Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 夫 | otto | [o̞t̚to̞] (narrow) [t͡sɨma̠] (narrow) |
|
| 旦那 | danna | [dã̠nːa̠] (narrow) | |
| 亭主 | teishu | [te̞ːɕɨ] (narrow) | |
| 主人 | shujin | [ɕɨʑĩɴ] (narrow) | humble |
| ハズバンド | hazubando | [ha̠zɨbã̠ndo̞] (narrow) | |
| ハズ | hazu | ||
| ご主人 | go-shujin | [ɡo̞ɕɨʑĩɴ] (narrow) | honorific |
Japanese uses several terms for 'husband'. While 夫 is the standard term, you may encounter loanwords like ハズバンド or older terms like 亭主, which can imply the 'head of the household'.
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends on the relationship between the speaker and the subject. 夫 is the standard, neutral term for one's own husband. In contrast, 主人 is used to refer to one's own husband in a humble manner, while ハズ is a humble and colloquial shortening. To refer to someone else's husband politely, use the honorific ご主人. 旦那 is a more casual or colloquial way to refer to a husband, though it can sometimes carry a familiar or slightly patronizing tone. Finally, ハズバンド is a katakana transliteration of the English word 'husband'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal or semi-formal contexts when speaking about your own husband, use the neutral 夫. If you wish to speak humbly about your husband to others, use 主人. For polite conversation regarding someone else's husband, use the honorific ご主人. The term 旦那 is used to convey informality and closeness when referring to one's own husband, but it is also a colloquial way to refer to someone else's husband. The term 亭主 is an older, less common term in modern daily conversation.
How do you pronounce it?
otto
Did you know?
- Because of its Sanskrit origins, the word 旦那 is a distant linguistic relative of the English words 'donate' and 'donor'.
- The term 旦那 is used in Japan to refer to a 'boss' or a 'patron' in certain professional subcultures, extending far beyond a spouse.
- While 主人 is used to refer to a husband, the literal meaning of the characters is 'master' or 'main person'.
Examples in context
- 夫はいい人よ。My husband is a good man.This sentence is useful for describing your husband as a good man using 夫.Tatoeba #9029056 by small_snow, translation #2230333 by Hybrid
- 旦那様はどこ？Where's your husband?This sentence is useful for asking about someone's husband using 旦那.Tatoeba #11875931 by small_snow, translation #9969392 by ddnktr
- 私達は夫婦です。We are husband and wife.This sentence is useful for stating that two people are husband and wife using 夫.Tatoeba #151293 by small_snow, translation #263263 by CK
- 主人との結婚記念日に贈り物をしました。I gave a gift on the anniversary with my husband.
- 旦那が大好きです！I love my husband!
- 141 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ren and Yui are talking about their family members at a cafe.
- 蓮 Ren結衣さんの夫は元気ですか？Yui-san no otto wa genki desu ka?Is your husband doing well, Yui?
- 結衣 Yuiはい、夫はとても元気ですよ。Hai, otto wa totemo genki desu yo.Yes, my husband is very energetic.
- 蓮 Renそれは良かったです。Sore wa yokatta desu.That is good to hear.
- 結衣 Yuiありがとうございます。Arigatou gozaimasu.Thank you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “husband” translations and entries 夫, 旦那, 亭主, 主人, ハズバンド, ハズ, ご主人, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 主人, 夫, 旦那, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
