I'm marrying that girl vs Spouse vs Union

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

I'm marrying that girl

Top 2,000 (common)

Spouse

Top 3,000 (common)C1noun

Union

Top 2,000 (common)B1noun
 I'm marrying that girlSpouseUnion
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //aɪm ˈmɛəriɪŋ ðæt ɡɜːl//🇺🇸 //aɪm ˈmɛriɪŋ ðæt ɡɜrl//🇬🇧 //spaʊs//🇺🇸 //spaʊs//🇬🇧 /["/ˈjuːniən/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈjuːniən/"]/
MeaningI will become a husband to that girl.A person's husband or wife.A group of people or organizations joined together for a common purpose.
ExampleI'm marrying that girl because she makes me happy.She introduced her spouse to her friends at the party.The labor union negotiated better wages for its members.
RegisterNeutralNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 3,000 (common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level-C1B1
Part of speechnounnoun
Collocationsgetting married, marrying someone, marrying young, marrying for love, marrying into a familylife partner, marital spouse, spousal supportlabor, 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-stranger, enemy, singledisunion, division, separation
Common mistakesConfused with 'I marry that girl' which is less common., 'Marrying' may be used incorrectly in past tense as 'married'.Using 'spouse' for a partner in a non-marital relationship., Confusing 'spouse' with 'partner,' which can refer to various types of relationships., Not using it in an appropriate formal context.Confusing with 'unit', which means one part of something., Using 'unions' incorrectly in singular contexts., Mispronouncing the word, especially the 'u' sound.
Usage notesUsed to express intention or commitment to marry someone. Appropriate in casual and formal contexts, but not in professional or negative situations.Used to refer to a partner in marriage. More common in formal contexts; in casual settings, 'husband' or 'wife' is often used instead.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.

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I'm marrying that girl

Frequently asked questions: I'm marrying that girl vs Spouse vs Union

What's the difference between I'm marrying that girl, Spouse, and Union?

I'm marrying that girl: I will become a husband to that girl. Spouse: A person's husband or wife. Union: A group of people or organizations joined together for a common purpose.

Which is more advanced: I'm marrying that girl, Spouse, and Union?

Spouse is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.

Can you show an example of each?

I'm marrying that girl: I'm marrying that girl because she makes me happy. Spouse: She introduced her spouse to her friends at the party. Union: The labor union negotiated better wages for its members.

Can I use I'm marrying that girl, Spouse, and Union interchangeably?

Not always. I'm marrying that girl, Spouse, 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.