When it comes to the love language, some of the words that most people use include fiancé, fiancée among others. It is imperative to note that these words are commonly used among people who are engaged with each other. In other words, these individuals look forward towards marrying each other. Since these words originate from French words, it is normal for non-French speakers to confuse them. The reality of issues is that these words have a different meaning despite being used in the same context.
As far as their differences are concerned, you will realize that the word ‘fiancé’ refers to the man who is engaged and ready to be married while its counterpart refers to a woman who is engaged and ready to be married. In this case, one of the main differences between these two terms is gender. The good news is that we shall outline other differences between these two terms so as to avoid confusion or ambiguity.
What Does Fiancé Mean?
The term mentioned above usually refers to a man who has a romantic partner to whom he is committed to getting married in the near future. Generally, this man is engaged to his partner. Remember that the engagement period begins from the day a man proposes to the lady to the D-day of their marriage. The period between these two occasions is commonly known as the period of engagement. It is during this period that the man involved earns the title, ‘fiancé’. Once the man is married, he will no longer be called fiancé but rather will get a new title as ‘Mr.’
What Does Fiancée Mean?
Simply put, a fiancée is a female who has a romantic partner and is looking forward to get married to him soon. A woman gets this title after she accepts the proposal from the man who intends to marry her in future. In this case, this woman is said to be engaged to that man.
| Fiancé | Fiancée |
|---|---|
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Main Differences Between Fiancé and Fiancée
Although both words are usually used in the context of engagement, there are some differences that set them apart. Here are some notable differences between these two terms:
1. Gender
One of those aspects that distinguishes these two terms is gender. You will note that a fiancé refers to a male partner who is engaged and is looking forward to get married, while a fiancée refers to a woman who is engaged and is looking forward to tying the knot with a man.
2. Spelling
Although the origin of both terms is the same, there is a difference when it comes to how each word is spelled. For instance, the word ‘fiancé’ has one ‘e’ at the end while its counterpart has double ‘e’ at the end. It is important to note that the extra ‘e’ that appears at the end of the word is used to denote the gender.
In this case, the word ‘fiancé’ means a man while its counterpart refers to a female. Remember that these both Latin and French-based words usually distinguish gender by adding an extra ‘e’ at the end of the words in question. A good example is fiancé and fiancée. On the contrary, English tends to be neutral when it comes to gender.
3. Usage
Besides gender and spelling, these terms differ when it comes to how they are used out there. Like we mentioned above, the word ‘fiancé’ usually refers to a male person who is engaged and is going to get married soon. Therefore, this term is commonly used to show how someone is related to the other person. A good example is:
- Her fiancé
- My fiancé
- The fiancé of Mary
- Lucy’s fiancé
In a sentence, the word ‘fiancé’ can be used as follows:
- Amanda’s fiancé is called Eric
- My fiancé bought me a brand new car
- Both Juliet and Nancy will get married next month. Their fiancés are called James and Peter, respectively.
On the other hand, the word ‘fiancée’ is used differently. In this case, it is usually used to refer to a female person who is engaged and is waiting to get married soon. Just like the word ‘fiancé’, this word is used to show a relation with the other person of the opposite gender. Here are some examples that will help you understand:
- My fiancé is a wonderful woman
- Martin and his fiancée went to London
- James has had many fiancées in his lifetime.
- Peter’s fiancée is an bank accountant
Do Fiancé And Fiancée Have Accent Marks?
Yes. You will note that both terms have accent marks. This is because these words still retain their French spelling. However, it is not a must that you use these accent marks. Whether you omit them or not, the meaning is still the same. It all depends on the writing style guide in question. Therefore, if you are writing for a major academic or publication, you should pay attention to the style guide indicated in the instructions so as to avoid making mistakes.
Final Thoughts
Although these words have the same origin and can be used in the same context, there are certain differences that set them apart. From their meaning to how they are spelled, there are many differences that distinguish them. Therefore, you should note all the differences mentioned above to avoid any confusion regarding gender and so forth.
