Tsureai 連れ合い

[nedkelly]

Tsureai 連れ合い refers to one's spouse. I want to ask:
1. Can this word be used to refer to one's de facto partner?
2. In the sense of de facto unmarried partner is it better to say paatonaa パートナー?
3. Is tsureai an old-fashioned word?

 

[Toritoribe]

1)
Yes, but it's more common to be used for spouse.

2)
Yes, I think so. パートナー can also refers to spouse, though.

3)
Comparing to パートナー, yes. I think 連れ合い is mostly used by older people.

 

[nedkelly]

Arigatou gozaimashita.