How to Say "husband" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “husband” is “esposo” — use 'esposo' to refer to your married male partner in most standard situations. It is a direct and common equivalent of 'husband'..
esposo
/es-PO-so//esˈposo/
Examples
Mi esposo trabaja en el hospital.
My husband works at the hospital.
Mi esposo es médico.
My husband is a doctor.
Voy al cine con mi esposo esta noche.
I'm going to the movies with my husband tonight.
El esposo de María es muy amable.
Maria's husband is very kind.
Matching Gender: Esposo / Esposa
Spanish has specific words for partners based on gender. Use 'esposo' for a male husband and 'esposa' for a female wife. The ending tells you who you're talking about!
The Plural 'Los Esposos'
To talk about a married couple (a husband and wife together), you can use the plural form 'los esposos'. Even though it ends in '-os', it refers to both people.
Using 'el' instead of 'mi'
Mistake: “Voy con el esposo al mercado.”
Correction: Voy con mi esposo al mercado. (I'm going with my husband to the market). When talking about your own husband, you need to use 'mi' (my), just like in English.
marido
/mah-REE-doh//maˈɾido/
Examples
Mi marido es profesor de historia.
My husband is a history professor.
Mi marido es de México.
My husband is from Mexico.
¿Cómo se llama tu marido?
What is your husband's name?
Ella va al cine con su marido todos los viernes.
She goes to the movies with her husband every Friday.
Always a 'He'
The word 'marido' is always masculine, meaning it refers to a man. You'll use masculine description words with it, like 'el', 'un', and 'mi'.
'Marido' vs. 'Esposo'
Mistake: “Thinking one is 'right' and the other is 'wrong'.”
Correction: 'Marido' and 'esposo' both mean 'husband,' and you can often use them the same way. 'Marido' is very common in everyday conversation. 'Esposo' can feel a bit more formal or legal, but many people use it daily too. You can't go wrong with either!
casado
cah-SAH-doh/kaˈsaðo/
Examples
En la reunión, la mayoría de los asistentes eran casados.
In the meeting, most attendees were married men.
En la encuesta, el 60% de los encuestados eran casados.
In the survey, 60% of the respondents were married people (married men/people).
Llegó tarde porque su casado tuvo un accidente.
She arrived late because her husband had an accident. (Less formal/regional use for 'husband')
The Noun Form
When 'casado' is used as a noun, it means 'a married man.' If you are talking about women, you must use the feminine form: 'una casada' (a married woman).
hombre
/OM-breh//ˈombɾe/
Examples
Mi hombre siempre me apoya.
My man always supports me.
El hombre alto lee un libro.
The tall man is reading a book.
¿Conoces a ese hombre de allí?
Do you know that man over there?
Mi hombre llega a las seis.
My husband gets here at six.
Always Masculine
The word 'hombre' is always masculine, so you'll always use 'el' or 'un' before it. For example, 'el hombre' (the man) or 'un hombre' (a man).
Mixing up 'hombre' and 'hombro'
Mistake: “Me duele el hombre.”
Correction: Me duele el hombro. (My shoulder hurts). Be careful with that one letter difference! 'Hombre' is a person, 'hombro' is a body part.
Choosing Between Esposo and Marido
Related Translations
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