minha esposa
/ˈmĩ.ɲɐ isˈpo.zɐ/word by word
The phrase "my wife" in Portuguese is minha esposa.
This phrase is used to identify a female partner in a marriage.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of minha, which is the feminine form of "my" and esposa, meaning "wife".
Which one should you use?
While minha esposa is the standard way to say "my wife", the phrase minha mulher is a very common, more colloquial alternative.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because esposa is a feminine noun, you must use the feminine possessive adjective minha instead of the masculine meu.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈmĩ.ɲɐ isˈpo.zɐ/. It has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- In Brazil, calling a wife minha patroa literally means 'my boss' and is used as a humorous way to acknowledge her authority in the house.
- The Latin root of esposa, 'sponsa', refers to a promise or a pledge, highlighting that the word's history is rooted in the concept of a 'betrothed' person.
- In many Portuguese-speaking-speaking cultures, a man might introduce his wife simply as minha companheira, a term that implies a long-term life partner without necessarily implying a legal marriage.
Examples in context
- Ela é minha esposa.She's my wife.This sentence is useful for identifying a person as minha esposa.Tatoeba #2737761 by Sitko, translation #1325177 by Scott
- Maria é minha esposa.Mary is my wife.Tatoeba #5022066 by bill, translation #4419624 by Hybrid
- Eu amo a minha esposa.I love my wife.This sentence is useful for expressing affection for minha esposa.Tatoeba #1234223 by alexmarcelo, translation #436791 by lukaszpp
- Apresento-lhe minha esposa, Maria.Let me introduce you to my wife, Maria.
- Vou viajar com minha mulher no fim de semana.I am traveling with my wife this weekend.
- 159 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At a party, Gabriel introduces his partner to Beatriz.
- BeatrizOlá, Gabriel! Quem é ela?Hello, Gabriel! Who is she?
- GabrielOi, Beatriz. Esta é minha esposa.Hi, Beatriz. This is my wife.
- BeatrizMuito prazer em conhecê-la.It is a pleasure to meet you.
- GabrielO prazer é todo nosso.The pleasure is all ours.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (minha, esposa) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries esposa, minha, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
