When I 1st
started discovering polyamory
, I had countless concerns, and that I wished to explore all my personal encounters — but i did not experience the right terms for a number of it. Best ways to explain that feeling I have when among my partners is within really love? What exactly do we contact my personal partner’s various other sweetheart? Why is everyone else fooling about unicorns?!

Lucky for me, the polyamorous society has arrived with
some terms
that aren’t generally utilized by mono folk. As
a newer neighborhood
and identity, if not a new rehearse — and with the help of social networking being in a position to link and talk with one another — poly folk are constantly discovering brand-new terms and meanings can differ or shift too. Obtaining the language to explain a connections and experiences is wonderful empowering for all folks, nonetheless it may also get in the way of chatting with people who aren’t as acquainted it.

Whether you are new
to
the poly neighborhood
,
interested in learning ethical non-monogamy
, or feel just like you will need a translator when you’re around your poly buddies, here are seven conditions you could possibly come across, and their definitions since they are most frequently found in both my personal local community in addition to web poly society.

1. Polycule

A portmanteau of « polyamory » and « molecule, » polycule describes a connected circle of non-monogamous interactions. This may be as smaller than average simple as a vee union (aka a relationship concerning three folks, in which one individual is located at the middle of the V and is also associated with both partners, whilst the other two lovers who are not involved with each other), or it can be a complex, widespread network of men and women, all linked in some manner. Component areas of a polycule are often also known as « molecules. »

2. NRE And ORE

NRE means « new relationship electricity. » You are aware that first stage in a commitment where you smile each time they text you, you stalk their social media marketing pages, and you should invest every waking moment with these people? Yeah, that. It isn’t actually especially to poly folk, but I rarely notice it used beyond the poly area. « NRE junkie » is actually a person who is always chasing that large.

ORE is — jointly might anticipate — « old commitment fuel. » It really is that sense of convenience, expertise, and contentedness that settles into a reliable, set up union once the NRE provides worn off.

3. Monogamish

Dan Savage
,
composer of Savage Love
, coined this phase to describe a commitment which generally monogamous, but allows both partners to occasionally come out under particular conditions. Essentially, the occasionally intimate experience is OK, from inside the right situation — but romantic contacts aren’t generally an element of the offer.

4. Poly-Fidelity

Poly-fidelity, or poly-fi, is having a closed (instead open) union, merely with over two people. It’s also known as « monogamy +1 » (or +2, or nonetheless numerous). Similar to in a monogamous connection, members of the connection can only just date and also have sex with one another; they’re not prepared for anyone not in the union.

5. Polysaturated

That condition having as numerous significant other people (along side tasks, pastimes, friends, etc) together are designed for. Experiencing overrun, time-crunched, and as you are unable to perhaps add another enthusiast or spouse? That is becoming polysaturated.

6. Metamour

Your partner’s other partner is the metamour. Because stating « partner’s various other spouse » all the time is actually a pain.

7. Unicorn & Unicorn Hunters

A unicorn is actually a Hot Bi Babe (HBB) that is willing to date and get unique to several, normally taking a task as supplementary their main commitment.
This frequently makes reference to ladies
, and different communities utilize some other mythical creatures — Pegasus, manticore, centaur — for a male adaptation. Generally, a unicorn is far more of a masturbator than an authentic lover, and phase unicorn was actually coined because although it’s usual for partners to want this, finding a couple looking for bi woman happy to have this sort of union is fairly uncommon. It must be mentioned, however, that some women in the city embrace and they are reclaiming this phrase.

Unicorn hunters tend to be a few selecting a unicorn to « finish » their family.

In case you are however curious about poly connections, discover
these some other poly terms
and
misconceptions about polyamory
.


Images: Fotolia; Giphy