When does a boyfriend become a partner?

[mathsgsceresit]

When does someone go from BF to DP?

I am dating someone - I would call him a boyfriend, he calls himself my boyfriend but my friend just called him my partner.

I don't think someone I have been dating for 3 months and hasn't met my kids is a partner and it made me think - when does someone become a partner from a boyfriend/girlfriend?

[GoodboyBindleFeatherstone]

When you want to, not when someone else thinks you should.

My partner has always referred to himself as my partner because he reckoned "boyfriend" made us sound about 16. He didn't like it so I didn't use it.

[Iconfuseus]

I agree with you, I think it's a bit quick to call someone your partner after just 3 months.

When someone tells me they have a partner I assume they are referring to someone whom they have made a serious commitment with and a deep level of involvement e.g. living together, shared property, even children. Like a marriage in a way.

I don't think you can put a time frame on it. Two people can be together for years and only really be boyfriend and girlfriend (or boyfriend & boyfriend or girlfriend & girlfriend) whereas two other people might become partners after six months.

That's just my two pence worth however.

[purplemurple1]

For me when your lives are integrated - so rather than arranging nights out together you tell each other if your out doing something else that night. Although you don't necessarily have to be living together.
But I would say you need follow each other's families to the level you can look after each other's kids.

[thesaurusgirl]

When living at the same address and named on a tenancy agreement or mortgage.

My company extends the same privileges (BUPA, death in service etc) to partners as spouses and this is the distinction.

However, you could argue that our definition covers flatmates - and we definitely don't insure those!

[BackforGood]

What iconfuseus said.
Its ore about the commitment than the length of time.

[mathsgsceresit]

Thanks - that all chimes with what i think

[FolkGirl]

I agree, I think that a partner is someone who you are going through life with together. A boyfriend/girlfriend is someone you are going through life with alongside.

[insancerre]

To me a partner is someone you share your life with
You have a home together and children
You share a past and have plans for the future
A partner to me is like a marriage but without being married

[Cantbelievethisishappening]

For some on here.... after a month
I hate the term 'partner'. Don't know why..... just really grates...put it up there with 'date nights' for hated relationship linked terms.

IMO when two people are living together and possibly have some sort of joint financial commitments, a child together ..... hard to know really. It's quite subjective. I think time plays a part.
I guess everyone has different ideas on this.

[mathsgsceresit]

I hate partner and boyfriend but I don't know what else to call him?

But he is definitely not a partner. Yet.

[DollyMixture99]

When someone tells me they have a partner I assume they are referring to someone whom they have made a serious commitment with and a deep level of involvement e.g. living together, shared property, even children. Like a marriage in a way.

This

[scottishmummy]

Theres an age aspect.saying boyfriend over 20something does sound schoolgirlish
But i suppose i think partner is long term thing,maybe cohabitate,plan to have kids etc

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

Partner to me is either engaged or living together or both - lives entwined etc.

Other words -
Beau (very American)
Suitor (old fashioned)
Special friend (boak)
My man (works well with a Scottish accent)

[ArsenicyOldFace]

Long term or living together.

It was a term coined to replace common law husband/wife (more or less).

[BertieBotts]

I think it's supposed to be short for "life partner" ie practically married which is why it was used in the gay community before gay marriage was legalised. But some people (including me sometimes) use it as a catch-all to mean "husband, wife, lover, boyfriend, girlfriend, fiancé(e), latest shag, you know what I don't remember, or whatever".

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

For me, when you're over the age of 21!

I think teenagers have 'boyfriends'.

I'd probably say 'the man I'm seeing' or something equally crap, though, as I'd not be calling someone my 'partner' if I'd not been with them long.

[PeppermintCream]

Someone I work with uses the term "my squeeze" for boyfriend - I really like it.

[LetticeKnollys]

Depends on how you define partner.

Often, it means "cohabiting partner" in which case you need to live together. That's how I tend to think of it, too.

I have heard couples over 35 or so say that they think boyfriend/girlfriend sounds a bit teenagerish for them, so probably in that situation people tend to use it earlier.

[TerrifiedMothertobe]

When it feels right!

For me it was well after we had bought a house, maybe after 4 years together? Then he became my fiancé, and now my sexy husband! Yay!

[hamptoncourt]

I agree with kitten , any man I have been dating who I wasn't engaged or married to was my boyfriend, even in my forties.

A partner is someone you are in business with.

Don't even get me started on "other half"

Stalks off muttering to self..........

[King1982]

When you are in a partnership