Spouse

A spouse is a person legally or religiously recognized as joined to another through marriage. The term applies to both parties in a marriage: the husband and the wife. Some languages have a gender-neutral term covering both parties, such as 'spouse' in English or 'eş' in Turkish.

The condition of being married begins at the time of the marriage and ends through divorce, dissolution of the marriage (legal annulment), or the death of one party. While it endures, it creates rights and obligations concerning property, children, and family responsibility, which vary according to legal systems.

Somali terminology

In Somali, 'nin' (man) and 'xaas' or 'naag' (woman) are the ordinary terms for the two parties. The words 'lamaane' and 'lammaane' mean two joined together, while 'inko' (from 'in-law', denoting marriage relations) refers to relatives by marriage. The use of 'lamaane-inko' corresponds to the gender-neutral sense of 'spouse'.

Rights and obligations

Most legal systems recognize marriage as creating a legal relationship affecting inheritance, taxation, travel, and medical decisions made on behalf of a spouse when they are unable to do so. There are also financial support obligations that may continue after divorce, such as child support or spousal maintenance.

Variation by custom

Marriage arrangements vary: monogamy and polygamy are regulated by Islamic law and other traditions. Some countries recognize same-sex marriage, which has expanded the meaning of the term spouse. In all cases, the law of the country determines who is formally recognized as a spouse.