Difference between a Fiance and a Fiancee
By Theydiffer - March 22, 2017

Did you know that the words “fiancé” and “fiancée” are not interchangeable? If you didn’t, don’t be embarrassed because you are not alone. In fact, if you look this up on the internet, you will realize that this is one of those frequently asked questions on ESL websites. So what’s the difference between the two? This will be discussed in this article.

Definitions

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The word fiancé is a noun which refers to a man who is to be married. Let’s take a look at a few examples:

  1. My fiancé drove 50 miles to pick up his custom-made suit.
  2. I can’t believe Shelly bought a $75,000 watch for her fiancé, a businessman she met on the internet two months ago.
  3. As a fiancé, Paul thinks it’s his responsibility to pay for the entire wedding.

On the contrary, the word fiancée is a noun that refers to a woman who is to be married. Here are some examples:

  1. After thirteen years of dating, Ian can finally call Bea his fiancée.
  2. Please let the wedding planner know Jeremy’s fiancée will return her Louboutin shoes at 3:00 PM today.
  3. Chantal, Fernando’s beautiful fiancée, is four months pregnant so they have to alter the wedding dress.

Fiancé vs Fiancée

What, then, is the difference between a fiancé and a fiancée?

The two words are both nouns but are not interchangeable. “Fiancé” is a man who is to be married, whereas “fiancée” is a woman who is to be married.

In places where same-sex marriage is allowed, the parties who will be married can both be fiancés or fiancées.

Comparison Chart

FiancéFiancée
A man who is to be marriedA woman who is to be married