épouser

The French verb "épouser" means "to marry" or "to wed" someone. It refers specifically to the act of entering into a marriage or formal union with another person.

Meaning:

• Épouser quelqu’un = to marry someone.
• Example: Il a épousé Marie l’année dernière. (He married Marie last year.)

Synonyms and differences:

• Se marier avec: Also means "to marry," but it's a pronominal verb that focuses more on the mutual action ("to get married with").

  • Ils se sont mariés en juin. (They got married in June.)
  • "Se marier" can be slightly more neutral or formal than "épouser," but both are correct.

• Convoler en justes noces: A formal or literary expression meaning "to marry."

Summary:

• Épouser focuses on the act of one person taking another as spouse.
• Se marier avec emphasizes the mutual union or the event of marriage.
• In everyday language, both are common, but épouser is often used when focusing on the act from the perspective of one party.