Boyfriend or partner ?

[Deepdivesue]

When does a BF become a Partner.
I've been with my BF for a couple of years, best relationship I could imagine, we love and respect each other.
He's my go to for everthing- the fun stuff and the more challenging stuff, as am I to him.
For reasons that are too outing (NC for this thread) he doesn't live with me (he has a dependant of sorts in his house) however we spend every night together and most evenings unless one of us has other stuff on.
The plan is when the time is right he will move in with me. Marriage is a certainly.
We're both middle aged 😆.
So we share everything other than bills/money - although our spending within our relationship is very equal and healthy.
So at the age of 43, is he my boyfriend or partner?
I use BF, but sometimes it feels like that doesn't do justice to just how meaningful pur relationship is - we really are disgustingly good together.
Thoughts ?
Thanks 😁

Edited due to my phone liking to make words up

I hate the word partner ( makes me think business partner ) - so I will always have a boyfriend!

But they’re just words and you use what you feel happy with !

Agree with partner being a bit formal, but boyfriend doest quite cut it either in some situations - I have a super corporate city job and it makes me feel like a teenager to refer to him like that (and obviously I can't use my pet name for him in public 😀)

Its up to you. I think boyfriend sounds weird when you're older !and I like partner. I've been with mine for about 16 years and we are both middle aged.

Boyfriend, fiancé or husband are the only ones I would/ have ever used.

Interesting question. I'm in a vaguely similar situation. We're both separated, I'm almost divorced, he's not started his divorce yet.

We have been together a year, we actually live together already. We jumped into that v quickly.

We are also disgustingly good together. V likely to get married, he proposed (of sorts, don't ask!) after 3 weeks 😱 We share everything bills, rent etc etc.

We use the term boyfriend/girlfriend. He's super happy with that. As a 50 year old woman I sometimes feel a bit daft using that term when we are living together and have been for 8 months. In certain situations I use the term partner.

Mind you on the flipside it makes me feel young!

Sorry that's probably not helped at all 😎

Am also corporate (director level) professional, which is probably when I use the term partner more.

This is so lovely to read - its helpful to know that disgustingly happy relationships exist outside of my own very bubbly bubble 😍
You're right, BF makes me feel younger and it's more light and happy somehow - which is how it feels with him, I might just embrace it

'Do you deepdivesue take deepdivedave to be your lawfully wedded boyfriend' actually sounds pretty good 😂

Awwww it does sound good! @Deepdivesue

Yep 100% hook, line and sinker here, we both were after date 2. Still magical, beautiful and awesome. We've had the odd barney but have both learnt from our 20+ year marriages and are being our best selves and living the dream!

This is so lovely, it's just the best feeling isn't it !
I wish you all the happiness, you've really made me smile - thank you 💖🌻

And you me @Deepdivesue wishing you a long life of happiness with boyf dave 🥰😍

I'm just about to cuddle up in bed to go to sleep with him, going to wait until he's almost asleep and then whisper 'I love you boyf dave' .... 😂

'This isn't just any love, this is Corporate level M&S Love'

Reference lost on me there I'm afraid 😂

Hope he gives you a sleepy smile!!

Ha, ha, very true 🤣

Interesting, generally I don't like referring to adult females as girls because it's a child reference but given the choice of girlfriend or partner I prefer girlfriend given a free choice. So I'd probably choose boyfriend if I was a woman.The other one sounds too business like 🤷‍♂️ Can't we invent a new one?

Ooh yes, a new one would be good...
Where do we start...
'Life elevator'
'Love sharer' (sniggered at that)
.....

Same.

How about something rhyming, a bit of modern cockney? It's a bit late, and I'm tired, so I asked chatgpt to offer ideas:

Boyfriend: "Couch Potato" (someone to relax with)
Girlfriend: "Rainbow Trout" (someone seeking compliments)

Boyfriend: "Disco Ball" (someone who brightens your life)
Girlfriend: "Jellybean Queen" (someone sweet and colorful)

I LOVE this!
At work tomorrow and when someone asks what I'm doing the weekend I'm going to say I'm shopping and lunch with my Disco Ball and then spending Sunday with my couch potato 😆😆

Never used the word partner and very much dislike it. He was my boyfriend, then my fiance, then my husband.

I wasn't liking them initially @Deepdivesue but I could try getting used to asking women if they'll be my jellybean queen. I'm less enthusiastic about calling women trout

How long and what age was he your BF?
Ot just doesn't feel like it does it justice you know?
I'm not keen on fiance, I'd like 'something' then husband....

Late 20s to early 30s BF, then fiance for 2 years. Mid 30s became my husband.

Partner just sounds too clinical or transactional to me, so I never used it.

If I was 20/30s I think boyfriend would feel fine, totally agree partner seems cold/transactional
Urgh, looks like it's disco ball and potato from now on 😃