New word needed...

My friend who is in a similar relationship refers to him as her partner.

I think I would say partner.

Yeah, I say partner.
My DP introduces me as his partner too.There isn’t really any other word that covers it.
Years ago it would have sounded like business partners but not any more.
A made up word?😁 how about sweetling? Although I may have read that somewhere.

I would say partner too.

I’ve heard people in a similar relationship refer to their ‘significant other’. Would that fit the bill?

Lovely to learn that you’re happy! ❤️

My beloved?

I am so happy for you scribbles.

I think your best bet is 'partner'. Or, maybe, 'life partner'. I have noticed people who are married now sometimes say 'partner' too.

We are having the same problem!

Consort?!

Judi Dench apparently refers to her man friend as her ‘chap’.

Not keen on her myself, but many on here think she’s wonderful, so just passing on her take of the situation.

"Permanent Plus One"?

It really is a problem, I agree. My late MIL lived with a man for 30 years and as adult children, we never knew how to describe him when we mentioned him, for all the reasons you give above. I also think "partner" sounds businesslike.

Off now to Google puffbear...

I like 'my chap'!

I would introduce him by his name, and if somebody asks whether you are a couple say yes. I cannot think of a situation where you would have to announce what your relationship is.

people will probably assume that you are married and will not ask anyway.

Definitely partner it is fairy standard and covers a variety of age groups I had a ‘partner’ for 8/10 years before he blotted his copy book

Even though we’re married I often say ‘my other half’.

I know a woman of 74 who says "my partner". But once you know about him there's no need for a description, she just says Paul.

People used to get very confused if my OH introduced other women as 'my partner'. So agree it can be confusing- but still the best choice. Yep, a new word required, agreed.

I don't think the ambiguity with tennis or business matters much - not often the source of genuine misunderstanding.

I think the problem is more that for those beyond the age of boy/girlfriend there seems no word to distinguish a permanent relationship from one that is of more recent date or less committed. There are times when this matters and it's here that a new word would be useful.

Happy for you!

You could say "my beloved" , "my love", or "my darling". I don't think there is anything wrong with boyfriend/girlfriend if you don't. It's quite sweet.
I think "my friend" is a bit vague. Some people joke and say "my better half" or my other half- but really it's more important for you both to find a way to refer to each other that you're both comfortable with. If you got engaged you could say "My fiance", but have a long term engagement and not necessarily live together.

Ah, that's the best way to fall in love, whatever you call it 🙂

My partner, my bloke, my lady.

Can't bear boyfriend/girlfriend.

I have a widowed friend in a similar relationship with a widower. I refer to him as her paramour.

My husband and I had the same problem 10 years ago, so we got married . Much easier😂

There’s a phrase used round here “Bidie in” it implies someone who lives in but, somehow, much more.