French word

veuf

Pronunciation

IPA/vœf/

Meaning

  • masculine nounwidower

Example

Mon oncle est un veuf depuis trois ans.

My uncle has been a widower for three years.

Illustration for veuf (widower)

More examples

Le veuf a adopté un chien pour tenir compagnie.

The widower adopted a dog to keep him company.

Core concept

A husband left alone by his wife's death, with this changed family status named veuf.

Common phrases

  • un veuf

    a widower

  • devenir veuf

    become a widower

Similar words

veuve: A woman whose spouse has died.
marié: A married man.
divorcé: A man whose marriage has legally ended.
célibataire: An unmarried person.

Definition in French

Homme qui a perdu sa femme.

Word origin

The French word veuf comes from Latin viduus through historical Old French sound changes, alongside the feminine form veuve.

Usage tips

  • Veuf functions as both a noun and an adjective, as in un veuf and un homme veuf.

Opposites

Related words

  • veuvagewidowerhoodnoun

Word lists with this word