Is the term "girlfriend/boyfriend" immature?

[Sun_Kim-Ai]

Might be a weird hang up that I have, but I've always found the terms "girlfriend" and "boyfriend" to be childish and immature, especially for anyone over the age of 25.

For me, they can either be a prospective"date" or a committed "partner", I got no use in entertaining someone who wants a "boyfriend" or would refer herself as my "girlfriend" - I never dated "girls", I always preferred to date grown women.

[AmandaYVR]

Yes, totally agree with you. It only felt right as a teenager, and maybe somewhat into twenties. It felt absolutely ridiculous referring to my mother's man as her boyfriend. And she didn't like that either.

It baffles me sometimes, that there are over 170K words in the English language, and there still is confusion and many words that we need that don't yet exist. You speak three languages. Which do you find the most jumbled or disorganized or unclear? I really like specificity, personally. But then some males have said I am sometimes too much like that, looking for the appropriate word.

I've been on a mini campaign to differentiate, for instance, between girlfriend and girl friend. Seems like we need this. Especially with gays and lesbians etc. nowadays, you just never know what someone is referring to, platonic or sexual partner. So, for myself, I write "my girl friend" so they don't have to wonder. I'm trying to create a new convention, ha.

While we're on the topic, I also don't like that there is such a thing as a common-law marriage, and those people may use the terms 'husband' and 'wife', but they didn't get married. That seems wrong to me. It's not a small thing, that 'contract' etc. Those marriages should have a higher status, of sorts, than those who never made it legal, and stood up in front of family and friends.

I tend to use the term partner more nowadays. It somewhat fits many designations; the ones that don't fall into husband and wife.

[Sun_Kim-Ai]

Excellent answer like always, Amanda.

I guess I'm becoming more anal on those things (as Anna Freud would say) because I've started studying Family Law and intend to get into that field as a civil servant once my current tenure ends.

I'd say English is the more jumbled and unclear - Italian and French are more specific with those words while German is similarly confusing.
For some people it may just be semantics but in my opinion it has a civil and legal value, especially because like you mentioned, we are according rights and duties to homosexual and nonbinary couples.
So although non-married couples might not be a concern for the State, I still want it to be clarity - a date for someone you are simply dating; partner for a committed relationship - compagno or compagna in my language, which is sufficiently clear; lover/mistress for a romantic/sexual relationship regardless if you are married or not, but you don't see them as a partner.

I'm not too fond on common-law marriage either, and here is not recognized - rather there is the much more acceptable civil union, which entails the duties and rights of marriage - although in my opinion it's too easy to make and dissolve, leading to many people not taking it seriously.

[DizzyDesii]

I don't know i haven't said “boyfriend” in years. I say my dude, my guy, my boo, or bae. I hate how a lot of guys here call their girl “my old lady” or “my woman”. I don't know always sounded weird to me. I like hearing “my girl”, “my girlfriend”, or “bae”

[D_Bone_Steak]

You're not alone... I think it sounds childish. I'd prefer them to call them a sex friend or "someone I'm dating" as it's more specific about what's really going on. Females will call their bestie platonic female friend a girlfriend and us dudes will think you're calling us a f***** if you call my friend a boyfriend of mine... so there is even gender differences in how it's used.

"She's my girlfriend" forces me to ask the dude..."So, you two are fucking right?"

I like your idea of saying "committed partner" because I see a lot of couples go south when they agree to be girlfriend and boyfriend and then one of them doesn't view that as being committed and the other does. I've seen a lot of conflicts because of individual interpretations of shit like that.

[OlderAndWiser]

es, referring to my 60 year old fiancée as my girlfriend sounds silly, but I also don't like the sound of womanfriend, SO, or companion so I usually call her Helen!

[TrueConfection]

You have a good point, but I have heard the boyfriend/girlfriend terms used for all ages and it doesn't sound childish to me.

[PeachyPie93]

No. That is what the relationship is. They aren't your wife/husband or even fiance so they are your girlfriend/boyfriend since you aren't committed seriously. I don't know how that is immature, when the people involved aren't making a serious commitment lol.

[DizzyDesii]

In todays world of hookups, boyfriend/girlfriend is a pretty serious/committed title lol

[PeachyPie93]

@DizzyDesii Hahaha that legit is pretty true to be honest lol

[NathanDavis]

You are 26... not 62

To me, you would still be a guy, more than a man if you want to see it that way... being 25 is just one year over

[Sun_Kim-Ai]

I don't like being young.

[NathanDavis]

Best to be an old soul in a younger body...

Once the body catches up to our mental age we do start to dislike a lot more things in life, lol

[IslaTheWitch]

I prefer the term "partner" because it fully reflects the type of relationship I'm into.

[KrakenAttackin]

@islathewitch. Or "significant other".

[IslaTheWitch]

@KrakenAttackin can be, partner is shorter, and as a software engineer, I understand OS as an operating system :D

[KrakenAttackin]

@islathewitch. I get that, I like partner or SO. How about "main squeeze" 😁

[KrakenAttackin]

Or "Shorty" 😁😁

[IslaTheWitch]

@KrakenAttackin I will stay with partner, lol

[Unit1]

No, it's a very practical and simple way to say "This is the girl I go out on dates with, kiss, cuddle, have sex with, support, love, cheer up, treat well, respect, be there for each other..." in 1 word.

[Nikki1989]

Yeah, it is up right there with the word “crush.”

Sadly, so many adults now are nothing more but big children.

[laly520]

it isn't really immature
but in some cases it do sound as if its a term to be used by teens

[Jamie05rhs]

I don't think there's anything wrong with it. I mean, you're going to both graduate to "fiance" status eventually.

[rosemilk]

yes. only teens should use that term.

[Wallythewalrus2]

I don’t have a problem with it.

[Phoenix98]

No I don’t find the terms immature.

[Anonymous]

No, its beautiful.