Moglie

Moglie is the Italian noun for wife, or the female spouse in a marriage. It is used to refer to one’s wife in everyday speech and in writing, with common phrases such as la moglie (the wife) and mia moglie (my wife). Its feminine form distinguishes it from marito, which means husband. The plural form is mogli, as in le mogli (the wives).

Etymology and evolution: The word derives from Latin mulier, meaning woman, and entered Italian during the medieval period with its sense narrowed to designate a wife in familial and social contexts. Over time, moglie has become the standard everyday term for a wife in modern Italian.

Usage and nuance: Moglie is a neutral, everyday term. It can appear in formal or informal contexts alike, and is often combined with a possessive (e.g., mia moglie, tua moglie) or with phrases indicating relationship (la moglie di qualcuno, the wife of someone). For more formal or gender-neutral contexts, coniuge is used as a bridge term meaning “spouse” that can refer to either husband or wife.

Cultural and linguistic notes: In Italian, both the familial term moglie and the more formal coniuge are common, with moglie conveying a personal or intimate sense, and coniuge often preferred in legal or formal writing. The concept of a wife is central to discussions of family, marriage, and social roles in Italian-speaking contexts.

See also: coniuge, matrimonio, marito.