boyfriend

there is still no concise, appropriate, universally accepted term to describe the man we love. At least this one has the parallel of girlfriend. Those in committed relationships (whether opposite-sex or same-sex) need a word with the corresponding weight and meaning of "husband" or "spouse" or "fiancé," to denote their partners. The increasing numbers of heterosexual couples living in stable, long-term relationships have the same problem. Until the right word comes along, consider: friend; man friend (if "woman friend" is also used); male friend (if "female friend" is also used); best friend; spouse (E.J. Graff, in Out magazine, says "'Spouse' at least puts the pair in the same bed. Unlike 'lover,' 'spouse' knows the bedroom is just one of many rooms in the house"); partner, domestic partner, or life partner (despite its business associations, this is one of the most popular choices); companion (literally, the person with whom you share bread) or longtime companion (this is the second most popular choice); the man I'm seeing; significant other; soulmate; steady, mate, paramour, consort, lover, longtime love, live-in, live-in lover; sweetheart; sweetie, guy pal, main/major squeeze; the man in my life. See also domestic partner.