marido
/maˈɾi.du/masculine
The Portuguese word for husband is marido. Wiktionary also lists esposo.
Meaning: male partner in marriage (noun)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| marido | /maˈɾi.du/ (Brazil) /mɐˈɾi.du/ (Portugal) |
masculine |
| esposo | /isˈpo.zu/ (Brazil) /esˈpo.zu/ (Brazil) |
masculine |
The term marido is the standard, everyday word for a male partner in marriage and is the most common way to say husband in Portuguese. The word esposo also means husband but is used in more formal or official contexts. In Brazilian Portuguese, you may also hear the colloquial and endearing term maridão.
Which one should you use?
Marido is the standard term used in most social contexts. In contrast, esposo is a more formal or official option.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Portugal, the term maridozinho is often used to refer to a husband in an affectionate and sweet manner. In Brazil, maridão is a popular colloquial way to say husband.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable: /maˈɾi.du/.
Did you know?
- In some traditional Brazilian contexts, a woman might refer to her husband as o dono da casa (the owner of the house), even if the home is legally shared.
- The diminutive maridozinho used in Portugal can sometimes be used ironically to describe a husband who is overly pampered or submissive.
- The word esposo shares its roots with the English word 'spouse', meaning both words track back to the Latin concept of a person being 'pledged' or 'promised'.
Examples in context
- Seu marido é rico.Her husband is rich.This sentence shows how to describe someone's husband using marido.Tatoeba #3002466 by alexmarcelo, translation #3018692 by celeriac
- Ele é o meu marido.He's my husband.This sentence shows how to introduce someone as one's own marido.Tatoeba #1909458 by alexmarcelo, translation #2237882 by CK
- Tom é um bom marido.Tom is a good husband.This sentence uses marido to describe a quality of a husband.Tatoeba #5362845 by bill, translation #5109599 by CK
- O meu marido é realmente incrível!My husband is truly amazing!
- Parabéns ao meu esposo pela promoção no trabalho!Congratulations to my husband for the promotion at work!
- Não há nada melhor que o meu maridozinho a fazer-me rir.There's nothing better than my sweet husband making me laugh.
- 278 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mariana is introducing Felipe to a friend.
- MarianaEste é o meu marido, Felipe.This is my husband, Felipe.
- FelipePrazer em conhecê-lo.Nice to meet you.
- MarianaO Felipe é um ótimo marido.Felipe is a great husband.
- FelipeQue bom ouvir isso!That's good to hear!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “husband” translations and entries marido, esposo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries esposo, marido, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
