What do you call your ‘husband’ if you’re not married

[Seaseasea]

Been with DP 7 years, 2 DCs together... not married.

I cringe at saying ‘boyfriend’ and feel pretentious saying ‘partner’... what do you say?

I find myself pausing everytime I mention him to someone who doesn’t know his name

24 years together, 2 kids together, no intention of getting married.

I just say 'husband'...it's much easier.
Kids have a double-barrelled surname as even if we were to marry, I would want to keep my surname.

My partner when I’m being serious, my ‘young man’ when I’m not (we are both past the first blush of youth). Though now I’m going to add swain to the list. I also say we are “stepping out”, so gentleman caller will work well with this

I use "partner", most people assume we're married and refer to him as husband, which I usually don't bother to correct. If they haven't met him and don't know me well people do assume I'm a lesbian, because I don't do much femininity. Which I don't have any problem with at all. Again, I usually don't bother to correct them explicitly, unless it's relevant.

My current lover 😂😂 Bubastes!

I cringe at saying ‘boyfriend’ and feel pretentious saying ‘partner’... what do you say?

I used to feel like this - boyfriend sounds like you are 15 and “partner” felt pretentious.

It was one of the reasons I was keen to get married (only one of the many reasons (most rational!)). It now feels smug when I say “husband”.

Can’t win!

confused, my partner and I are very committed to each other. We just don't need a piece of paper to prove it. So I apologise if that doesn't meet with your approval, but I don't actually give a toss what you think. So hitch those judgey pants up why don't you? 🙄

The Bloke.

@bubastes I didn't say anyone would!! I don't particularly care if someone is straight, bi or fucking homosexual either.
I was simply stating it's easy to misinterpret the wrong gender of my partner, if I say partner.

You done?

U ok hun?

Yeah soz... slight PMT rage 😂😂😂

Greg.

Weird Boy.

Gentleman caller! Love it

go Kipling with the lovely generic "best beloved"

Partner.
I can’t bring myself to say DP on here though as it just makes me think of the same acronym in porn.

What does it mean in porn?!

Why are so many people "concerned" that they will be thought as a lesbian??

"My partner thinks..."
"Oh my God, she may be a LESBIAN!!!"

...

And? What's the oh-such-horrible continuation to this ridiculous imaginary conversation?

l say partner he says l'm his girl friend but we live together and are in our 50's

I am married but my boss refers to my DH as “your old man” or “him indoors” (jokingly) after one of our clients tied herself in verbal knots trying not to say “partner” and settled (awkwardly) on those particular gems, before looking scandalised when we asked if she was actually married or not. (I’m in a line of work where that is highly relevant to the advice we give).

The Crotch Cracker 3000

I saw partner. Or other half (sorry) can't bring myself to say fiancé either 🤦🏻‍♀️ he calls me partner/other half or his "Mrs" - some people will probably take issue with that but I quite like it I also feel like an idiot saying boyfriend!

My cousins wife refers to him as her baby daddy. I find it odd although I think she thinks it's funny!

I call him my toy boy. Well that is only strictly true for 5 months each year, he calls me his sugar mommy.

Ok not in public though

I just address him by his name to general folk. To family and those close to me, he is known as my lurrrvveeerrr.

I havent used the word partner as yet, but he refers to me as his girlfriend. I think i may need to address this as we are both nearly 50.

I don't have an issue with the word partner, but I have a cousin who calls whoever she is with her partner immediately. "This is my partner, we met last week" . Partner implies you are connected by more than just sex to me.

In an unrelated point, I don't quite understand why you would be happily unmarried, but refer to your partner as your husband - isn't that a bit contradictory?

I am married but we still call each other partner. Everyone thinks I'm a lesbian anyway because I'm butch as hell.(I'm bisexual anyway so I really don't care)