Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Flip

1 2 3 4

Original poster

Tell me, is this a BF or a DP...

79 replies

DrearyDiary · 20/10/2025 20:12

Or is there a better word?

We're both middle aged and BF seems ridiculous to me, but on occasion I've called him my "partner" and told that's wrong. The distinction seems to really matter to some people.

Been together 10 months, don't live together, highly unlikely to ever live together, but spend a lot of time together, see him more or less everyday, plan our diaries together, go on holiday together etc. Completely seperate homes and finances.

OP posts:

FoxRedPuppy · 21/10/2025 18:30

ShouldITrust · 21/10/2025 17:38

I get the people saying why don’t you just use their name but there are occasions when you are meeting new people where you need to introduce them or you are chatting to someone you don’t know well and are referring to them.
Saying the person I am dating is long winded and doesn’t feel appropriate after a certain length of time.
Boyfriend/girlfriend suggests younger.
It’s more than a FWB but less than a partner/other half.
I find my fella/missus is implying some kind of ownership.
I don’t care how other people define their relationships but I wish there was a better word I was happy with for a committed relationship where you don’t live together (as you can’t due to kids or other reasons) & aren’t young anymore.

To complicate matters further, my DP has the same first name as my ex-husband. It can get confusing if I just use the name! 😂

DiscoBob · 21/10/2025 18:31

Boyfriend, fella, bloke? Partner sounds too formal and more long term.

Disturbia81 · 21/10/2025 18:56

Boyfriend is nice at any age

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Dating General relationships

ElinoristhenewEnid · 22/10/2025 11:03

Significant other?
Mandate?

Flip

1 2 3 4