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07 May 2007

What do you call the significant other when you're not married? [More:]We live together but I hate the word "sambo" (swedish word for living together "samman(together) + bo(live)"), we have a child together but father-of-my-daughter is too dang long. We're Boyfriend/Girlfriend but that sounds so highschool. I've resorted to calling him "My man" sometimes but that's just off. Lifepartner sounds too new age. Please, isn't there a word for man-you'll-always-be-with-but-will-never-marry? Should I go get a ring just to upgrade him to "fiancé" which is a nice word?
POSSLQ? (Person Of The Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters?)
posted by PaxDigita 07 May | 04:45
If you've made a lifelong commitment to each other and you've been together a long time and if you've got kids, then I've no problem with husband and wife. I doesn't matter if any church was involved. In your eyes, you're husband and wife so there should be no reason why you can't use the word.
posted by seanyboy 07 May | 04:51
I see SO a lot in writing, but I don't hear that when talking to people. Just partner (as opposed to lifepartner) is one I hear people use (admittedly mostly long-term gay couples). Baby-daddy is one charming option. I think boyfriend/girlfriend is going to start sounding better as times goes on and more people are living with long-term partners. If you like the words "husband" and "wife" best, I say use them. Depending on the laws of the state you live in, how long you've been together, etc., you may even already be considered common law spouses.
posted by PY 07 May | 04:59
We're now living in Sweden (we own 50-50 and have a joint bank account), before we lived together for six years in Denmark so yeah legally we're common-law. For some reason I don't want to use the word 'husband' because I like the fact that we're not legally married and I'm the one who can get passports, open bankaccounts and choose schools without having a need for "my husbands signature" (He is registered baby-father but since we're not married I get all 'rights' which make paperwork so much easier since I can go do stuff without having him with me all the time). I kinda like that, especially after hearing how much hassle married couples need to go through, juggling work-schedules just so that they can get a passport for the kid and such. We've chosen not to marry, but see each other as partners-forever (and have since the first week we hooked up). There should be a special word for that. The no-need-to-get-church-and-state-involved-married. ;P
posted by dabitch 07 May | 05:10
Is POSSLQ pronounced Poss-ellQ? That could sound kinda french. :)) How about LoveofmyLife = LOML.
posted by dabitch 07 May | 05:15
Phonetically, I'd write "possle-cue"; I guess that's the same.

Looking at all the possibilities thus far mentioned, I like the gay/lesbian option of "partner." Implies equal sharing and all that.
posted by PaxDigita 07 May | 05:22
I thought helpmeet would suit, but maybe it's too biblical.
posted by dhruva 07 May | 06:02
Being a New Zealander (at least, all the kiwis I know use this terminology, don't want to speak for the whole country...) I use partner. I used it before we were married; I use it now.
posted by gaspode 07 May | 07:15
Keith and the Girl made up a word for this situation (together long term, not engaged or married)- "serioso" and "seriosa".
posted by ThePinkSuperhero 07 May | 07:47
'Partner' is the term I object to least - though it sometimes makes other people wince and tell me it makes them think he's my business partner, but I have to force myself not to care what they think. Boyfriend has connotations of temporariness, POSSLQ could include former male housemates with whom I would *never, never* have sex or children, 'other half' is a bit too cutesy though I do use it when talking to friends, 'baby-daddy' to me implied a daddy who doesn't live with his children. He calls me 'helpmeet' when I make dinner or change the sheets, so that's out :).

'Companion' is nice, I think. Don't know how you'd convey the idea that you've decided not to marry. We haven't ruled it out.
posted by altolinguistic 07 May | 07:58
What do you call the significant other when you're not married?

Bob
(Battery Operated Boyfriend)
posted by essexjan 07 May | 08:23
ruffian.
posted by stynxno 07 May | 08:49
The Old Lady.
posted by danostuporstar 07 May | 08:55
PA - Pelvic Affiliate
posted by plinth 07 May | 09:33
I call him my partner in conversation, sometimes my SO online. Or my Squeezle.
posted by Elsa 07 May | 10:08
What do you call the significant other when you're not married?
posted by dabitch

You pretty much answered your own question there. heheh
posted by mischief 07 May | 10:09
How 'bout "ex-boyfriend"? Since he's permanent. That what a friend of mine calls his wife.
posted by chewatadistance 07 May | 12:43
I like partner, in theory, though in practice I don't use it as much as I like. I think it's nice to encourage a gender-neutral option instead of "boyfriend" or "girlfriend" so that people don't necessarily have to out themselves as straight or gay every time they mention a significant other.
posted by occhiblu 07 May | 14:01
Ball 'n' chain?
posted by deborah 07 May | 14:03
Long-timer?
Spouse?
Bedroommate?
Concubine?
Paramour?

When dealing with people that I don't have any real relationship with, usually in official capacities, I just refer to my girlfriend of five years as my fiancé. We're not much marryin' types either, but it's easier than explaining.
posted by klangklangston 07 May | 14:49
spouse or spouse-equivalent?
posted by matildaben 07 May | 15:04
co-debtor,
inertial dampener,
remote hog,
or
(if you're as bad at housekeeping as I am) partner-in-grime
posted by rob511 07 May | 20:01
I call him:
The Boyfriend
Boyfriend
Snuggles

He calls me:
Woman

My favorites:
My Love
Me-lo, from a love song I heard this french woman sing
posted by youngergirl44 09 May | 19:09
Congratulations bilabial! || Monkey Music

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