husband and wife
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Meaning · English
A fixed-order word pair (irreversible binomial); full definition pending editorial review.
Where it’s used:
Used
Widespread English
Sources & notes
Listed on Wikipedia “Irreversible binomial” (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29).
Equivalents & related
Near equivalent
vợ chồng
(noun) husband and wife
Tiếng Việt
Near equivalent
ái ân
(verb) living together as husband and wife in harmony and affection
Tiếng Việt
Near equivalent
phu phụ
(noun) married couple, husband and wife
Tiếng Việt
Near equivalent
ăn nằm
(verb) to live as husband and wife
Tiếng Việt
Near equivalent
sui gia
(noun) union between families by marriage; parents of husband and wife; co-parents-in-law
Tiếng Việt
Near equivalent
thông gia
(noun) parents of husband and wife; co-parents-in-law
Tiếng Việt
Near equivalent
tam cương
(noun) phu phụ (夫婦, “husband and wife”)
Tiếng Việt
Near equivalent
ngũ luân
(noun) phu phụ (夫婦, “husband and wife”)
Tiếng Việt
Common questions
What does “husband and wife” mean?
A fixed-order word pair (irreversible binomial); full definition pending editorial review.
Is “husband and wife” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.
What is the closest equivalent?
“vợ chồng” (Tiếng Việt) — near equivalent.