fru
/frʉː/
The English word 'wife' translates to Swedish as fru, hustru or maka.
Meaning: female partner in a marriage (noun)
Ways to say it
| Swedish | IPA |
|---|---|
| fru | /frʉː/ |
| hustru | /hɵ̄sːtrʉ̂ː/ |
| maka | /ˈmɑːˌka/ |
All these terms refer to a female partner in a marriage. While hustru is a direct translation, fru is the most common everyday word used to refer to one's wife.
Which one should you use?
fru is the most common way to refer to a wife in everyday speech. hustru is a more formal term for wife. maka is another way to say wife.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
fru is the most common everyday term, but it is also used as a formal title equivalent to 'Mrs.' when placed before a surname. Note that using the word kärring to refer to a woman can be considered derogatory and disrespectful.
How does it change in a sentence?
The indefinite form of 'wife' is fru, and the definite form is frun.
How do you pronounce it?
/frʉː/
Did you know?
- While fru is the common word for 'wife', it shares an ancient root with the Norse goddess Freja, the deity of love and beauty.
- The term maka is gender-neutral in its origin, and while it is often used for 'wife', the masculine form makar can refer to 'husbands' or a 'married couple' in general.
- In modern Swedish, using fru as a title before a surname, such as fru Andersson, is quite old-fashioned and can make a person seem very formal or high-status.
Examples in context
- Jag har en fru.I have a wife.This sentence is useful for stating that you have a fru.Tatoeba #4347965 by richke, translation #3374139 by CK
- Min fru är arg.My wife is mad.This sentence is useful for describing a state of your fru.Tatoeba #10661345 by Pineapple, translation #1934767 by Spamster
- Jag är Toms fru.I'm Tom's wife.This sentence is useful for identifying yourself as someone's fru.Tatoeba #3526078 by Tximist, translation #2235801 by CK
- Min hustru är svensk.My wife is Swedish.
- Hon är en fantastisk hustru.She is an amazing wife.
- Jag älskar min fru så mycket.I love my wife so much.
- Hemkommen från jobbet mötte jag min fru och barnen.Coming home from work, I met my wife and the kids.
- Vi är ett lyckligt gift par – jag är mannen och hon är frun.We are a happily married couple – I am the husband and she is the wife.
- 74 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Erik introduces his partner at a formal event.
- MajaVem är kvinnan där borta, Erik?Who is the woman over there, Erik?
- ErikDet är min fru, Maja.That is my wife, Maja.
- MajaHon ser mycket elegant ut.She looks very elegant.
- ErikTack, jag ska hälsa henne.Thank you, I will go greet her.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wife” translations and entries fru, hustru, maka, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries fru, hustru, maka, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
