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

Partner. I don't think anyone has ever assumed I'm gay, though I don't care if they do. I refer to him by his name if I think it's obvious who I'm talking about. I refer to his mum as my MIL, his brother as my BIL... it's exactly the same as being married, except we're not. And it's been 13 years, so if people don't take our relationship seriously that is exceptionally daft of them!

I loathe all the other options. 'other half' makes me want to vom, especially. We stopped calling each other boyfriend and girlfriend years ago, probably around the time we made wills etc.

We've been together for 28 years, 4 kids. We tend to say husband/wife, although we are also business partners.

I did introduce him to some new friends as my boyfriend though. They were gratifyingly impressed. Pretty sure I wouldn't be able to pull DP now; he's a silver fox who'd probably have some 35 year old.

Partner but hate saying it too for the same reason you mentioned (also won’t say boyfriend because it makes me sound like a teenager). Other half is cringe too. Can’t wait to get married, husband sounds so much better .

Husband. Partner sounds transient!

‘Im indoors
The ole ball and chain
My live in housekeeper

Normally partner tho

Partner if it's someone I am likely to meet repeatedly. Husband if it's a one-off and I want to to convey the concept of the person I live with who is the father of my children and with whom I've been in a relationship for the past quarter of a century.

My consort

I don’t think I could use the term fiancé if I were engaged. Not with a straight face. It’s just not a term I’d ever use about my life. Maybe I’d feel differently if I’d ever been engaged, but I doubt it.

It is weird to refer to your boyfriend of two weeks as a partner. I said above that I (personally) feel the threshold is moving in together. Before that point, I don’t think someone has become my ‘partner’ yet.

I would probably still use partner regularly if I were married.

I avoid calling mine my fiancé and then it took me a couple of years to get used to husband.

Bit of stuff.

Partner but he calls me girlfriend which alway surprises me when I hear it as I'm 7 years older than him - and old

Fiance is awful. I saw loads of Valentine's cards today with fiance thinking 'Who buys those now?'.