Which one should you use?
While ma femme is the standard everyday term, other forms exist for specific contexts. Mon épouse is a more formal and administrative way to say 'my wife'. For legal or administrative purposes, ma conjointe is often used and mon épouse légitime is used specifically to refer to a lawful wife. In informal settings, you might hear ma moitié (my half) to express companionship or ma petite femme for a playful and affectionate tone.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Ma femme is the standard, neutral term suitable for most situations. For highly formal or official circumstances, use mon épouse or ma conjointe. In informal and endearing contexts, one might use ma chérie to mean 'my dear', which can refer to both a girlfriend and a wife or ma petite femme for a playful tone.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because femme is a feminine noun, you must use the feminine possessive adjective ma instead of the masculine mon.
When do people say it?
In informal and affectionate settings, speakers may use terms like ma moitié to express that their partner completes them or ma chérie as an endearing term for a wife or girlfriend.
Did you know?
- The word femme has a biological origin rooted in the act of breastfeeding, tracing back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to suckle'.
Examples in context
- Ma femme me bat.My wife beats me.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase ma femme in a sentence involving an action.Tatoeba #1995327 by sacredceltic, translation #1127469 by CM
- Mary est ma femme.Mary is my wife.This sentence is useful for identifying someone as ma femme.Tatoeba #11792087 by Zahia_Ntmazirt, translation #4419624 by Hybrid
- Ma femme m'a menti.My wife lied to me.This sentence is useful for seeing how ma femme functions as the subject of a sentence involving a past action.Tatoeba #4615429 by sacredceltic, translation #2427907 by Hybrid
- Je vous présente ma femme, MarieAllow me to introduce you to my wife, Marie
- Mon épouse est une femme exceptionnelleMy wife is an exceptional woman
- Ma conjointe et moi avons acheté une maisonMy wife and I bought a house
- J'ai l'honneur de vous présenter mon épouse légitime, SophieI have the honor to introduce you to my lawful wife, Sophie
- Je suis perdu sans ma moitiéI am lost without my better half
- Viens ici, ma petite femme, je veux te serrer dans mes brasCome here, my little wife, I want to hold you in my arms
- 300 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan is introducing his spouse to Emma.
- EmmaQui est cette personne ?Who is this person?
- NathanC'est ma femme, Sarah.This is my wife, Sarah.
- EmmaEnchantée de faire votre connaissance.Nice to meet you.
- NathanElle est ravie aussi.She is delighted as well.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries femme, ma, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
