1834 name for partner

The only Italian term for 'gay' that I know is finocchio, but am unsure if it is a derogatory term or just their version of 'gay'.

[QUOTE=manopello]W hat do Italians called a partner in the unmarried or gay sense? I wonder how I can introduce my partner..up to now I've called him marito as its been the only word I know apart from Raggazzi which I think is girlfriend/boyfriend.

Is there an Italian word for gay?If so is it different for male and femail?

Becky[/QUOTE]

Compagno or compagna are used for gays and unmarried partners

But sometimes even "partner" is used

[QUOTE=Sano]The only Italian term for 'gay' that I know is finocchio, but am unsure if it is a derogatory term or just their version of 'gay'.[/QUOTE]

"Finocchio" is an offensive word and there are many terms like that.
I don't think it is very polite to make known.
The neutral term for "gay" in italian is ... "gay" (we like to import english words) or omosessuale

[QUOTE=notaio]"Finocchio" is an offensive word and there are many terms like that.
I don't think it is very polite to make known.
The neutral term for "gay" in italian is ... "gay" (we like to import english words) or omosessuale[/QUOTE]

As I said, I was not sure if it was offensive or not - thanks for clarifying.

thanks to you all for the information

Becky

il mio compagno....that should do!

Il mio compagno... mwah, has lots of seventies/leftwinged connotations for Italians of my generation (under 40 more or less). Partner is much more neutral - god bless foreign words for their lack of affective meanings - just remember to say it the Italian way.

A friend of mine has a funny way (half affectionate/half mocking) to call her husband "il mio maschio" and this has proven very succesful in our circle of friends (gay boys and hetero chick).

il mio uomo allora! but if you are over 40 it sounds a bit ridiculous.

I don't see any political connotation in compagno, the years of compagni del pc are long gone!

P

[QUOTE=Mamma Orsa cucina]Il mio compagno... mwah, has lots of seventies/leftwinged connotations for Italians of my generation (under 40 more or less). Partner is much more neutral - god bless foreign words for their lack of affective meanings - just remember to say it the Italian way.

A friend of mine has a funny way (half affectionate/half mocking) to call her husband "il mio maschio" and this has proven very succesful in our circle of friends (gay boys and hetero chick).[/QUOTE]

Partner was much more used in the past, when "compagno" had a more political connotation.
Besides, in the past (until sixties/seventies), it wasn't so common to have unmarried couples, thus it was difficoult to find an italian word to define the condition of the "unmarried" and a foreign word seemed more neutral and fit more to an "exotic" condition.
Today unmarried couples are a common condition and the word "compagno" has an emotional meaning that is harder to find in "partner".
Anyhow, partner is still used, as well as "il mio uomo"/"la mia donna" but more in a colloquial sense.
But consider that in my working experience I have also heard "mio marito" :rolleyes:

"Convivente" is the term that I have heard most frequently in Abruzzo.
Forza Teramo! [url]www.angelfire.com/film/casale[/url]

[QUOTE=Mamma Orsa cucina]
A friend of mine has a funny way (half affectionate/half mocking) to call her husband "il mio maschio" and this has proven very succesful in our circle of friends (gay boys and hetero chick).[/QUOTE]

Yes it's funny to call the own husband "il mio maschio" but in correct language it's awful to say, "maschio" is generally referred to animals.

About the gays, the correct translation is "Omosessuali", normal people is called "Eterosessuali". To call his partner a gay have to say "Il mio compagno".