Cool MateGetting married vs Marriage vs Matrimony vs Union
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Getting married
Marriage
Matrimony
Union
| Getting married | Marriage | Matrimony | Union | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈɡɛtɪŋ ˈmærɪd//🇺🇸 //ˈɡɛtɪŋ ˈmɛrɪd// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈmærɪdʒ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈmærɪdʒ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈmætrɪməni//🇺🇸 //ˈmætrɪmoʊni// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈjuːniən/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈjuːniən/"]/ |
| Meaning | When two people promise to live together as a couple. | A legal union between two people, usually involving a ceremony. | Marriage, the state of being married. | A group of people or organizations joined together for a common purpose. |
| Example | They are planning on getting married next summer. | Marriage is a significant commitment between two people. | Their matrimony was celebrated with a grand wedding ceremony. | The labor union negotiated better wages for its members. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Formal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | B1 | B1 | B1 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun | noun | |
| Collocations | getting married soon, getting married in a church, getting married abroad | good, happy, successful, have, propose, enter into, last, be over, break down, vows, plans, proposal, by a marriage, from a marriage, by marriage, ask for somebody’s hand in marriage, win somebody’s hand in marriage, the break-up of a marriage, good, happy, successful, have, propose, enter into, last, be over, break down, vows, plans, proposal, by a marriage, from a marriage, by marriage, ask for somebody’s hand in marriage, win somebody’s hand in marriage, the break-up of a marriage, Christian, Jewish, etc., celebrate, be held, take place, ceremony, certificate, contract, at a/the marriage, marriage to | enter matrimony, sacred matrimony, blessed matrimony | labor, trade, trades, form, organize, set up, be affiliated to something, represent somebody/something, negotiate (something), confederation, federation, movement, close, loose, full, create, form, dissolve, union between, union with, civil, legal, holy, allow, recognize |
| Antonyms | getting divorced, separating, splitting up | divorce, separation | divorce, separation | disunion, division, separation |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'getting marry' - correct is 'getting married'., Incorrectly use in past tense without context, e.g., 'I got married last year.' without a timeline., Assuming it applies to couples only, ignoring common-law or civil partnerships. | Confused with 'marriage' vs 'married'., Using 'marriage' in a context that implies a temporary relationship., Incorrectly pluralizing 'marriage' as 'marriages' when referring to the concept in general. | Confused with 'matrimonial' which refers to things related to marriage., Using it interchangeably with 'relationship', which has a broader meaning. | Confusing with 'unit', which means one part of something., Using 'unions' incorrectly in singular contexts., Mispronouncing the word, especially the 'u' sound. |
| Usage notes | Used in both spoken and written English. Appropriate in formal situations like weddings and informal discussions about relationships. | Use 'marriage' in both formal and informal contexts. Appropriate when discussing partnerships, legal matters, or family. Avoid in casual settings when making jokes. | Used in formal contexts, often related to legal or religious aspects of marriage. Not appropriate in casual conversations. | Used in contexts like labor unions or political unions. It's appropriate in formal discussions or writing. Avoid using it in casual conversation unless referring to a specific organization. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Getting married vs Marriage vs Matrimony vs Union
What's the difference between Getting married, Marriage, Matrimony, and Union?
Getting married: When two people promise to live together as a couple. Marriage: A legal union between two people, usually involving a ceremony. Matrimony: Marriage, the state of being married. Union: A group of people or organizations joined together for a common purpose.
Which is more formal: Getting married, Marriage, Matrimony, and Union?
Matrimony is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Getting married, Marriage, Matrimony, and Union?
Marriage is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Getting married: They are planning on getting married next summer. Marriage: Marriage is a significant commitment between two people. Matrimony: Their matrimony was celebrated with a grand wedding ceremony. Union: The labor union negotiated better wages for its members.
Can I use Getting married, Marriage, Matrimony, and Union interchangeably?
Not always. Getting married, Marriage, Matrimony, and Union are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.