German word

Ehefrau

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈeːəˌfʁaʊ̯/

Meaning

  • feminine nounwife

Example

Das ist meine Ehefrau.

This is my wife.

Illustration for Ehefrau (wife)

More examples

Er möchte irgendwann eine Ehefrau haben.

He would like to have a wife someday.

Core concept

A married woman standing beside her spouse as one half of a household.

Common phrases

  • seine Ehefrau

    his wife

  • eine Ehefrau haben

    have a wife

  • mit meiner Ehefrau ausgehen

    go out with my wife

Similar words

Frau: A word for an adult woman or a respectful way to address one.
Lebensgefährtin: A woman who shares a home and life with a partner without marriage.
Ehepartnerin: A neutral term for a female spouse.
Gattin: A formal term for a wife, often found in writing.

Definition in German

Eine Frau, die verheiratet ist.

Word origin

German forms Ehefrau by combining the noun Ehe with Frau, a transparent compound whose parts identify a woman connected to a marriage.

Usage tips

  • In everyday speech, meine Frau is often more natural than meine Ehefrau when referring to one's wife, while Ehefrau makes the marital relationship explicit.

Opposites

  • Unverheirateteunmarried personnoun

Related words

  • Ehemannhusbandnoun
  • ehelichmaritaladjective

Word lists with this word