I am not Nigerian and just want to seek some clarification…, at what stage do a couple start referring to each other as fiancé? I have heard many couples who are not engaged, no ring, just been dating for a while and call each other fiancé!  Some of my boyfriends (Nigerian) friends have started referring to me as his fiancé which I find strange! From my knowledge, someone becomes a fiancé once you are engaged (in my culture in particular, once the dowry has been paid), please explain, am really perplexed.

Once a ring is on it and both parties have agreed to get married then you can call eachother fiance or fiancee.

A girlfriend is someone you are just dating and there is no commitment between you both but for a fiancee, commitments have been made and you both want to spend the rest of your lives together