Unmarried folk -what do you call your oh? how do you feel about it?

an9i77

I've been living with my fella for 2 years, together for 2 and a half and we have a child together. I'd love to get married but he isn't so keen (yet - I'm working on it).

If i'm referring to him in a formal setting, or at work or something, I never know what to call him.

The most appropriate word is 'partner' but I don't like it, it seems kind of clinical and unromantic.

Boyfriend seems like something he was a long time ago, he's graduated from that now!

Other half is ok but a bit cumbersome

Maybe its because I want to get married so I feel a bit strange referring to him as partner/other half etc because I really want to say 'husband'.

How do others in this situation feel and what words do you use to refer to your partner?

podperson

I say 'partner' if it's more formal, otherwise usually just my 'other half'. I don't really like 'boyfriend' either - makes me feel like I'm a teenager or something :rotfl:

Stephb1986_2

Me and my OH have been together for 6 years we're engaged but I call him my partner instead it's easier than fiance

Steph xx

dizsiebubba

Boyfriend , OH , Partner but I HATE all of them so I mostly call him by his name and assume people will know who I mean!

As I am with child I have starting calling him my 'babydaddy' in a american accent... it makes me laugh!

We reached 6 yrs together in Feb so I hate boyfriend because I sound like a kid...

Partner sounds to me like i'm a lesbian (which I have nothing against - but i'm not) so I always think people will assume that...

Other half makes me feel old!

missprice

Generally call him by his given name i.e meet stuart (he aint called stuart btw)
and if more is called for is say partner.
I find others make assumptions that bug me, one person says 'how is your husband?' annoys me no end cos they know we aint married.:)

pawsies

dizsiebubba wrote: »

Boyfriend , OH , Partner but I HATE all of them so I mostly call him by his name and assume people will know who I mean!

As I am with child I have starting calling him my 'babydaddy' in a american accent... it makes me laugh!

We reached 6 yrs together in Feb so I hate boyfriend because I sound like a kid...

Partner sounds to me like i'm a lesbian (which I have nothing against - but i'm not) so I always think people will assume that...

Other half makes me feel old!

Totally agree with this!

heartbreak_star

I've always used partner in a more formal setting and boyfriend if not. We're in our thirties. He does the same, I'm partner, girlfriend or occasionally "the mrs".

HBS x

HeadAboveWater

I would usually say 'partner' too as 'boyfriend' does make me feel like I'm 17

OH is reserved for the MSE board!!

He's referred to himself as 'husband' on a couple of occasions which I find mildly amusing. It would be nicer if I thought he was actually going to propose...

*Beki*

Partner or boyfriend, although I agree that boyfriend makes it sound like we're still teenagers. I guess I just use his name too!

As an aside, he hates the term "other half"- says he's not anybody's half, we're all whole people and that we shouldn't need someone else to make ourselves feel like a proper person. But that's just his view

dizsiebubba

He calls me his 'missus' to other people or 'wife' to me e.g 'awa my favourite dinner aren't you a good wife'

Callie22

podperson wrote: »

I say 'partner' if it's more formal, otherwise usually just my 'other half'. I don't really like 'boyfriend' either - makes me feel like I'm a teenager or something :rotfl:

Same here - 'boyfriend' seems a bit juvenile and I like 'partner'. I'm not really into the 'husband' or 'wife' thing as (to me) there's an inequality there (can't stand it when people ask to speak to my husband, as though as a woman I can't make a decision on my own), I much prefer the idea of a partnership. However, I didn't realise that because I always referred to 'my partner' at work some people assumed I was gay.