Are the terms "girlfriend" or "boyfriend" limited to some age in the spoken English?
I'm asking it because the word "girlfriend" is a closed compound noun which literally (in the narrow meaning of these two components of this closed compound word) means a friend who is a young (girl). The same for "boyfriend" which means a friend who is a young (boy). Now, so far as a non native English speaker I've not noticed using of both after some young age, and if it's used in old age it may be to me a little weird. But my personal impression of it may be wrong since it's not my native language.
By checking in Cambridge dictionary I found that the definition of girlfriend is "a woman or girl who a person is having a romantic or sexual relationship with". From this definition I understand that it is not only for girls but also for women. Isn't it in the colloquial English?
Best Answer
There is variation in how people use these words and the meanings are shifting.
In the past it was rare for an older person to be in an open, romantic relationship with someone, unless they were married. Older people had husbands, wives but not girlfriends or boyfriends. So these words were limited to young people.
Now it is more common for people to stay unmarried. A person may use the words boyfriend/girlfriend at any age. There is no upper limit. But the words boyfriend/girlfriend may suggest a less serious relationship.
Some people prefer "partner" to boyfriend/girlfriend as it sounds more serious (it also avoids having to mention the gender of your partner if you don't want to share this) Boyfriend/girlfriend/partner/husband/wife can all be used by both gay and straight people.
Note that, especially in American English, women will call close female friends "girlfriends", even when there is no romantic relationship. However, men tend not to refer to male friends as "boyfriends", they use "mates" (in British and Australian) or friends" or sometimes "buddies".