fiancee

Fiancée is a term used for a woman who is engaged to be married. The male equivalent is fiancé, and together they describe a couple during the period between engagement and marriage. In English usage, the diacritics are often omitted, so you may see fiancé or fiancée rendered as fiancee or fiance; the plural forms are fiancés (used for groups that are at least partly male) and fiancées (groups of women).

Etymology and forms: The words derive from French, with fiancer meaning to betroth and fiancée being the feminine form. The English terms retain the gendered distinction, though some modern usage uses the masculine form as a gender-neutral reference in informal contexts.

Usage and social meaning: Being engaged commonly marks a commitment to marry and is often celebrated with a proposal and an engagement ring. The engagement period varies by couple and culture, typically ranging from several months to a few years before marriage. The engagement ring is a customary symbol in many Western cultures, though practices differ around the world.

Legal aspects: An engagement is generally a social contract rather than a binding legal status in most jurisdictions. It does not automatically confer marital rights or duties. Some places have or had legal considerations related to engagements or broken engagements, but such remedies are rare today. Couples may use prenuptial agreements or other contracts to define rights and responsibilities if desired.

Variations and translations: The French terms fiancé (male) and fiancée (female) are used in many languages with similar gendered forms. English usage often accepts both accented and unaccented spellings and may simplify to fiancé or fiancée in formal writing. See also engagement, betrothal, and wedding.