épouses

Épouse is a French noun meaning the wife in a marriage. The plural épouses refers to multiple wives. The masculine counterpart is époux, which denotes a husband. In contemporary usage, femme can also mean wife, especially in informal speech, while épouse is more common in formal, ceremonial, or legal contexts. The term often appears in phrases that pair the two spouses, such as époux et épouse, to refer to a married couple.

Étymology-guided note: époux and épouse derive from Old French forms linked to the Latin words sponsus and sponsa (husband and wife), through the verb épouser, which means to marry. This shared lineage underpins the standard pair used in many legal or official documents.

Usage and meaning: Épouse denotes a person’s wife and is typically gendered feminine. The related verb épouser describes the act of marrying someone (j’ai épousé, il/elle épouse). In legal or administrative text, époux and épouse are used to identify the two spouses in a marriage, civil union, or matrimonial context. In everyday language, people may prefer femme to refer to a wife, whereas épouse emphasizes the formal status of the relationship.

Cultural and social context: Across cultures and histories, the status, rights, and roles of wives have varied greatly. In many societies, laws governing marriage, property, and kinship have shaped how épouses are described and treated within families and communities. In modern French, discussions of marriage continue to reflect evolving notions of gender equality and personal autonomy.