Quoiromantic
Quoiromantic is a romantic orientation in which an individual cannot distinguish romantic attraction from other forms of attraction (platonic, sexual, aesthetic, etc.) They may also not understand the concept of romantic attraction in a meaningful or personally applicable way.
Quoiromantic may also be known as "WTFromantic," (informally, “What-The-Fuck romantic”). This version is sometimes used in online communities.
Key Characteristics of Quoiromantic Individuals
Individuals who identify as quoiromantic may experience:
- Difficulty distinguishing romantic attraction from friendship or deep emotional attachment.
- Confusion when trying to interpret whether feelings are “romantic” in nature.
- A sense that romantic attraction is a socially constructed or unclear category.
- Reliance on external definitions rather than internal recognition of romantic feelings.
- Fluid or inconsistent interpretations of relationships depending on context.
It is important to note that these experiences vary widely between individuals.
Quoiromantic and the Aromantic Spectrum
Quoiromantic is commonly considered part of the aromantic spectrum (aro-spec).
However, quoiromantic differs from other aro-spectrum identities in a key way:
- It is not defined strictly by the absence of romantic attraction.
- Instead, it is defined by the inability to interpret or identify romantic attraction reliably.
For this reason, some describe it as a cognitive or interpretative orientation, rather than a purely experiential one.
Origins of the Term
The word quoiromantic derives from the French word “quoi”, meaning “what”, combined with "romantic". The name reflects a sense of questioning or confusion about what romantic attraction actually is.
The term is believed to have been proposed on Tumblr in 2012. Google Search data suggests that it began getting measurable searches in around 2014.
Quoiromantic is primarily used in online LGBTQIA+ and aromantic communities. It is part of a growing vocabulary designed to to better describe nuanced or non-traditional experiences of attraction.
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