when does a bf/gf become a partner?

goggle

talking to a pal last night - they had invites to a work do for "yourself & your partner". They've been told that this isn't a "+1", it's only for partners not flavour of the week!
She wondered how someone defined a partner - now obviously your husband/wife/civil partner, I guess a live-in-lover counts too & we know that the person you picked up in the club last night doesn't ... but when does a bf/gf become a partner & not just a bf/gf?

Crazies

I would say a bf/gf & a partner are actually the same thing ... I'd say the flavour of the week would be more likely to be described as someone you are dating?? Only say this as I wouldn't call someone a bf if I'd only been on a few dates with them.

Fab26

I think once you are start living together and share bill payments and responsibilities as a "married couple" would, you could see your bf/gf as a partner. You have responsibilities and commitments in common, so I think that makes you a partnership.

:j

samandona

Is that not just semantics? I still refer to my BF as just that, my BF and I'm having his baby in about 4 months! I don't intend on becoming his wife anytime soon!
I think it totally depends on the individual relationship. Is the relationship between your pal and their beau well known, for example. Are they considered a couple by others and is the relationship exclusive? How long have they been together, i think thats quite a good indicator for the seriousness of a relationship...

pigpen

My OH is my partner.. mainy because he lives here and we have a baby due in a few weeks. I think bf/gf sounds very childish, like a really immature relationship.. partner makes it sound more like a grown up relationship rather than just a fling..

Morgan_Ree

I don't think there's a time limit to when someone goes from being a bf/gf to a partner.

I think age comes into it a lot. For example I'm in my 20's and I've been with someone for just over 5 years. I call him my bf. My friend on the other hand who's in her early 40's also has a bf who shes been with for a few years. But Sse always refers to him as her partner or OH. She says she's too old to have a 'boyfriend'

threemuttleys

hmmm...Oh is my fiance...really dont like "partner" dont know why...maybes im odd!

piratefairy

I definitely think age comes into it, BF to me is an immature term, i'm only in my 20s, but would only say one of my relationships to date has been "BF"...others have been "partner" i suppose(although like threemutleys, i hate that term)..although i don't really like the labels which get stuck onto relationships, and feel like the only person you should have to justify the label to is your "other half"..

i guess it's defined by responsibilities you share (bills, living together etc), how much time you spend together (as i think someone could still be your partner whether you co-habit or not), and the exclusivity of the relationship..

jamespir

i clal my girlfreind my partner cause i think boyfreind and girlfreind seems a bit teenagerious

miss_corerupted

i don't like partner either. it just doesn't like to term you would use to describe the person you love. (to me)

pinkclouds

pigpen wrote: »

My OH is my partner.. mainy because he lives here and we have a baby due in a few weeks. I think bf/gf sounds very childish, like a really immature relationship.. partner makes it sound more like a grown up relationship rather than just a fling..

Agree. I think "partner" is the preferable term for a "mature" relationship as opposed to teen style dating.