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Aviva Urkov and Julie Loiben

Girlfriend (pronunciation^ⓘ) is a term that can refer to either a female partner in a non-marital romantic relationship or a female non-intimate friend that is closer than other friends.^[1]

This term is often used loosely, and there is some debate over what exactly constitutes a girlfriend. In western society, it is generally agreed that "girlfriend" status begins when two people agree to date. Getting a girl to agree to such an arrangement is considered a milestone for young males, and is often seen as a sign of status, based on the perception of the girl amongst the male's peers.

Methods of attracting a partner to achieve girlfriend/boyfriend status are often varied and have been a topic of much discussion amongst both males and females, though methods and motives vary wildly.

Differing Terms Used

Though nuanced, there is a significant difference between "girlfriend" and "boyfriend", and "girl friend" and "boy friend"^{[citation needed]}. In a strictly grammatical sense, a "girlfriend" or "boyfriend" is an individual with whom one shares a romantic relationship. A "girl friend" or "boy friend", however, is simply a friend identified on the basis of gender. The transition between the two is a significant aspect of adolescent development.^[2] Despite this, both forms of "girlfriend" and "girl friend" are used by different people to mean different things. For example, when the term "girlfriend" is used by a girl or woman about another female in a non-sexual, non-romantic context, the two-word form "girl friend" is sometimes used to avoid confusion with the sexual or romantic meaning. "Girlfriend" is usually used in terms of very close friends and usually has no sexual connotation in that sense of its usage, unless it is in the case of lesbian, bisexual or pansexual women. The term also has currency in LGBT communities and can refer to people of any gender or sexuality.^[1]^[3]

Some American adolescents have taken to referring to members of the opposite sex who are not in a romantic relationship with said adolescent as a "friendgirl" or "friendboy" to help distinguish the type of relationship more easily^{[citation needed]}. Others use the Spanish words "amiga" and "amigo" for the same purpose, though they are literally translated to mean female friend and male friend.

The term "girlfriend" does not necessarily imply a sexual relationship, but is often used to refer to a woman who is dating a man she is not engaged to without implying that she is having sex with him. With differing expectations of sexual mores, the term dating (when used of an activity involving a man and a woman) can imply romantic activity whereas simply using "friend" would likely avoid inferring such intimacy. It is essentially equivalent to a prior term used, "sweetheart" which is also a term of endearment.

Synonyms

A female engaged in an extramarital relationship with a married person is frequently considered a "mistress".
Some terms of endearment directed to females, a romantic relationship is not required, are "darling", "sweetheart", "love", "babe" etc.
Users of Internet slang and SMS slang often shorten girlfriend to the acronym gf.^[4]
Additionally, gender-indiscriminate terms also apply, e.g. lover, heartthrob, paramour, squeeze, sweetheart, true love, wooer, date, escort, steady or suitor, admirer, companion.
Partners in a non-marital relationship are sometimes described instead as a significant other, partner, or life partner, especially if the two partners are living together. At times, since "girlfriend" and "partner" mean different things to different people, the distinctions between the terms are subjective, and which term is used in a relationship will ultimately be determined by personal preference.

Distinction from "lady friend"

A similar, but not equivalent, concept is the more ambiguous "lady friend" – a companion of the female gender who is possibly less than a girlfriend but potentially more than a friend. That is to say, the relationship is not necessarily platonic, nor on the other hand, is it necessarily an exclusive, serious, committed or long-term relationship. Yet, the term also avoids the overt sexual implications that come with referring a woman as someone's "mistress" or "lover." In that sense, it can often be a euphemism. Yet, this is not always the case; it is also sometimes employed when someone simply does not know the exact status of a woman that a man has been associating with. For instance, tabloid headlines often note that a celebrity has been seen with a new "lady friend."^[5]^[6]

References

^ ^a ^b Lowe, Janet (2001). "Oprah Winfrey Speaks: Insights from the World's Most Influential Voice". John Wiley and Sons, ISBN 0471399949. Retrieved 2008-01-25. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help) Cite error: The named reference "Traps: African American" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
^ RL Grover, DW Nangle, A Serwik, KR Zeff (2007). "Girl friend, boy friend, girlfriend, boyfriend: Broadening our understanding of heterosocial competence". Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology. 36, No. 4: 491–502.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ Salamensky, Shelley I. (2001). "Talk Talk Talk: The Cultural Life of Everyday Conversation". Routledge, ISBN 0415921708. Retrieved 2008-01-24. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
^ What does gf stand for?, AcronymFinder.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-30.
^ Sir Paul McCartney photographed with married Hamptons lady friend
^ http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=lady%20friend

@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 | accessdate=2008-01-25}}</ref>
-This term is often used loosely, and there is some debate over what exactly constitutes a girlfriend. It is generally agreed that girlfriend status begins when two people agree to date. Getting a girl to agree to such an arrangement is considered a milestone for young males, and is also sometimes seen as a sign of status, based on the perceived quality of the girl. What the best strategies for getting women to agree to this arrangement are often varied and have been the topic of some discussion.
+This term is often used loosely, and there is some debate over what exactly constitutes a girlfriend. In western society, it is generally agreed that "girlfriend" status begins when two people agree to date. Getting a girl to agree to such an arrangement is considered a milestone for young males, and is often seen as a sign of status, based on the perception of the girl amongst the male's [[Peer group|peers]].
+Methods of attracting a partner to achieve girlfriend/[[boyfriend]] status are often varied and have been a topic of much discussion amongst both males and females, though [[Gender differences|methods and motives vary wildly]].
-Partners in a non-marital relationship are also sometimes described instead as a [[significant other]], partner, or [[life partner]], especially if the two partners are living together. At times,  since "girlfriend" and "partner" mean different things to different people, the distinctions between the terms are subjective, and which term is used in a relationship will ultimately be determined by personal preference.
+==Differing Terms Used==
-When used by a girl or woman about another female in a non-[[human sexuality|sexual]], non-[[romantic love|romantic]] context, the two-word form "girl friend" is sometimes used to avoid confusion with the sexual or romantic meaning. "Girlfriend" is usually used in terms of very close [[friendship|friends]] and usually has no sexual connotation in that sense of its usage, unless it is in the case of [[lesbian]], [[bisexual]] and [[pansexual]] women. The term also has currency in [[LGBT]] communities and can refer to people of any gender or sexuality.<ref name="Traps: African American">{{cite web
+Though nuanced, there is a significant difference between "girlfriend" and "boyfriend", and "girl friend" and "boy friend"{{Fact|date=February 2009}}. In a strictly grammatical sense, a "girlfriend" or "boyfriend" is an individual with whom one shares a romantic relationship. A "girl friend" or "boy friend", however, is simply a friend identified on the basis of gender.  The transition between the two is a significant aspect of adolescent development.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Girl friend, boy friend, girlfriend, boyfriend: Broadening our understanding of heterosocial competence|author=RL Grover, DW Nangle, A Serwik, KR Zeff|journal=Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology|date=2007|volume=36, No. 4|pages= 491–502}}</ref>
+Despite this, both forms of "girlfriend" and "girl friend" are used by different people to mean different things. For example, when the term "girlfriend" is used by a girl or woman about another female in a non-[[human sexuality|sexual]], non-[[romantic love|romantic]] context, the two-word form "girl friend" is sometimes used to avoid confusion with the sexual or romantic meaning. "Girlfriend" is usually used in terms of very close [[friendship|friends]] and usually has no sexual connotation in that sense of its usage, unless it is in the case of [[lesbian]], [[bisexual]] or [[pansexual]] women. The term also has currency in [[LGBT]] communities and can refer to people of any gender or sexuality.<ref name="Traps: African American">{{cite web
  | last = Byrd
  | first =Rudolph P.
@@ Line 40: / Line 42: @@
  | accessdate=2008-01-24}}</ref>
-Though nuanced, there is a significant difference between "girlfriend" and "boyfriend", and "girl friend" and "boy friend"{{Fact|date=February 2009}}. In a strictly grammatical sense, a "girlfriend" or "boyfriend" is an individual of significance with whom one shares a relationship. A "girl friend" or "boy friend", however, is simply a friend identified on the basis of gender.  The transition between the two is a significant aspect of adolescent development.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Girl friend, boy friend, girlfriend, boyfriend: Broadening our understanding of heterosocial competence|author=RL Grover, DW Nangle, A Serwik, KR Zeff|journal=Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology|date=2007|volume=36, No. 4|pages= 491–502}}</ref> Some American adolescents have taken to referring to members of the opposite sex who are not in a romantic relationship with said adolescent as a "friendgirl" or "friendboy" to help distinguish more easily{{Fact|date=January 2009}}. Others use the Spanish words "amiga" and "amigo" for the same purpose, though they are literally translated to mean female friend and male friend.
+Some American adolescents have taken to referring to members of the opposite sex who are not in a romantic relationship with said adolescent as a "friendgirl" or "friendboy" to help distinguish the type of relationship more easily{{Fact|date=January 2009}}. Others use the Spanish words "amiga" and "amigo" for the same purpose, though they are literally translated to mean female friend and male friend.
+The term "girlfriend" does not necessarily imply a sexual relationship, but is often used to refer to a woman who is [[dating]] a man she is not engaged to without implying that she is having sex with him. With differing expectations of sexual [[mores]], the term ''dating'' (when used of an activity involving a man and a woman) can imply romantic activity whereas simply using "friend" would likely avoid inferring such intimacy.  It is essentially equivalent to a prior term used, "sweetheart" which is also a [[term of endearment]].
-This term when used between men and women does not necessarily imply a sexual relationship, but is often used to refer to a woman who is [[dating]] a man she is not engaged to, without implying that she is having sex with him. With the changes in sexual [[mores]] among some people, the term ''dating'' when used to indicate that an adult man and woman have gone out together on a [[dating|date]], can imply romantic activity whereas simply using "friend" would likely avoid inferring such intimacy.  It is essentially equivalent to a prior term used, "sweetheart" which is also a [[term of endearment]].
 ==Synonyms==
@@ Line 49: / Line 52: @@
 *Users of [[Internet slang]] and [[short message service|SMS]] slang often shorten ''girlfriend'' to the acronym ''gf''.<ref>[http://www.acronymfinder.com/af-query.asp?Acronym=gf&Find=find&string=exact What does gf stand for?], ''AcronymFinder.com''.  Retrieved on [[2008-01-30]].</ref>
 *Additionally, gender-indiscriminate terms also apply, e.g. lover, heartthrob, paramour, squeeze, sweetheart, true love, wooer, date, escort, steady or suitor, admirer, companion.
+*Partners in a non-marital relationship are sometimes described instead as a [[significant other]], partner, or [[life partner]], especially if the two partners are living together. At times,  since "girlfriend" and "partner" mean different things to different people, the distinctions between the terms are subjective, and which term is used in a relationship will ultimately be determined by personal preference.
 ==Distinction from "lady friend"==