Spouse
Definition
Spouse refers to a partner in a marriage, encompassing both husbands and wives.
Parts of Speech
- Noun
Pronunciation
American English
- IPA Pronunciation: /spaʊs/
- Respelling: SPOUSE (with "SPOUSE" rhyming with "house" and "mouse")
British English
- IPA Pronunciation: /spaʊs/
- Respelling: SPOUSE (similar to American English, with "SPOUSE" rhyming with "house" and "mouse")
In both dialects, "spouse" is pronounced with a diphthong "au" sound, as in "house" or "mouse." The pronunciation of "spouse" is consistent between American and British English, clearly reflecting the word's straightforward phonetic structure.
Etymology
The term "spouse" traces back to Old French spous (from Latin sponsus), which signifies a betrothed man or woman. It evolved into Middle English as spous or spowse, and its usage has been consistent since the 12th century.
Derivatives
- Spousal
- Spousal support
- Spouseless
- Spousally
- Unspoused
Synonyms
- Partner
- Mate
- Other half
Antonyms
- Ex-spouse
- Stranger
- Adversary
Usage
The term "spouse" is commonly used in legal, formal, or serious discussions surrounding marriage, marital rights, and family matters.
Related Terms
- Marriage
- Matrimony
- Conjugal
- Nuptial
- Marital partner
Detailed Definition
Noun
- Marital Partner: A person's husband or wife, especially in a formal or legally recognized sense.
- Example: "He introduced Emma as his spouse during the formal event."
spouse
They walked hand in hand, the proud spouse cheering on their partner's achievement.
He introduced Emma as his spouse during the formal event.
The spouse surprised her partner with a home-cooked dinner.
🇨🇳 Mandarin (Simplified Chinese)
- 夫妻 (fūqī)
- IPA Pronunciation: /fuː t͡ɕʰiː/
- Respelling in English: foo-chee
- 配偶 (pèi'ǒu)
- IPA Pronunciation: /pʰeɪ ˈoʊ/
- Respelling in English: pay-oh
🇮🇳 Hindi
- पति/पत्नी (pati/patnī)
- IPA Pronunciation: /pəti/ /pətniː/
- Respelling in English: puh-tee / puh-tni
- संगिनी (saṅginī)
- IPA Pronunciation: /səŋɡiːniː/
- Respelling in English: sung-gee-nee
🇪🇸 Spanish
- esposo/esposa
- IPA Pronunciation: /esˈposo/ /esˈposa/
- Respelling in English: ess-POH-soh / ess-POH-sah
- cónyuge
- IPA Pronunciation: /ˈkon.xu.ɣe/
- Respelling in English: KON-yoo-geh
🇫🇷 French
- mari/femme
- IPA Pronunciation: /maʁi/ /fɛm/
- Respelling in English: mah-ree / femm
- conjoint/conjointe
- IPA Pronunciation: /kɔ̃.ʒwɛ̃/ /kɔ̃.ʒwɛnt/
- Respelling in English: kon-zhwan / kon-zhwant
🇸🇦 Modern Standard Arabic
- زوج/زوجة (zawj/zawjah)
- IPA Pronunciation: /zawd͡ʒ/ /ˈzaw.ʒa/
- Respelling in English: zawj / zaw-ja
🇧🇩 Bengali
- স্বামী/স্ত্রী (swāmī/strī)
- IPA Pronunciation: /ʃwami/ /ʃtri/
- Respelling in English: shwa-mee / shtree
🇷🇺 Russian
- супруг/супруга (suprug/supruga)
- IPA Pronunciation: /ˈsupruk/ /suˈpruɡə/
- Respelling in English: SOO-prook / soo-PROO-gah
🇵🇹 Portuguese
- esposo/esposa
- IPA Pronunciation: /iˈspozu/ /iˈspozɐ/
- Respelling in English: ee-SPOH-zoo / ee-SPOH-zah
- cônjuge
- IPA Pronunciation: /ˈkõʒuʒi/
- Respelling in English: KON-zhoo-zhee
🇮🇩 Indonesian
- suami/istri
- IPA Pronunciation: /suːˈaːmi/ /ˈis.tri/
- Respelling in English: soo-AH-mee / ISS-tree
🇩🇪 German
- Ehemann/Ehefrau
- IPA Pronunciation: /ˈeːəˌman/ /ˈeːəˌfraʊ/
- Respelling in English: AY-uh-mahn / AY-uh-frow
🇯🇵 Japanese
- 夫/妻 (otto/tsuma)
- IPA Pronunciation: /otːo/ /t͡sumə/
- Respelling in English: OT-toh / TSU-mah
🇻🇳 Vietnamese
- chồng/vợ
- IPA Pronunciation: /cɤŋ˧˥/ /vɔ̂ˀ˧/
- Respelling in English: chong / voh
🇰🇷 Korean
- 남편/아내 (nampyeon/anae)
- IPA Pronunciation: /nampʰjʌn/ /a.naɪ/
- Respelling in English: nam-PYEON / ah-NAY
🇹🇷 Turkish
- eş
- IPA Pronunciation: /eʃ/
- Respelling in English: esh
🇵🇰 Urdu
- شوہر/بیوی (shohar/biwi)
- IPA Pronunciation: /ʃoːɦər/ /biːviː/
- Respelling in English: sho-har / BEE-vee
