Courtship is the process of two people getting to know each other romantically before deciding whether to marry. During courtship, a couple spends time together, learns about each other's values and personalities, and figures out if they're truly compatible for a lifelong partnership.

Historically, courtship was quite structured: a young man might ask permission to “court” a young woman, meaning he wanted to pursue marriage with her. Families often supervised these meetings carefully. The couple might take chaperoned walks, attend social gatherings together, or exchange letters, all while determining if they were a good match.

Today's courtship looks different but serves the same purpose: thoughtful preparation for marriage. Some families still use traditional courtship practices, while for others it simply means spending serious time together before getting engaged.

The word also describes animal mating rituals. Male birds often have elaborate courtship displays to attract females: peacocks spread their magnificent tail feathers, bowerbirds build intricate decorated nests, and certain penguins present carefully chosen pebbles as gifts. These courtship behaviors show the female that the male would make a good mate.