Is he flirting with dirty jokes or just being himself

First, he's testing if you can handle his real personality without judgment. Guys with that humor style often use it as a filter. They want to know you won't be shocked or scandalized by how they actually talk. Second, he's flirting by being playful and a bit risque, which creates intimacy fast. The distinction: if he's only cracking these jokes with you in private, it's flirtation. If you've heard him tell similar stuff to other people or in group chats, it's just his baseline.

Here's the thing though. Context matters less than you think for your response. Either way, he's inviting you into his world and seeing if you stay or bail. How you reply signals whether you're a match for him and whether you're interested.

First, it has to show you can hang with his sense of humor without flinching or getting preachy. This means you actually engage with what he said. A one-word response or a fake laugh kills it. You don't need to be equally dirty, but you need to meet him somewhere in the playful zone.

Second, it needs to reveal something about you. Whether that's matching his energy, adding your own twist, or gently steering toward your style. The goal is to show him you're a real person with your own personality, not just reacting to his. This is what makes him feel like the flirtation is mutual rather than one-directional.

Respond within a few hours while the vibe is still there. Waiting days or ignoring it feels cold. If you found it funny, show it. If it wasn't your thing, you can still play along without lying.

If he sends a few of these in a row and you're interested in him, eventually transition the conversation. You don't need to shut down the jokes, but after a couple exchanges, steer toward something that lets him know you want to talk to the actual person too. If he goes silent after your reply, he either got distracted or wasn't that invested. Don't chase. If it was real interest, he'll circle back.