le veuf

The French word "veuf" refers to a man whose spouse has died; in English, it means "widower." The feminine form is "veuve," which means "widow," referring to a woman in the same situation.

Meaning:

• "Veuf" denotes a man who has lost his wife through death and has not remarried.
• It specifically relates to marital status involving the death of a spouse, not just separation or divorce.

Synonyms and differences:

• There is no exact synonym for "veuf" in French that means exactly the same; however, to describe someone who has lost a partner in less formal terms, people might say "homme seul" (single man), but this doesn't emphasize the death of the spouse.
• The word "célibataire" means "single," but it refers to an unmarried person, not one who lost a spouse.
• "Veuf" is a precise, culturally and legally recognized term describing marital widowhood.

In use:

• Example: "Il est veuf depuis deux ans" — "He has been a widower for two years."

Summary: "Veuf" is a specific term meaning widower; its counterpart for women is "veuve." It is distinct from general words for single or unmarried people.