verkering: What does verkering mean?

Verkering hebben (met iemand) is being in a relationship: boyfriend and girlfriend, officially. It's the word kids use: ze hebben verkering is big news in groep 8, the last year of primary school. Het is aan (it's on) means the same thing.

Adults use it too, usually with a smile: we hebben verkering announces a new relationship without the heavy word relatie. Verkering vragen is asking someone to be your boyfriend or girlfriend, which Dutch people actually do, out loud, as a question. Somewhere between a scharrel and samenwonen (living together), this is the stage.