To ask what 'partner' means to you? (Light hearted)

[RoseGoldHippie]

So I'm not going to drag on but I was speaking with a shop assistant today whilst buying some pertrol and she commented on all the gossip mags I was buying. I said "oh yeah my partner is in a job interview so I have to entertain myself for the next hour or so" once I'd finished paying she said "good luck tonyiur girlfriend! I hope she gets it!"

Now my DP is most definitely not a woman, I'm not offended I just suddenly realised I may be telling loads of random people I'm a lesbian as I always say Partner (hate boyfriend, sounds like we're at school!)

Does partner to you mean same sex?

[muddyboots]

I don't live with my boyfriend of 2 years so I refer to him as my boyfriend or sometimes as 'boyfriend-features' to people who know me. He is 50 and definitely not a boy so it does sound strange.

He always introduces me as his 'partner' which I don't mind, but I think it indicates someone you live with (male or female) as if you were married.

[PolkadotsAndMoonbeams]

I dance so have another layer of confusion in there - you might have a partner and a girl/boyfriend or a partner and a husband/wife or a partner and a partner. And they could be the same person, or two different people

In general I don't know with partner - could be either. If somebody talks about their "partner, Alex" I get really nervous that I'm going to mess up a pronoun somewhere...

[raisedbyguineapigs]

I would think partner was 'living with partner' as they say on the forms, for either sex. Boyfriend is for younger couples, I would have thought. If someone talked about their 'partner'to me though, I would use 'partner' back if I was wishing them luck. Bit presumptive to assume they are gay if you don't know them!

[NoSunNoMoon]

Partner means someone you share a business with. I can't get used to it being used any other way. I try but that's always my first assumption.

[passingthrough1]

It's my boyfriend / partner that doesn't like me using the work boyfriend ... if I do he says that we live together, have a child and a mortgage together so he's not my "boyfriend".

[NameChange30]

passing Well if he hates "boyfriend" so much, perhaps he could apply for a promotion to "husband"?!

[raisedbyguineapigs]

anotheremma

[Sohardtochooseausername]

I call my OH my partner. I have short hair, like flat shoes, wear jeans a lot and I think people make massive assumptions about my sexuality. I think it's funny when people assume I am a lesbian, and I don't correct them. I like exposing their prejudices and seeing their faces when they finally do meet him. Maybe that is a bit naughty of me?

[YvaineStormhold]

I say 'partner' but always feel a bit of a tit.

I can't say 'boyfriend' because he's 58.

'Other half' pops out sometimes, which also sounds daft.

I secretly like hearing him calling me his girlfriend though. It makes me feel young I'm not, I'm forty two