esposa
/esˈposa/feminine
The Spanish word for wife is esposa. Wiktionary also lists mujer and jerma.
Meaning: female partner in a marriage (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| esposa | /esˈposa/ | feminine |
| mujer | /muˈxeɾ/ | feminine |
| jerma | /xeɾma/ (from spelling rules) | Peru, feminine |
The term is used to refer to a female partner in a marriage.
Which one should you use?
While esposa specifically denotes a legal spouse, mujer is a very common, colloquial way to say wife in many Spanish-speaking countries, even though its literal meaning is woman.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Peru, the slang term jerma is used to mean wife. In some Latin American countries, the informal term vieja may also be used to mean wife.
How does it change in a sentence?
To refer to a married couple (husband and wife), the masculine plural form esposos is used.
How do you pronounce it?
/esˈposa/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful not to confuse the singular esposa with the plural esposas, which can also mean handcuffs.
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, referring to your wife as mi vieja is a sign of long-term familiarity rather than a literal comment on her age.
- The word esposa comes from the Latin spōnsa, which refers to a person who has been 'promised' in marriage.
- In some Caribbean-influenced Spanish, using the term jerma to mean wife can actually be seen as a highly derogatory or vulgar slang term depending on the tone.
Examples in context
- Dejó a su mujer.He left his wife.This sentence shows how to use mujer to talk about leaving a spouse.Tatoeba #2274945 by Shishir, translation #2255631 by _undertoad
- Mi mujer me pega.My wife beats me.This sentence uses mujer in a personal context.Tatoeba #1127986 by hayastan, translation #1127469 by CM
- No soy tu esposa.I am not your wife.This sentence demonstrates the use of esposa in a direct statement.Tatoeba #3156733 by hayastan, translation #2906752 by Hybrid
- Le presento a mi esposa.Let me introduce you to my wife.
- Hoy salgo a cenar con mi mujer.Today, I'm going out to dinner with my wife.
- 662 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and María are talking at a social event.
- Daniel¿Es ella tu esposa, María?Is she your wife, María?
- MaríaNo, es mi hermana.No, she is my sister.
- DanielAh, entiendo.Ah, I see.
- MaríaMi esposa vendrá más tarde.My wife will come later.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wife” translations and entries esposa, mujer, 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 esposa, mujer, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
