POSSLQ? (Person Of The Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters?)

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.

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.

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

Is POSSLQ pronounced Poss-ellQ? That could sound kinda french. :)) How about LoveofmyLife = LOML.

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.

I thought helpmeet would suit, but maybe it's too biblical.

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.

Keith and the Girl made up a word for this situation (together long term, not engaged or married)- "serioso" and "seriosa".

'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.

What do you call the significant other when you're not married?

Bob
(Battery Operated Boyfriend)

ruffian.

The Old Lady.

PA - Pelvic Affiliate

I call him my partner in conversation, sometimes my SO online. Or my Squeezle.

What do you call the significant other when you're not married?
posted by dabitch

You pretty much answered your own question there. heheh

How 'bout "ex-boyfriend"? Since he's permanent. That what a friend of mine calls his wife.

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.

Ball 'n' chain?

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.

spouse or spouse-equivalent?

co-debtor,
inertial dampener,
remote hog,
or
(if you're as bad at housekeeping as I am) partner-in-grime

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