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

PolishBigSpender

I sued to use "boyfriend", then moved to "fiance", now it's "husband", obviously.
"Other half" is to me cheesy, also he's not - we are two separate human beings who love each other very much - but still two entities, not two halves!
I think I would use "partner" now, if we weren't married.

kjmtidea

Partner or other half. We've been together for nearly 13 years and have 4 children so boyfriend just doesn't seem right.

I used to find that if I used 'boyfriend' then people would assume he isn't my childrens father, if I said 'my childrens father' then they would assume we aren't together any more, can't win! We should just get married really, it would make it a lot easier. He calls me his wife which I don't like because i'm not - he can't really win either lol.

cottonhead

Before we got married I called him my boyfriend for about a year and then he graduated to partner. After around 4 years of being together I hated saying partner. I felt as though people might get the impression we were not comitted or that serious or that he didnt want to marry me. I know a few people who call their partners husband even though they are not officially married just becauae they have been together so long.

PinkPrincess83

Well Ive recently got married and am finding it really hard to refer to him as my husband! Its just seems strange that I couldnt wait to marry him and for him to be my husband, and now he is it seems strange calling him that!

When we got together I was only 17 so boyfriend was fine, but then it went to other half once we had been together longer, even when he was my fiance I used to find it strange so would usually call him my other half!

Katexx

Together for 5 and a half years, lived together for 2 years...I just call him my boyfriend. Partner sounds boring and "grown up" (haha) and I hate the phrase "other half". We're 23 so still pretty young I guess, maybe I'll stop using "boyfriend" as I get older - for now I'm quite happy feeling like a teenager tbh :P

SallyCinnamon

I use partner, although I don't particularly like the term and it took ages for me not to cringe saying it. I did actually change my name by deed poll (longish story) so we have the same name and understandably people assume we're husband and wife. We are engaged but I rarely say fiancee & we have 2 kids.

I've told my 3yo daughter that Daddy is my boyfriend and she knows we're getting married some day. She likes to tease me by telling me "Daddy is your daddy, Daddy is my boyfriend"

Mrs_Ryan

I hate hate HATE the term partner. To me he's my 'other half' or if I want to hack him off, my boyfriend. (Despite the fact he's in his 40's) I only refer to him as my partner if I'm speaking to someone (like the bank, utility companies) etc on his behalf.
He calls me 'the Mrs' in informal company but he also uses the term partner. If someone assumes we're married he will sniffily correct them and say 'She's not my wife she's my partner' but I've given up trying to argue :rotfl:My Mum does actually now refer to him as 'my son in law' rather than 'my daughter's boyfriend' like she used to but we've lived together that long now I think she just conceded :rotfl:

ska_lover

There is a lady I work with, shes in her 60's now, and has lived with her partner for decades without being married. She calls him her 'Paramore'.

I had never heard that term before

esmy

Oh, I like 'paramore! Maybe I'll use that....

Together 30 years (so I'm not waiting to be a wife!), happily unmarried, two grown up kids. Formally I call him my partner, informally my fella. If others refer to him as my husband, I let it go because it doesn't matter.

I've heard him refer to me as the Mrs, which I hate and I'd hate equally if we were married.

[Deleted User]

I got married for the second time last year and I still call my husband my 'partner' most of the time. I think after being independent for several years, and using the term 'ex-husband', I now find the term 'husband' difficult to get my head around. I might sometime preface it with 'Firstname, my partner...' when in general conversation.