tel-nyy
SVSvenska
flirtatious
flir-ta-shus
SWKiswahili
flirtatious
flir-ta-shus
TLTL
flirtatious
flir-ta-shus
UKУкраїнська
flirtatious
flir-ta-shus
URاردو
flirtatious
flir-ta-shus
VITiếng Việt
hóm hỉnh
hom-hin
YOYO
flirtatious
flir-ta-shus
ZUZU
flirtatious
flir-ta-shus
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Disproportionately applied to women as character judgment; conflates casual friendliness with sexual invitation. Used to discredit women's professional communication or justify harassment.
Inclusive Usage
Describe specific behaviors ('made prolonged eye contact', 'touched arm repeatedly') rather than labeling personas. Apply gender-neutrally if at all.
Inclusive Alternatives
["playful","familiar","casually intimate (with behavior specified)"]
Empowerment Note
Women's warmth and conversational skill were historically pathologized as 'flirtation' to undermine their credibility in professional/public spaces.