Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ehemann | /ˈeːəˌman/ | masculine |
| Mann | /man/ | masculine |
| Gemahl | /ɡəˈmaːl/ /ɡɛˈmaːl/ |
masculine |
| Gatte | /ˈɡatə/ | masculine |
| Ehegatte | /ˈeːəɡatə/ | masculine |
All provided forms are masculine nouns used to refer to a male partner in a marriage.
What does it mean word for word?
The word Ehemann is a compound formed from Ehe, meaning 'marriage' and Mann, meaning 'man'.
Which one should you use?
While Mann literally means 'man', it is the most common way to refer to one's husband in everyday conversation. Ehemann is more precise and used in official or legal contexts. Gatte and Ehegatte are also used for husband, with Gatte being common in written language and official documents. Gemahl refers to a spouse and is a highly formal, literary term.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In everyday conversation, use Mann. For official, formal or legal contexts, Ehemann is the standard and straightforward choice. Gatte is a formal term used frequently in written language, while Gemahl is a highly formal, almost old-fashioned term used in very high-register writing.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine noun Ehemann takes an -s in the genitive singular case, becoming Ehemanns (husband's).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈeːəˌman/
Did you know?
- The formal term Gemahl is derived from an Old High German word for 'assembly' or 'contract', reflecting a time when marriage was viewed primarily as a legal covenant.
Examples in context
- Ist das Ihr Mann?Is that your husband?This sentence is useful for asking if a man is someone's husband using the form Mann.Tatoeba #8089188 by Luiaard, translation #7453377 by CK
- Wo ist mein Gatte?Where's my husband?This sentence is useful for asking for a husband's location using the form Gatte.Tatoeba #2349645 by Espi, translation #2254641 by CK
- Tom ist mein Mann.Tom is my husband.This sentence is useful for stating who a person's husband is using the form Mann.Tatoeba #7064784 by quicksanddiver, translation #1868186 by CK
- Mein Ehemann ist sehr liebevoll.My husband is very loving.
- Mein Mann und ich gehen dieses Wochenende ins Kino.My husband and I are going to the cinema this weekend.
- 505 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sarah is introducing her husband to a colleague.
- SarahDas ist mein Ehemann, Julian.This is my husband, Julian.
- JulianHallo Julian, schön dich zu treffen!Hello Julian, nice to meet you!
- SarahEr ist auch Lehrer von Beruf.He is also a teacher by profession.
- JulianDas ist ja ein toller Ehemann!That is a great husband!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “husband” translations and entries Ehemann, Mann, Gemahl, Gatte, Ehegatte, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Ehemann, Gatte, Gemahl, Mann, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
