Zawja

Zawja (Arabic: زوجة) is the Arabic term for a wife, the female spouse in a marriage. It is the feminine form of zawj, meaning a spouse, and is used in Modern Standard Arabic and in many dialects to denote a married woman. The term is widely used across the Arab world and in Muslim communities worldwide, often preserved in transliterated forms in non-Arabic languages.

Etymology and grammar: The word zawja is a feminine noun formed from the masculine noun zawj. In standard Arabic, the plural forms are zawjat (for wives) and azwaj (for husbands).

Usage and context: In Islamic law and traditional family practice, the zawja is a legal participant in the marriage contract (nikah). The wife's rights commonly include mahr (a dowry) and nafqa (maintenance); the contract also specifies duties for both spouses, including lawful support, fidelity, and mutual respect. Specific rules vary by country, school of thought, and local customary practice.

Cultural notes: In everyday language across Arabic-speaking communities and in many Muslim-majority societies, zawja is used in formal and religious contexts, while colloquial speech may use synonyms or borrowed terms. In other languages influenced by Arabic, the term appears in literature, religious discourse, and legal texts with the same basic meaning.

See also: marriage, nikah, dowry.