mujer

/moo-HER/

A diverse group of adult women smiling and looking confident.

The most common meaning of 'mujer' is 'woman,' referring to an adult female person.

mujer (Noun)

fA1

woman?General term for an adult female.

Also:female?Used in a more biological or general sense.

📝 In Action

Esa mujer es mi profesora de español.

That woman is my Spanish teacher.

Hay una mujer esperando en la puerta.

There is a woman waiting at the door.

La lucha por los derechos de la mujer es importante.

The fight for women's rights is important.

Word Connections

Synonyms

dama (lady)
fémina (female)

Antonyms

hombre (man)

Common Collocations

mujer de negocios – businesswoman
mujer trabajadora – working woman
ser toda una mujer – to be a real woman / all grown up

Idioms & Expressions

mujer de armas tomar – A strong-willed, determined woman; a go-getter

💡 Grammar Points

Always Feminine

The word 'mujer' is always a feminine noun. This means you always use 'la' for 'the' (la mujer) and 'una' for 'a' (una mujer).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the Wrong 'The'

Mistake: "El mujer es alta."

Correction: La mujer es alta. Because 'mujer' is a feminine word, it needs the feminine article 'la' before it.

⭐ Usage Tips

Woman vs. Girl

Use 'mujer' for an adult woman. For a young girl or child, you would typically use 'niña' or 'chica'.

A man and a woman, clearly a couple, standing side-by-side with their arms around each other.

In conversation, 'mujer' is often used to mean 'wife' or a long-term female partner.

mujer (Noun)

fA2

wife?Referring to one's spouse.

Also:partner?A long-term female romantic partner.

📝 In Action

Mi mujer es de Argentina.

My wife is from Argentina.

Voy a ir al cine con mi mujer esta noche.

I'm going to the movies with my wife tonight.

¿Cómo se llama tu mujer?

What is your wife's name?

Word Connections

Synonyms

esposa (wife/spouse)
señora (wife (can also mean 'Mrs.' or 'lady'))

Antonyms

marido (husband)
esposo (husband)

Common Collocations

mi mujer – my wife
la mujer de Juan – Juan's wife

💡 Grammar Points

Possessive Words

This meaning is almost always used with a word that shows ownership, like 'mi' (my), 'tu' (your), or 'su' (his/her). For example, 'mi mujer' (my wife).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing with 'Girlfriend'

Mistake: "Te presento a mi mujer, llevamos dos meses saliendo."

Correction: Te presento a mi novia, llevamos dos meses saliendo. 'Mujer' implies a very serious, long-term relationship, usually marriage. For a girlfriend, you should use 'novia'.

⭐ Usage Tips

'Mujer' vs. 'Esposa'

'Mujer' is very common and natural in spoken Spanish for 'wife'. 'Esposa' is also correct and can sound a little more formal or be used in writing.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: mujer

Question 1 of 1

In the sentence 'Hablé con la mujer de mi jefe,' what does 'la mujer' most likely mean?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

mujeriego(womanizer) - noun/adjective

mujeril(womanly, feminine) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'mujer' and 'esposa'?

Both can mean 'wife'. 'Mujer' is very common in everyday speech and sounds more informal and personal. 'Esposa' is also correct, but can sound a bit more formal or official. You can't go wrong with either, but 'mujer' is used very frequently by native speakers.

Is it okay to call a woman 'mujer' when addressing her directly?

Generally, no. You wouldn't say 'Hola, mujer' to a stranger. It's better to use 'señora' (for an older woman or to be formal), 'señorita' (for a younger woman), or just say 'perdón' (excuse me) to get her attention. 'Mujer' is used to talk *about* a woman, not usually *to* her directly.