Definition
Plural of courtship; the period when two people are dating and getting to know each other romantically before marriage.
Etymology
From Middle English 'courten' (to court/woo) + '-ship' (state or condition), originally referring to the behavior of courtiers seeking favor from nobility, then applied to romantic pursuit.
Kelly Says
The word 'courtship' reveals its origin in royal courts—just as courtiers had to perform elaborate rituals to impress the king, lovers had to perform attentiveness and devotion according to strict social rules.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
courtships
kor-ti-ships
ARالعربية
الرومانسية
al-ru-man-si-ya
BNবাংলা
courtships
kor-ti-ships
CACatalà
courtships
kor-ti-ships
CSČeština
courtships
kor-ti-ships
DADansk
forfølgelse
for-foel-gel-se
DEDeutsch
Annäherungen
an-neh-muh-ren-gen
ELΕλληνικά
courtships
kor-ti-ships
ESEspañol
courtships
kor-tee-ships
FAفارسی
courtships
kor-ti-ships
FISuomi
courtships
kor-ti-ships
FRFrançais
courtises
kuʁ.ti.z
GUGU
courtships
kor-ti-ships
HAHA
courtships
kor-ti-ships
HEעברית
courtships
kor-ti-ships
HUMagyar
courtships
kor-ti-ships
IDBahasa Indonesia
pacaran
pa-ca-ran
IGIG
courtships
kor-ti-ships
ITItaliano
corteggiamenti
kor-teh-gee-ah-men-tee
KKKK
courtships
kor-ti-ships
KMKM
courtships
kor-ti-ships
KO한국어
Courtship
ko-teu-shi-peu
MRMR
courtships
kor-ti-ships
MSBahasa Melayu
courtships
kor-ti-ships
MYမြန်မာ
courtships
kor-ti-ships
NLNederlands
courtships
kor-ti-ships
NONorsk
forfølgelse
for-foel-gel-se
PAPA
courtships
kor-ti-ships
PLPolski
oświadczenia miłosne
uv-s-che-ch-en-ya mi-los-ne
PTPortuguês
courtships
kor-ti-ships
RORomână
courtships
kor-ti-ships
RUРусский
свидания
svi-da-niya
SVSvenska
förälskelser
för-äls-kel-ser
SWKiswahili
courtships
kor-ti-ships
TAதமிழ்
courtships
kor-ti-ships
TEతెలుగు
courtships
kor-ti-ships
THไทย
การคบหา
gaan kop-ha
TLTL
courtships
kor-ti-ships
TRTürkçe
Aşk arayışı
ash arayishi
UKУкраїнська
courtships
kor-ti-ships
URاردو
courtships
kor-ti-ships
VITiếng Việt
sự tán tỉnh
su tan tinh
YOYO
courtships
kor-ti-ships
ZUZU
courtships
kor-ti-ships
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Courtship historically centered male pursuit and female passivity, reinforcing gender roles where men initiated and women accepted. The asymmetry of 'courting' embedded gendered power dynamics into the institution.
Inclusive Usage
Use to describe mutual romantic relationship-building between any people. Consider 'dating' or 'relationship formation' for modern contexts to avoid historical baggage.
Inclusive Alternatives
["dating","relationship building","mutual romantic pursuit"]
Empowerment Note
Women's role in courtship history is often passive in etymology; recognize that women have always actively chosen, negotiated, and shaped courtship outcomes even when language erased their agency.