noun · 2 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
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
UK:/ˌmeɪnɑːʒ ɑː ˈt(ɹ)wɑː/
UK:/ˌmɛnɑːʒ ɑː ˈt(ɹ)wɑː/
UK:/məˌnɑːʒ ɑː ˈt(ɹ)wɑː/
US:/ˌmeɪnɑːʒ ɑː ˈt(ɹ)wɑː/
US:/ˌmɛnɑːʒ ɑː ˈt(ɹ)wɑː/
US:/məˌnɑːʒ ɑː ˈt(ɹ)wɑː/
US:/məˌnɑːʒeɪ ˈt(ɹ)wɑː/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɑː
1
noun
Meaning 1
A household or relationship whereby three people live together as lovers.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A sexual act or experience involving three people; a threesome.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: lifestyle, sex, sexuality
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: three-way
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Borrowed from French ménage à trois (literally “household of three”).
Across languages
Translations
14 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
мена́ж а троа́
(menáž a troá)
— Translations
Dutch:
ménage à trois
— Translations
Dutch:
driehoeksrelatie
— Translations
Finnish:
kolmen kimppa
— Translations
French:
ménage à trois
— Translations
German:
Ménage-à-trois
— Translations
Hungarian:
(édes) hármas
— Translations
Italian:
sesso a tre
— Translations
Marathi:
मेनाझ आ त्र्वा
(menājh ā trvā)
— Translations