What does it mean to be aromantic?

Someone who is aromantic (also known as aro) does not experience a romantic attraction to others, or experience varying levels of romantic attraction. Being aromantic is an orientation, like being gay. Aromantic people aren’t cold or heartless, aren’t waiting to meet the right person, or even against the idea of romance.

They just do not experience romantic love in the same way that someone who isn’t aromantic does.

There are also other orientations within the aromantic spectrum. Some of these include:

  • demiromantic - only feeling romantic attractions to people you have already built deep bonds with
  • grayromantic - someone who feels low levels of romantic attraction, or only under specific circumstances
  • abroromantic - someone who experiences a fluid or rapidly changing romantic attraction to people of different gender expressions

  • aromantic allosexual (aro allo) - someone who is aromantic but allosexual (not asexual)

    Do they still experience love?

Yes! Aromantic people still feel love, as well as every other human emotion. There are many types of love, including:

  • Romantic
  • Platonic
  • Familial
  • and more!

The ancient greeks had names for 8 types of love! Aromantic people don’t experience romantic love, but the other kinds of love are still there to be felt.

How's it different from asexual?

Aromantic people typically don’t feel romantic attraction or romantic love. This doesn’t affect their sexuality, however. While some aromantic people may also be asexual (known as AroAce), many still do feel sexual attraction.

Being asexual means that you either don’t experience sexual attraction, or are somewhere between. Some asexual people are romantic and have romantic relationships.

It’s important to note that one is purely around romantic relationships, and one is purely about sexual relationships. They are distinct from each other.

Representation and media

  • Alice Oseman, creator of Loveless and Heartstopper
  • Michaela Coel, writer and star of Chewing Gum and I May Destroy You
  • Koisenu Futanashi, a Japanese drama about two AroAce people. One of the characters could be interpreted as being demiromantic.
  • Alastor, an AroAce character from Hazbin Hotel