Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| cónyuge | /ˈkonʝuxe/ | feminine, masculine |
| consorte | /konˈsoɾte/ | feminine, masculine |
| prójimo | /ˈpɾoximo/ | colloquial, masculine |
| oíslo | /oislo/ (from spelling rules) | colloquial, feminine, masculine, uncommon |
This term refers to a person in a marriage or marital relationship.
Which one should you use?
While cónyuge is a general legal term for a spouse, consorte is often used in the context of royalty or high-ranking officials (a consort). The colloquial term prójimo is masculine, while oíslo is an uncommon, colloquial term that can be either masculine or feminine.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
cónyuge is a formal term primarily used in legal, formal or administrative contexts. consorte is also formal, specifically for high-ranking officials or royalty. In contrast, prójimo and oíslo are colloquial.
How does it change in a sentence?
cónyuge is an epicene noun, meaning it has the same form for both masculine and feminine genders. Similarly, consorte can be either masculine or feminine.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkonʝuxe/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mispronounce the 'g' in cónyuge as a hard 'g' as in 'go', but it is a soft, palatal sound similar to the 'ny' in 'canyon'.
Did you know?
- The word cónyuge comes from the Latin coniugem, which originally referred to the act of joining or yoking two things together.
- Using consorte for a spouse who is not royalty can be interpreted as a sarcastic or overly grand way of speaking.
- While cónyuge is used as 'spouse' in legal documents, you will almost never hear it used in a casual conversation between friends or family members.
Examples in context
- ¿Cuánto tiempo pasa usted con su cónyuge?How much time do you spend with your spouse?This sentence is useful for asking about the amount of time spent with a cónyuge.Tatoeba #1360750 by Shishir, translation #909528 by CK
- Si tu cónyuge es un político, entonces probablemente tu nombre también aparecerá en el periódico de vez en cuando.If your spouse is a politician, then likely your name will also appear in the newspaper from time to time.This sentence shows how a cónyuge being a politician might affect one's public profile.Tatoeba #2018970 by teskmon, translation #941296 by CK
- Un viudo es un hombre cuya cónyuge ha fallecido.A widower is a man whose spouse has died.This sentence uses cónyuge to define a widower.Tatoeba #11021152 by Adelpa, translation #6035396 by RobinvanderVliet
- Mi cónyuge y yo estamos muy contentos de asistir a la boda.My spouse and I are very happy to attend the wedding.
- La esposa del alcalde es una reconocida abogada.The mayor's wife is a renowned lawyer.
- Mi esposa es una excelente cocinera.My wife is an excellent cook.
- El sábado pasado, fuimos al cine con mi esposo.Last Saturday, we went to the movies with my husband.
- Mi marido siempre me apoya en todas mis decisiones.My husband always supports me in all my decisions.
- El fin de semana, salí de compras con mi mujer.On the weekend, I went shopping with my wife.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and María are filling out a legal document together.
- AlejandroAquí debes escribir el nombre de tu cónyuge.Here you must write your spouse's name.
- MaríaEstá bien, lo escribiré ahora mismo.Alright, I will write it right now.
- AlejandroTambién necesitamos el documento de identidad de tu cónyuge.We also need your spouse's identity document.
- MaríaLo buscaré en mi bolso, Alejandro.I will look for it in my bag, Alejandro.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “spouse” translations and entries cónyuge, consorte, prójimo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries consorte, cónyuge, prójimo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
