French · People & Family

"Husband" in French: mari

le mari

Say it: mah-REEmasculine · le marinoun/ma.ʁi/

Husband in French is le mari. Mon mari means my husband. Époux is more formal or legal; everyday talk sticks with mari.

Introducing family

Voici mon mari, Thomas.
This is my husband, Thomas.
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How to pronounce mari

Say it

mah-REE

/ma.ʁi/

Mari is mah-REE. Stress the second syllable. The r is a soft French r.

"Husband" in French: quick reference

FrenchEnglish
le marithe husband

Default everyday word.

mon marimy husband

Talking about your own spouse.

son mariher/his husband

Son before masculine nouns.

épouxspouse / husband (formal)

Forms, ceremonies, written French.

How to use mari in real life

  1. 1Introducing family

    Voici mon mari, Thomas.

    This is my husband, Thomas.

    Mon mari is the natural intro.

  2. 2Phone call

    Mon mari n'est pas encore rentré.

    My husband isn't home yet.

    Everyday schedule talk.

  3. 3Wedding story

    Son mari travaille à Lyon.

    Her husband works in Lyon.

    Son mari = her/his husband.

Mistakes English speakers make with mari

Incorrect: Ma mari.

Correct: Mon mari.

Mari is masculine, so mon, not ma.

Incorrect: Mon husband.

Correct: Mon mari.

Use mari, not the English word.

Good to know

People still say mon mari / ma femme a lot in France. Partner language (mon conjoint, mon compagnon) appears more in formal or inclusive contexts.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Meeting a coworker’s spouse

  1. ChatPal

    Je te présente mon mari.

    I'd like you to meet my husband.

  2. You

    Enchanté. Tu es le mari de Léa ?

    Nice to meet you. You're Léa's husband?

  3. ChatPal

    Oui, depuis dix ans.

    Yes, for ten years.

  4. You

    Vous faites une belle équipe.

    You make a great team.

This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.

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"Husband" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Husband" in French

What is husband in French?

Le mari.

How do I say my husband?

Mon mari.

Mari or époux?

Mari is everyday; époux is formal or legal.

How do you pronounce mari?

Mah-REE.

Learn a word, then use it out loud

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  3. Step 3: Get feedback
  4. Step 4: Use it in real scenarios

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