mariage
/ma.ʁjaʒ/masculine
The English phrase marriage is translated into French as mariage.
The word mariage refers both to the social or legal institution of marriage and to the wedding ceremony itself. For example, you can use Mariage civil to refer specifically to a civil or legal marriage or mariage religieux to describe a union solemnized by religious rites. Other related terms include le marié for the groom and les alliances for the wedding rings.
Meaning: union of two people (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In parts of France and Belgium, the word noces is used to refer to marriage, especially regarding festivities.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
mariage is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ma.ʁjaʒ/ (2 syllables)
Did you know?
- In a French mariage, it is traditional to serve a croquembouche, a towering cone of cream puffs bound by caramel, rather than a tiered sponge cake.
- The term mariage blanc refers to a 'white marriage' which is a marriage of convenience entered into primarily for immigration or legal residency purposes.
- In France, a couple is not legally married until they have a mariage civil at the city hall, even if they have already had a mariage religieux.
Examples in context
- Le mariage est sacré.Marriage is holy.This sentence demonstrates the use of mariage to express the sanctity of the institution.Tatoeba #11467486 by felix63, translation #9701863 by Taam
- Tu parles de mariage ?Are you talking about marriage?This sentence shows how to ask if someone is discussing the topic of marriage using mariage.Tatoeba #12064052 by Rovo, translation #12063809 by CK
- Votre mariage est à mal.Your marriage is in trouble.This sentence illustrates a situation where a marriage is in trouble using mariage.Tatoeba #2135661 by sacredceltic, translation #1994403 by CK
- Nous prévoyons un mariage civilWe're planning a civil marriage
- Ils ont officialisé leur unionThey made their union official
- les noces d'orGolden wedding anniversary
- célébrer les nocesCelebrating the wedding
- un mariage traditionnelA traditional marriage
- 136 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Lucas are discussing their future plans.
- ChloéTu penses au mariage, Lucas ?Are you thinking about marriage, Lucas?
- LucasOui, mais pas tout de suite.Yes, but not right away.
- ChloéJe veux un petit mariage intime.I want a small, intimate marriage.
- LucasMoi aussi, je suis d'accord.Me too, I agree.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “marriage” translations and entries mariage, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
