Phrase guide

child bride

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A very young bride, usually coerced or pressured into nuptials with a much older man, as practiced in some cultures.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Saudi Arabia is one of the countries that allow minor girls to be child brides.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Compound of child + bride.

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: عُرُوس طِفْلَة (ʕurūs ṭifla) — very young bride
  • Chinese Mandarin: 童養媳 /童养媳 (tóngyǎngxí) — very young bride
  • Danish: barnebrud — very young bride
  • Finnish: lapsimorsian — very young bride
  • French: enfant mariée — very young bride
  • Italian: sposa bambina — very young bride
  • Norwegian Bokmål: barnebrud — very young bride
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: barnebrud — very young bride
  • Portuguese: noiva criança — very young bride
  • Russian: малоле́тняя неве́ста (malolétnjaja nevésta) — very young bride
  • Spanish: novia niña — very young bride
  • Spanish: novia menor de edad — very young bride