Canadians, question

What does 'partner' mean? Would a wife refer to her husband as 'my partner' ?

 

very good question ???

 

Married people call each other all kinds of things.

 

Amen!

 

Aw, common people seriously, what does the term mean re a couple?

 

Good question. 'Partner' sounds like a business arrangement and 'Significant other' is too twee. So what should I call the person I've been with for 15 years but never actually married? Too old (both 50's) for boyfriend/girlfriend. Don't know if any Canadians have the answer, but this Brit struggles with it!

 

Marriage IS a partnership and it needs to be an arrangement based on equality. If one doesn't consider it a partnership, something is seriously flawed in the relationship.

Terms I disagree with and don't use: my better half, my DH/DW, my significant other.

What does it mean in terms of a couple? Exactly that! A partner, a companion, someone you cherish. That's what it means to me anyway. I don't think there is one correct answer regardless of which country one comes from.

It irks me when some people automatically associate the word partner with being in a gay relationship. That's so idiotic.

 

51/49......partnership

 

I am trying to figure out the common parlance, ie if a Canadian woman who refers to her male companion with whom she lives as her 'partner' is using a common term for spouse or she uses the term to say they are not married. I dont know because Canadians talk different, lol. You know they say zed, so who knows what they mean? I thought I had heard a Canadian here refer to her husband as partner once. Where I live, it would mean business partner but isnt usually used re personal relationships.

 

I am trying to figure out if this couple is married.

 

That's easy. Ask them

 

Noooo! I cant do that, I just met them!

 

Oh my goodness, yes you can Just say something about how long they've been together. I'd just ask.

 

but they might say 10 years but that wont tell me if they are married

 

Why do you care?
Would you think any more or less of them if they were or weren't married? What matters is If they are happy in their relationship.

 

Just ask.

 

I have heard "partner" used many times in a same-sex relationship.

 

It doesnt matter, I am just trying to understand hat the word means when used in canada.

 

This couple is not same sex.

 

I can't answer for Canadians but I know that down under if you introduce someone as your partner then it's the person you cohabit with to whom you are not married.