We love to call and be called by our loved ones a distinctive name to indicate our ‘blooming love’ to each other. Once, a friend told me he used to call his wife ‘babe’ and mostly ‘honey’. When their daughter was about 2 years old, she started calling her ‘honey’ too. They had to tell her No... That’s Mommy. Haha. So, what do you call your husband/wife, boyfriend/girlfriend or partner? Let’s take a look at this name-calling.
- Abang - When I was a kid, we call our brother ‘abang’ which means ‘brother’. But then, every time the TV was switch-on I saw a woman called someone who supposed to be her husband ‘abang’. It makes me wonder why our ‘abang’ is really our brother and not ‘husband’. Then I went study abroad where almost every girl called their boyfriend ‘abang’. So when my friend say ‘My abang are taking me to candle light dinner’, I was like 'wow… your abang is so generous, but isn’t that something a couple usually did? Not a sibling'. And I got slapped in the face. Oh! She means abang… abang special. So what’s the purpose of the ‘Abang’ referring to your male siblings in the first place? What if you got brother and husband which you call abang both at the same time? Say, these 2 men went fishing together with you and his mother call you asking to speak to him (consider he left his phone at home la). You say ‘Abang, Mom’s calling’. Which one you think will respond to you immediately? Does no one else see anything wrong with calling the one you’re supposedly in love with by that name? It never fails to crack me every time I saw someone calling their better half by that name in some silly local dramas. Ewww… TOTAL ROMANCE KILLER!Okay... you don't have to agree with me. Hehe.
- Papa/Daddy & Mama/Mommy – This one sounds cute. But it supposed to be the name called by your children. Imagine a wife call her husband ‘papa’. It’s somewhat creepy. I’m not married to my father. Haha. Yuck!
- Woman – I got friend calling his wife ‘woman’ when he’s angry with her. It goes like this ‘hey woman, where’s my coffee?’ I think its okay to call woman rather than you call them animal’s name when you angry. Like ‘monkey’ or the usual one ‘pig’. Ouch!
- Hubby – OK, what about this one? It’s rather obvious calling your significant someone ‘hubby’. I mean, it’s okay if you’re married. NO problem with that. But if you’re not even engaged, oh my, what a reeks of wishful thinking. There’s hinting and for God sake that’s a blatant desperation.
- Sayang – This one is the usual one. Honey, Sweetheart, Darling. It’s sweet, romantic, affectionate and loving. But imagine if the guy has two-timing and calling both of them ‘sayang’. Wow. He never has to worry about calling the wrong girl by the wrong name. Hehe.
- Baby – The funniest I ever heard. I mean because the one calling is the girl to her boyfriend. Wow… what a big ‘baby’ is that. But then I came to my senses, men can be a ‘baby’ sometimes. NO. Most of the time actually.
- Boo – Oh my, it sounds like a puppy’s name. The song by Alicia Keys and Usher’s ‘My Boo’ came to mind when I heard this one. But it sounds a bit ridiculous in this part of the world.
- Lambchop – Haha. Obviously it’s the name of a food. Hmmm… why would anyone wanted to be named after a piece of mouth-watering dead animal? I can accept ‘sugar’ or ‘sweetie’. Oh… and what about Puffin for guy and Muffin for Girl? Your spouse is as delicious as a muffin. Apu (The Simpson) called his wife ‘My Little curry face’. Now, that’s as romantic as ‘lambchop’.
- Dear – I can say this one is rather common. I mean in a sense that nowadays it is widely used (and I can imagine) by grandmothers. If you’re going to call your boyfriend ‘dear’, make sure you put that wig of tight curls to add some ‘sexy-ness’.
- Pet name – this is common in western so be careful and remember not to use it if you and your foreigner boyfriend decided to meet your family here in Malaysia. Imagine he calls you ‘Pookie’. Oh my, you’ll become the joke among friends and family.
What a warm and fuzzy feeling when your loved one calls you by a different name from everyone else, it seems to fortify the fact that you’re both deeply in love and totally into each other. Anyway, be careful because once a name sticks, it’s difficult to change it. Now, where’s my hubby? Teehee.
