Semantics.

Why is it that the English language does not have a word to describe someone that is more than a friend but not quite your boy/girlfriend? I find it interesting that there is nothing to describe this in-between state. Perhaps it is because society formed roles back in the stone age that said you either had to have a platonic relationship with someone or you had to be 100% committed to them. I wonder if other cultures have a word for this? In French, you are either an aime (friend) or a petite amie (girlfriend)--literally translated, small friend. When we get into the roles of marriage, the words are very clear: fiancé and husband. The world is very black and white. If you are separated from your husband, he’s still your husband until the papers are signed and then he becomes an “ex”. But there is still no word for the pre-boy/girlfriend stage of life that most of us either has or will experience.