Girlfriend/Boyfriend/Partner

[ethandron]

It what point and under what criteria does a long term girlfriend or boyfriend become a partner?
Is it down to sharing finances, or moving in together, or length of relationship, or something else?
A discussion we're having regarding how we introduce our sons long term girlfriend....himself reckons she's now his partner, I refer to her as his girlfriend.
Thanks.

[tenrec]

I think it is an age thing. I would feel a bit silly at 61 introducing my bloke as my boyfriend, but happy to say partner.

[Dee Sa]

once you move in together, although I know several older couples who havent actually moved in together but go on holiday etc together and they refer to each other as partners.

[albaqwerty]

I can't stand the term 'partner' it sound so business-like.
Agree with Ten, though, about the age thing. Mr Alba's aunt is 73, her 'friend is 78 so not really boyfriend/girlfriend.

[DTCwordfan]

could introduce them as "my shagger"

[Maydup]

We spend 20 years trying to work this out.
In the end we gave in and got married!

[joggerjayne]

"partner" generally seems to mean "same sex lover"

[Maydup]

Only in your neck of the woods JJ. Its used more gernerally elsewhere!

[joggerjayne]

Well, yes ... certainly here, maidup.

If someone says "I'm bringing my new partner" then it is, for sure, another girl (or guy, or whatever).

I suppose in that way, the term "partner" applies straight away.

[joggerjayne]

My BF is still "the BF" after ... three years ish.

[sunny-dave]

Hmmm - BFF and BMF mean 'best female friend' or 'best male friend' and are used to imply mainly platonic relationships in my experience.

But then I've never been to Brighton (although I may well get there for a conference in November this year).

[joggerjayne]

At the Brighton centre, Dave?

If so, please don't base your view of the town on that ghastly blot on our landscape.

[joggerjayne]

ps ... Yes, BFF and BMF refer to your pals.

[dotty.]

'other- half' tends to work well in most cases

[joggerjayne]

'other- half' tends to work well in most cases//

(unless you're an earthworm)

[dotty.]

if you were an earthworm you wouldn't need to use any term at all and so it becomes irrelevent.

[sunny-dave]

"Metropole" it says JJ - is that the same ?

http://www.careinfo.o...012UKDC16pplores5.pdf

[eyethenkyew]

The answer is as soon as SHE gets a hold of HIS bank details!

Isn't it???

[ethandron]

No, I don't like the term partner either, too cold and impersonal, or as jj says, implies same sex relationship.
It seems ok for a lady to refer to her 'chap' or 'bloke' rather than boyfriend, but doesn't seem as nice somehow for a man to refer to his girlfriend as his 'woman' or 'lady'.
Maidup, that's one way of solving it :)

[joggerjayne]

Sorry, Dave, I went for a shower.

No, the Metropole isn't the same. It's a hotel. The B Centre, on the other hand, is fk ugly block of grey concrete on the seafront.

The Met is also on the seafront. It's nice there.

[boxtops]

I've always thought it meant people who had moved in together - but not necessarily all the time, it's about the intention. My sis is a good deal older than me but she referrs to her chap as her partner - they live in separate houses but they are always off on travels together, and it's an established relationship.