Cohabiter

Cohabiter is a French verb meaning to live together in the same dwelling. It is used for people who share a home but are not necessarily married, including romantic partners, roommates, or family members. The phrase cohabiter avec quelqu’un is common, and the related noun cohabitation describes the condition or process of living together.

Origin and usage: from Latin cohabitare, the term emphasizes the act of sharing a residence rather than forming a legally recognized family unit. It is often contrasted with marier, which denotes marriage, although many cohabiting couples eventually marry.

Social and legal aspects: Across cultures, cohabitation can reflect personal preference, economic considerations, or social norms. In some jurisdictions, non-marital cohabitation carries limited or no automatic legal rights; others recognize arrangements through civil unions, domestic partnerships, or cohabitation agreements. In France, the Pacte civil de solidarité (PACS) provides a civil union framework for two adults who live together and wish to organize their rights and responsibilities, while cohabitation itself may not entail the full rights of marriage. In other countries, similar protections may be tied to specific statutes or court rulings.

Political usage: The term cohabitation also appears in politics to describe a situation in which the president and the prime minister come from opposing parties, requiring shared executive governance.