Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ehefrau | /ˈeːəˌfʁaʊ̯/ | feminine |
| Frau | /fʁaʊ̯/ | feminine |
| Eheweib | /ˈeːəˌvaɪ̯p/ | neuter |
| Weib | /vaɪ̯p/ | neuter |
| Gemahlin | /ɡəˈmaːlɪn/ | feminine |
| Gattin | /ˈɡatɪn/ | feminine |
The term refers to a female partner in a marriage. Depending on the context, different words are used to signify whether you are speaking about a woman in general or specifically a spouse.
What does it mean word for word?
The word Ehefrau is a compound of Ehe, which means marriage and Frau, which means woman or wife.
Which one should you use?
While Frau is the standard word for a woman, it is also the most common way to say wife when used with the verb haben (to have). The other available forms are distinguished by their specific levels of formality and tradition.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Ehefrau is the most common word used in formal contexts. Gattin is a polite, slightly old-fashioned and formal way to refer to a wife, while Gemahlin is a highly formal, almost legalistic term used in official contexts or high-register literature. In legal or bureaucratic settings, the term Ehegattin is frequently used. Conversely, Weib is an archaic term that is now often perceived as coarse or derogatory.
How does it change in a sentence?
The forms Ehefrau, Frau, Gemahlin and Gattin are feminine, whereas Eheweib and Weib are neuter.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈeːəˌfʁaʊ̯/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers should be aware that Frau can mean both 'woman' and 'wife'. The specific meaning is determined by the context, such as the difference between 'meine Frau' (my wife) and 'eine Frau' (a woman).
Did you know?
- Some writers use the lower-case frau instead of Frau as a feminist alternative to the word man meaning 'one' or 'human'.
- While Ehefrau is feminine, the older term Weib is grammatically neuter.
- The term Weib is a direct linguistic relative of the English word 'wife', but it has shifted from a neutral term to one that is often seen as coarse or insulting.
Examples in context
- Er hat eine Frau.He has a wife.This sentence shows how to use Frau to mean wife.Tatoeba #8784968 by wolfgangth, translation #7382329 by CH
- Hast du eine Frau?Do you have a wife?Tatoeba #1807954 by pne, translation #774848 by marloncori
- Wo ist meine Frau?Where's my wife?Tatoeba #5781335 by dasbeispielholz, translation #2254657 by CK
- Herr Schmidt ist stolz auf seine Ehefrau.Mr. Schmidt is proud of his wife.
- Die Gattin des Präsidenten besuchte das Waisenhaus.The president's wife visited the orphanage.
- Die Ehegattin des Verstorbenen erhielt das Erbe.The deceased's wife received the inheritance.
- Meine Frau kocht das beste Essen.My wife cooks the best food.
- 1168 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hannah and Julian are talking about a party invitation.
- HannahDarf ich meine Ehefrau mitbringen?May I bring my wife along?
- JulianJa, natürlich ist sie willkommen.Yes, of course she is welcome.
- HannahMeine Ehefrau freut sich schon sehr.My wife is already looking forward to it.
- JulianDann sehen wir uns bald!Then we will see you soon!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wife” translations and entries Ehefrau, Frau, Eheweib, Weib, Gemahlin, Gattin, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Ehefrau, Eheweib, Frau, Weib, frau, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
