'Puttus, have you seen my brown trousers?'

Many married couples fall into the habit of calling each other endearing names, and in Jamaica, we have our own collection - some highly personal, others quite common.

Sweetheart names we use for our spouses include the popular puttus, chupsy and the affectionate hussy wussy and wifey. Then there are babes, teacup, chucksie and honey.

Why do we do it?

As the joke goes, a man, the other half in an elderly couple - impressed his neighbours at dinner by preceding every request to his wife with 'Honey', 'Darling', 'Sweetheart', 'Pumpkin', etc.

The couple had been married almost 70 years. While the wife was off in the kitchen, a neighbour said to the gentleman, "I think it's wonderful that after all the years you've been married, you still refer to your wife in those terms."

The elderly husband hung his head. "Actually," he said, "I forgot the old lady's name about 10 years ago."

The experts say the habit of using terms of endearment in place of names is a way of expressing affection.

Some names, they note, are good for airplay while others should best be kept in the bedroom.

At www.themarriagefiles.com it is noted that pet names fall into one of several categories: the two most important being Acceptable for Public Use and For Your Ears Only.

Names which are Acceptable for Public Use list include: dear, dearest, hon, honey and darling. These can be used at any time, in any place.

Silly, explicit

But, in the For Your Ears Only category are those which are too silly, or explicit. Honey-bunny, love-muffin, studly do-right, jiggles, jug-jug, poodle, cuddle-wuddles, snookums, the rock, lambikins, pumpkin-poo, dumpling, spanky, Mr. Bear-buns, lovey-dovey, Superman, love-mama, etc., might be a source of embarrasment at the parent- teacher association meeting, or even in front of some associates.

Spouses who call each other Mommy and Daddy might also want to keep this to themselves, it is noted, as outside of the family home the reference has some incestuous implications!

Men also might feel 'unmanned' by the use of sugary names in front of their macho friends.

And men who go with their wives to certain settings to do business might want to avoid using terms which make them appear to be the weaker sex!

- Outlook Team