french words for friend, marriage partner etc.

[idun]

 And there is ofcourse Tonton and Tatie...... !

[Loiseau]

...and "bonne Maman" (not the jam!) and "bon papa".

[tinabee]

[quote user="Loiseau"]These days I often hear people refer to their husband/wife as mon époux/mon épouse rather than mon mari/ma femme. Is is just a modern fad, is it a class thing, or is one version more correct than the other?

Angela[/quote]

Or it could be to take account of same sex marriages . . .

[woolybanana]

One does occasionally hear 'ma vieille' though usually not in the hearing of the lady concerned.

The woman selling my present home referred to her husband as her 'connard de mari'

[Gardengirl]

[quote user="tinabee"][quote user="Loiseau"]These days I often hear people refer to their husband/wife as mon époux/mon épouse rather than mon mari/ma femme. Is is just a modern fad, is it a class thing, or is one version more correct than the other?

Angela[/quote]

Or it could be to take account of same sex marriages . . .[/quote]

Those I know who use époux and épouse are older, mainly in their late 70s, 80s and 90s; don't know any younger people who use those terms. Our 90+ year old neighbour speaks of 'mon époux' but speaks to me of 'votre mari'.

[Gardengirl]

Sorry, I forgot what an utter mess comes up when quoting using my ipad.

[Loiseau]

That's true, GG, now you mention it. It's usually been older people who I have heard use époux.

Angela