Which one should you use?
mi esposa is the standard term, but mi mujer is a very common colloquial alternative used in many Spanish-speaking regions. In some contexts, mi señora may be used to show respect, whereas mi compañera emphasizes companionship.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
mi esposa is considered a formal or official way to say "my wife". In contrast, mi mujer can be used in both formal and informal contexts. For a more polite and respectful approach in certain countries, you might use mi señora. For highly informal or affectionate settings, you could use mi compañera or mi viejita. In very casual settings in Argentina, the colloquial mi jermu is used.
Is it said differently in some regions?
mi mujer is a common way to refer to one's wife in Spain. In some Latin American countries, mi viejita is an affectionate and informal way to say "my wife" and in Argentina, mi jermu is a colloquial and informal term.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase plural to say "my wives", change the possessive adjective mi to mis and add an s to the end of esposa to get mis esposas.
How do you pronounce it?
/mi esposa/
Did you know?
- The word esposa is a homonym in Spanish, meaning it can be used to refer to both a 'wife' and a pair of 'handcuffs'.
- In some regions, calling a wife mi viejita, which literally translates to 'my little old lady', is actually a term of endearment rather than an insult to her age.
- The word esposa shares its roots with the English word 'spouse', as both descend from the Latin 'spōnsa', which refers to a person who has made a solemn promise.
Examples in context
- Esa es mi esposa.That's my wife.This sentence is useful for identifying someone as your wife using mi esposa.Tatoeba #10885300 by Seael, translation #1879779 by Asma
- Ella es mi esposa.She's my wife.Tatoeba #1325799 by hayastan, translation #1325177 by Scott
- María es mi esposa.Mary is my wife.Tatoeba #4438113 by cueyayotl, translation #4419624 by Hybrid
- mi esposa es amableMy wife is kind
- amo a mi señoraI love my wife
- Voy a cenar con mi mujerI'm going to have dinner with my wife
- mi esposa cocina muy bienMy wife cooks very well
- 134 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro introduces his partner to a coworker.
- AlejandroTe presento a mi esposa, Elena.I introduce you to my wife, Elena.
- ElenaMucho gusto, Elena.Nice to meet you, Elena.
- AlejandroElla es la mejor cocinera.She is the best cook.
- ElenaQué suerte tienes, Alejandro.You are very lucky, Alejandro.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries esposa, mi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
