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-   -   gender neutral terms for girlfriend\boyfriend (http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f9-relationships-dating/t136512-gender-neutral-terms-girlfriend%5Cboyfriend/)

blackheartedballerina February 22nd 2015 05:14 PM
gender neutral terms for girlfriend\boyfriend
 
So I have a... Person. I'm dating a gender fluid person, and for now in regular conversation have been referring to them as my girlfriend, which they know, but I'm looking for a bit of help. What terms other than boyfriend \ girlfriend \ significant other are there to refer to someone you are dating? English only has widely excepted gendered terms, unlike other languages that have neutral words.

Not_here February 22nd 2015 05:56 PM
Re: gender neutral terms for girlfriend\boyfriend
 
First thing that comes to mind is "partner"

¯|_(ツ)_|¯ February 22nd 2015 06:18 PM
Re: gender neutral terms for girlfriend\boyfriend
 
Yeah, partner is what comes to my mind as well. That is what I hear tons of people around my school use to refer to the person they are dating.

Apple Orchard Ghost February 23rd 2015 06:38 AM
Re: gender neutral terms for girlfriend\boyfriend
 
I agree, partner is what I hear most often.

Ozymandias February 25th 2015 03:32 AM
Re: gender neutral terms for girlfriend\boyfriend
 
A few I've heard: partner, significant other (or s/o), datemate, datefriend, lover, sweetheart, companion

More ideas that might be helpful: genderqueeries.tumblr.com/titles

Kyeto-X February 25th 2015 06:33 PM
Re: gender neutral terms for girlfriend\boyfriend
 
One that I have heard and want to pass along is "sigfig" Kinda borrowed from math as "significant figure". But it is a cute short term to refer to someone who is close to you without assuming gender.

I have been starting to use gender neutral terms for referring to partners because I have one too many times made a heteronormative statement to a new acquaintance who turned out to be homosexual. so, instead of asking "Who is your boyfriend?" I asked "Who is your sigfig?". And honestly, I have not had THAT many odd looks about it. :hehe:

Also, there is this awesome blog Here that has a whole slew of gender neutral titles for ANY relationship. Some of them are formal, and others are casual and cute.

DeletedAccount69 February 26th 2015 01:26 AM
Re: gender neutral terms for girlfriend\boyfriend
 
Often times I refer to my dad's boyfriend as his partner. It seems more fitting for some reason. You've gotten a lot of other suggestions then this but I thought I would chime in.

I think you should use whatever you feel most comfortable with.

Lamia February 26th 2015 04:47 PM
Re: gender neutral terms for girlfriend\boyfriend
 
I've heard people use "bae". There seem to be mixed opinions on that one, and it's not entirely for couples alone, but I dunno. I've always found it really cute and fluffy.


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