Definitions
- Referring to a friend or companion. - Talking about an animal's partner or mate. - Describing a romantic partner, especially in Australian and British English.
- Referring to a married partner, regardless of gender. - Talking about a legal partner in a marriage. - Describing a long-term committed partner.
List of Similarities
- 1Both refer to a partner or companion.
- 2Both can describe a romantic relationship.
- 3Both can be used to refer to a legal partner in a marriage.
- 4Both imply a level of commitment and closeness in a relationship.
- 5Both can be used to refer to a person's significant other.
What is the difference?
- 1Gender: Mate can be used for any gender, while spouse specifically refers to a married partner, regardless of gender.
- 2Formality: Spouse is more formal than mate, which is often used in casual conversation.
- 3Legal status: Spouse specifically refers to a legal partner in a marriage, while mate can refer to any type of partner or companion.
- 4Duration: Spouse implies a long-term committed relationship, while mate can refer to a friend or companion without the same level of commitment.
- 5Connotation: Spouse has a more serious and official connotation, while mate can be more lighthearted and informal.
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Remember this!
Mate and spouse are both words that refer to a partner or companion, but they have some key differences. Mate is a more casual term that can refer to any type of partner or companion, including a romantic partner. Spouse, on the other hand, specifically refers to a legal partner in a marriage, regardless of gender, and has a more formal and serious connotation.
