French word

époux

Pronunciation

IPA/epu/

Meaning

  • masculine nounhusband

Example

Mon époux est médecin.

My husband is a doctor.

Illustration for époux (husband)

More examples

Elle a présenté son époux à ses collègues.

She introduced her husband to her colleagues.

Core concept

A husband pictured within the formal bond that joins two married partners.

Common phrases

  • mon époux

    my husband

  • son époux

    her husband

  • l'époux de Marie

    Marie's husband

Similar words

mari: The everyday term for a married man.
épouse: A woman who is married.
partenaire: A partner in a relationship regardless of gender.

Definition in French

Personne de sexe masculin unie à une autre personne par le mariage, autrement dit le mari.

Word origin

The French noun époux developed from Old French espous, ultimately from Latin sponsus, and shares this root with Spanish esposo and English spouse.

Usage tips

  • The feminine form is épouse, while époux refers specifically to a male spouse; the final x is silent in the singular.

Other meanings

  • spousenoun

Opposites

Related words

  • épousermarryverb
  • épousailleswedding ceremonynoun

Word lists with this word