Ways to say it
| Tagalog | IPA |
|---|---|
| esposa | /ʔesˈposa/ (Standard Tagalog) |
| babaeng asawa |
In Tagalog, you can refer to a female partner in a marriage using several terms. While esposa is a recognized term, many speakers use the more common gender-neutral term asawa to refer to a spouse, whether they are a husband or a wife. You can also use the descriptive phrase babaeng asawa to specify a female spouse.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase babaeng asawa is a literal combination of babae (female) and asawa (spouse).
Which one should you use?
The term esposa specifically means wife, whereas the term asawa is gender-neutral and can mean either husband or wife.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Esposa is a formal or borrowed term from Spanish. In everyday conversation, Filipinos most commonly use asawa to refer to one's wife or husband.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʔesˈposa/
When do people say it?
When addressing a wife, the word mahal, meaning beloved, can be used as a term of endearment.
Did you know?
- The Tagalog word esposa is a doublet of the word posas, which means 'handcuffs' in modern Tagalog.
- In traditional Filipino culture, the term asawa emphasizes the partnership of marriage over the gender of the individual.
Examples in context
- Siya ang aking asawa.She is my wife.
- Kasama ko ang aking asawa sa biyahe na ito.I am traveling with my wife on this trip.
- Asawa niya si Misis Garcia.Misis Garcia is his wife.
- Anong regalo ang ibinigay mo sa misis mo?What gift did you give your wife?
Example conversation
Jose introduces Maria to a colleague.
- JoseIpakikilala ko sa iyo ang aking esposa.I will introduce my wife to you.
- MariaIkinagagalak kitang makilala, Maria.I am glad to meet you, Maria.
- JoseSalamat sa pagbati.Thank you for the greeting.
- MariaWalang anuman.You are welcome.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wife” translations and entries esposa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries asawa, esposa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
