Would Like An Adult Term for SO, Boyfriend, Girlfriend

In My Humble Opinion
1

My friends and I have discussed this before and we’re at a stale mate, so I turn to the Dopers to help! :slight_smile:

We need another term for adults to use when they are dating someone or seriously involved with someone. For crying out loud, I’m almost 42 years old! I don’t like calling Kirk my ‘boyfriend’. It sounds too temporary. He’s not my fiance and who knows how long it will be till we go there…if we go there

So we have: “Significant other” – makes it sound like we’re gay.

“Partner” – again, used mostly by the gay community

“Boyfriend” – great if you’re 18. He’s not a boy, I"m not a girl and he’s way more than a friend.

“Consort” – okay, while I don’t mind being treated like a queen, doesn’t that just make him a ‘stud’?

Any words you can come up with?

2

Well, I’m assuming you probably don’t want to use “FB” so how about:

Companion.

or

Post-coital pre-marital self-sustaining apparatus?

3

What’s so bad about “partner”? I hear plenty of straight folk use it nowadays. Invitations are commonly addressed to me “and partner”.

There’s also “other half” or “better half” for casual references.

… and you try “Kirk, my biyatch!”, if all else fails. :smiley:

4

Do like Dieter from Sprockets and call him your lover.

5

I used to call my boyfriend (now husband) my " s’pose", as in " s’pose they’ll ever get married?"

Incidently, “SO” is universally accepted as OK for gay and straight couples. I hate it (sounds like something out of a relationship contract, fercrissakes) but it does not imply you’re gay.

6

Or do like Carrie from Sex and the City and call him your “LOV-AH” until your friends go, “oh, will you shut up?!”

7

“Hello! I’d like you to meet Kirk, my person-to-notify-in-case-of-emergency.”

8

I’ve always had a certain fondness for “main squeeze.”

9

“Lover” is good as long as people haven’t seen the SNL skit with Will Ferrell and
Rachel Dratch as Professor Klarvin and Virginia. Their creepy “lover” characters spoil any straight-faced use of the world.

10

I don’t see why “boyfriend” is so bad. It’s just a label.

11

How about “studmuffin”?

12

Why not “Co - Star” ?

13

I’ll second co-star or lover.

Either that or: Main squeeze.

It sure beats the gentlemen-friend / lady-friend labels.

14

How about “the ol’ ball-and-chain”?

15

I think you hit upon the perfect term in your OP:

“This is Kirk, my stale mate.” Perfect!

16

Well, you could refer to him as your “Pheremone stimulator.”

Or mebbe as your “Tesion relief.”

Or even just go for simplicity:
“This is Kirk. He’s mine.”

17

I think there needs t be some epmphasis on “mine”.

"This is Kirk. He’s mine.
:smiley:

18

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with ‘partner’ or ‘significant other’ - if it makes you sound gay because it’s mostly gay people who use these terms, for heaven’s sake, let’s us straight people start using them too, and then the problem will be solved !

19

I have a friend who refers to her SO as her “man”. I guess it’s alright, but I always wonder when she’s going to trot out her “horse” or her “car.” Talk about an objectifying term!

20

I’m wagering you wouldn’t go for “Kirk, my steady piece” then, huh?