What is a good substitute for the word "girlfriend"?

Well, er, uhm… In my case… “slave” is the most appropriate description of her…

@HungryGuy
GA. However, it would not work for me in mixed company.

@josie – Right.

I have heard people say ladyfriend, but I would say that isn’t perfect either.

Companion

I agree with it feeling juvenille to refer to bf/gf labels after a certain age. I have been referring to men I have dated, been in relationship with as my “gentleman friend”..and my last “partner” called me his “Lady friend.”

I’m not THAT old, but, yeah, boyfriend/girlfriend sounds too Sophomoric for me at 50 something.

My partner and I use ‘partner’. The reason homosexual couples started using it so much was because it was both neutral and descriptive. It’s the most appropriate term in our case, even as heterosexuals, because it describes accurately that our relationship is a partnership. Plus, I often hope that by using the term, it can help drive home the fact that homosexual and heterosexual relationships are fundamentally the same.

Friendess.

Although I know people who are in their fifties and up, that have a girlfriend to which they refer to as girlfriend.
For us Dutch it is even weirder than it is for you (I guess) as the word for girlfriend is the same
as for girl friend, namely vriendin.

I like partner as well.

I like the term lover.
If you can introduce her like that with a straight face, and no one getting upset you are a bad ass.

Maybe we need to invent a word.

I second lover.

maybe you can call her “my loved one”
which, I figured, is a substitute for “lover”

Ladyfriend ^ has some charm to it too. I’ve used that term before, and it seems to work.

Companion is nice.

Lover is two sexual for me. When I think of committed partners sharing their life, I don’t go to sex in my mind. I know usually what separates a platonic relationship from a lifelong committed, sharing your life together type relationship usually involves sex, but the most important part is the emotional commitment and bonding to me.

@Judi

I agree.

“Partner” to me, insinuates a serious coupling, not a word I would feel comfortable using the first year or two of dating someone.

Then again, I am a commitment phobe these days anyway. haha

Lady/gentleman friend sounds like I’m 87, but, it feels better than “partner” and more mature than boyfriend.

Maybe just say ” my lover.” lol

The other half

It is the same with “boyfriend”. I feel awkward using that term to describe adults. To me, partner is an ok term, but it’s somewhat ambiguous. I wonder if I’m making assumptions when people introduce themselves that way. Are you in business together or do you have a personal relationship?
I like innamorate or innamorata.

“gentlelady” is kinda weird, but I like it

Inventing a word sounds good too.

@Coloma I think we are talking about a serious, committed coupling here? To me boyfriend and girlfriends are serious. Otherwise they are just dating. At least that is how I think of the words boyfriend and girlfriend. I think of them as being exclusive with each other.

Well, I call my girlfriend my ‘snooky-wooky-pudding-pop’

If you are not married then it is just a “lover”, not much more than that; less extended booty call.

@jessyamr Gentlelady means nothing regarding relationships, just that she is female. Gentleman, gentlewoman, etc.

Instead of saying the entire word, Significant Other, how about just SO. This is Josie, my SO.

“Mate” if that is what you mean.

@chyna I think people who have very little interaction with the gay community are not familiar with the term, rather abbreviation, SO, so it depends where @josie lives and how with it they are.

@chyna
Was that a Freudian slip?

Soul mate might be good :-)

@josie No an example… sorry if I offended you.

@JLeslie What? I’ve heard that term for years and had no idea it had to do soley with the gay community. It doesn’t in my neck of the woods.

@chyna
Offended ME? You’ve been hanging around Fluther too long.

@chyna I am not saying it is only used in the gay community, I think it is used in the heterosexual community and is appropriate in lieu of girlfriend, but I think places in the country where there are few gay people, or few who mingle among the many openly, the term SO is not used, and may not be understood.

I can’t speak for where @Josie lives, I have no idea.

@JLeslie Well, I know but I have to admit the word is strange at least for me
I do like mate though, it does fit the description more than the others

I like companion the best. I would never use lover in public, to others.

I wonder if she really dislikes “girlfriend” or if she would just prefer “wife” or “spouse,” and this is her way of hinting.

And if ones girlfriend is a mistress, then a substitute could be substitute.

In my neck of the woods we say “Our Lass” as in wife or girlfriend…….. :-/

@jessyamr In America, not sure where you are, mate brings up sex also. For us mate is used to describe animals having sex generally. I understand in other countries it can just mean friend.

My hubby introduces me as “the wench!” if that helps!! I think partner is ok, and I am not too bothered by girlfriend. Or maybe just introduce her by name… This is (name) does everyone need to know your relationship status straight away?

@Sakura I kind of think the relationship status does need to be said.

Partner.

Our Lass NSFW :-/

Or Concubine.

Thats ok, I suppose it depends on the social situation. It was just a thought! Its a difficult one!

In the UK, “mate” is just a friend…like a buddy you have a pint with at your local.

In the USA, “mate” is equivalent to “lover.” You’re shouting out, “Hey everyone! Me and this other person routinely boink each other!”

Lover.

Refer to her with a number, and nothing else. I’m sure she’d see the humor in it. I keed, I keed!

Some of my friends have used the term “my better half” and others (gay and straight alike) use the term partner, which seems like the best choice.

To me the term lover seems decidedly sexual and makes me conjer up images that I don’t want in my mind if I’m being introduced to someone.

@HungryGuy

In the UK “mates” are also condoms….. So if you are on a date boys & girls, always take your mates with you ;-)

@Scooby – Right.

Fuck Buddy.

Okay, my wife would have killed me if I ever said that.
She liked Girl Friend.
I dated a woman who like the term Paramour.
I always liked “my better half”.

How about “ball & chain” :-/

A lot of women hate to be referred to as a girl, so I can see how girlfriend would also be annoying to them. It’s beyond girlfriend sounding high school, but an aversion to the word girl period. Personally I don’t mind.

Partner in crime? ;)

I agree with those who like companion. I’m not really fond of lover, but I do like love. “This is my love, Josiesgirl”.

Love is sweet.

Empress, Queen, or Sultana. Another nickname to refer “Her” would be: Her Majesty, Her Grace, Her Highness, or Her Excellency. I love royal names, it also shows how important that person to you if you call her that way even though she’s not really has royal blood in her body.

My Darling X

“We’re dating.” “We’re sleeping together.” “We’re lovers.” Haha, “juvenile?” We will always be the child of our parents, and therefore children. Feel free to feel young. Take it from a 23 year old. You’re invited. She can still be your, “girlfriend.”

Our lass
Pet
Hinny
Cum Sponge

@ucme
Cum sponge probably would not solve the problem.

Your probably right, pity coz she’s a canny lass like.

Ugh, none of them sound great to me. If I had to choose, I’d go with partner..maybe :/

How about just my friend? You don’t have to mention her gender at all. Or anything else. If you want to indicate anything else, you can say good friend. If you’re living together, it becomes partner or, if you marry or become committed, wife.

special lady friend

Or you could just use her name.

@tranquilsea That was touched on above. Would it be enough for you? To simply be introduced by name?

I guess it would depend on many things.

She Who Must Be Obeyed?

@tranquilsea I agree with that, it would depend on the situation, but generally I want people to know I am with my husband when I am introduced by him. I am not just JL in a social setting. In a business setting I would probably prefer our relationship be omitted, depends though.

Either way it seems we need a word for the times we want to use it.

@josie Has she suggested any terms herself?

Partner.

I like the way Bobcat Goldwaith refered to his wife as his “bride”.

@filmfann That expression was always odd to me. But, I know people who like it. Isn’t it just used for married spouses?

@JLeslie Yes, and I was not suggesting its use here. I was just mentioning the reference BG used.
I think it is quite sweet.

I also would consider calling her your love, unless you think she’d appreciate something like, “gynobuddy” or “monogamate”. ;-)

Is wife an option?

How about simply “woman”?

@bob_ as in my woman?

How bout housemaid?

I once called a lass with a nice ass Mon renard. Didn’t ever go out with her but we did have terms of endearment for each other. So why not some cheesy/cute term?

@JLeslie Yes.

ever since we saw Bridesmaids my hubby has been calling me fuckbuddy. I’m getting a little nervous that he’ll slip up and call me that in public….although it would be freaking hilarious if he did

You could just leave it as: This is _______ (and introduce her by name only). If anyone asks who she is to you, you can say that y’all are an item or something. Id est: “We are seeing each other.” Pet names, titles and labels are never as good as introducing someone by there name only. You don’t need to explain things right off the bat. The name should be enough. And if it isn’t throw in a, “We’re dating,” or “We’re together,” or “We’re a couple.”
There is always this is “my” (insert first name here).

Who uses the word “lover”? “Joe, Sally, this is my lover Catherine”.

And, I ain’t no cum sponge for no one. Fuck that.

I like partner. Companion sounds too stuffy.

@Jude who uses the word “lover?” These guys :)

@bob_ I never hear that in America, maybe it is used by some. I guess mi mujer is not unusual right?

@Jude I dunno artists and writer types.

@jonsblond They won’t let us watch Hulu in the land of beer and beavers. :(

@Jude That^ is sad, I am no longer moving to Canada.~

@Jude Will this work? If not, it’s one of the “lover” skits from SNL with Will Ferrell. I’m sure you are familiar with them. =)

@JLeslie Right.

@everephebe Damn, I wish that I was your lover (Sophie B.).

@jonsblond I will check it out when I get home. No sound on this comp. :P

YouTube is the only one that tends to work in Canada.

All the networks are blocked here.

@bob_ I don’t know, sounds kind of primitive to my ear in English. Kind of like the woman is a possession. My bride has a sort of similar feel to me, like the positions in the marriage are not equal. But, I can’t say everyone would see it like that.

@JLeslie Well, she’d say “my man”, so, it evens out?

Has anyone suggested old lady?

there are people who still use this term. seriously

@bob_ True. Well, not exactly,

@bob_ Do you use mi hombre? I don’t think I have ever heard that. I am pretty sure there is something sexist at the root of my woman. I am not saying it is used that way today, just the history of the expression.

I think not wanting to deal with questions like this are why some people get married.

Ya, I really like partner if you’re older. For me I’m 23 so girlfriend / boyfriend can still apply.

@jonsblond But then what are the chances of being put in the dog house for calling your concubine “old”?

@SavoirFaire I do think it plays into the decision sometimes. But, if your just dating a few months, it isn’t like you are just going to run off and get married.

Great question. Girlfriend is juvenile. Same case here. The most unjuvenile I could think of is “bee-atch” or “gearshifter” but clearly, not politically correct so what about these,

Soulmate
Corazon
Ladyfriend
Sweetheart
Bestfriend
My Juliet

Seriously, when did the term “partner” started? When the TV cop show Dragnet went on air? It’s the most crude, unromantic term ever. She’s my partner. In what, crime? When I hear it, I think badge, or gun or business merger.

@mazinger88 I think of a partner to another human. When I hear names like sweetheart and soulmate, I think of a cheesy rom-com lol.

If you really want to confuse people, you can use the Hebrew word “bashert” which means my soulmate or intended one.

@JLeslie I was joking…

I’m not sure if this is a good substitute—it’s a bit much, in my opinion—but thesaurus.com has taught me that “inamorata” means “female lover.”

@SavoirFaire I do know people who say they finally got married because married people are taken more seriously as a couple by society.

@Blackberry Maybe age plays a part. You’re young. Soulmate or sweetheart if delivered properly with warmth sincerity by an older guy, could work in any big or small occasion.

@JLeslie Sure, but it wasn’t because “wife” is easier to say with a straight face than “girlfriend,” right?

@SavoirFaire I’m not sure what you mean.

ya, unfortunately marriage does legitimize a lot of couples.

Well, not THAT unfortunately.

@JLeslie I meant that while people get married to be taken more seriously, they don’t actually get married because they find the words “boyfriend” and “girlfriend” to be silly. At least, I hope they don’t.

@SavoirFaire Ahhh, yes I agree.

@mazingerz88 Yeah, I have to wait until I have that Sean Connery charm. Young people can’t get that lol.

@Blackberry It’s unfortunately true.

LOL monogamate! I love it.