I never use lover. It’s too TMI and if the situation calls for TMI, there are much better descriptors.
Significant other is too PC, impersonal for me. But I do use it on the boards because I’m a lazy typist. :rolleyes:
For introductions, it’s just “This is X”, no qualifier needed. As Ogre said (and then retracted ), our relationship should be obvious.
When I’m talking about him outside of his presence, I tend to use “the guy I’m seeing” more than boyfriend. But I don’t really like either. Maybe I’ll try sweetie for a while…
I’ve never liked using the term “lover” when referring to emotionally involved relationships; it’s pretty much the same as calling someone “the person I have sex with”, and introducing someone like that implies to me that sex is the defining characteristic of the relationship. If sex is the defining characteristic, then that’s a bit different.
I’m not overfond of SO, either, but I don’t particularly mind it. At least it doesn’t carry the same connotations as lover.
It depends on what stage of the relationship it is.
First, that cute chick.
Then, GF.
Baby
Ohhh, baby, baby
Lover
Sweetums
Partner
Live-in Companion
Fiance
Wife
SO
The one to come home to
The one to run away from
The ol’ Ball & Chain
The Ex
That Bitch I once called “Baby”
My guess is that it started as a term for “spouse equivalent,” but your idea is very interesting too. Romanovsky and Phillips wrote a song about that once:
Originally posted by Colophon:
“Girlfriend” for me. Or “the missus” if she’s out of earshot.
Does this mean you’re not married yet but plan to be?
As far as **Matt_mcl ** asking me not to label my friend as a “friend,” I’m just stating fact. We are friends who spend time together and yes, occasionally, we have sex. Right now, this person is my best friend, because we enjoy so many of the same things. If it would ever evolve into something different, I would handle the introductions accordingly.
If I’m making introductions, I say “this is my husband Thom”. I usually refer to him as Thom too but will occasionally say hubbie. We usually call each other “honey”.
Sometimes just to irritate when talking to our kids I’ll call him “your Daddy”.
I don’t believe anyone in this thread has mentioned POSSLQ. Pronounced “PAHS-el-cue.”
It first surfaced on census forms (1990?) as standing for Persons of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters. Non-judgemental, all-encompassing, and the feds found it useful.
It has morphed into “…of Same Sex…” as an alternate, and was once used on Cheers by Frasier. I thought it would take off into common use, but it hasn’t.
“And this is Ann, my POSSLQ.” Has a nice ring, doncha think?
I have never and will never use the word “lover.” And that was before the SNL sketch; the sketch just drove the point home. It’s not just too-much-information, it’s that it also comes across as insufferably pretentious. And for Americans, wannabe-European. “I wish to announce that I have taken a lovah.”
I’d go for a combination of Ogre and Misnomer’s answers. Currently he’s “the guy I’m seeing,” and I hope that he will become “my boyfriend.” If things go well, then “my fiance” and “my husband” (whether or not the law recognizes it).
If he’s around and I’m introducing him, though, I’ll just introduce him by name, “Colin Farrell.”
), our relationship should be obvious.
However, he is my sweetie.