When you become interested in someone, one of the first things you
typically want to find out is whether they are currently dating someone. If they are, then that might be enough to make you move on to the next person. However, you might also find out how serious they are in their current relationship (whether they are dating someone casually or exclusively).
There's a number of ways to describe a relationship from casual
to serious:
They're just fooling around.
Sólo están vacilando.
SOH-loh ehs-tAHn vah-see-lahn-doh.
They're friends with benefits.
Son amigos con derechos.
sohn ah-mee-gohs kohn deh-reh-chohs.
They are boyfriend/girlfriend.
Son novios.
sohn NOH-vee-ohs.
They're serious.
Andan de novios.
ahn-dahn deh noh-vee-ohs.
They are engaged.
Están prometidos.
Eh-STAHN proh-meh-TEE-dohs.
Of course, one of the best ways to find out whether or not someone
is available is to ask:
Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend?
¿Tienes novio/a?
¿tee-ehn-ehs noh-vee-oh/ah?
In some countries a boyfriend is called novio (NOH-vee-yoh)
whereas in others novio means more of a fiancée and a boyfriend is
called amigo (ah-MEE-goh). You might need to clarify this when
talking with someone. If they say tengo novio (TEHN-goh
NOH-vee-yoh), you can ask if they are engaged (see above) or just
dating.
Similarly, if a man says Ella es mi amiga (EH-yah ehs mee
ah-MEE-gah), you might need to clarify if they mean girlfriend or
just friend. Not only do you want to know this before you ask
someone out, you need to be aware of this when referring to your
own significant other and friends so that you don't convey too much
or too little commitment in your own relationships.