newlyweds
NOO-lee-wedz
/ˈnjuː.li.wedz/
A couple who has recently been married.
Usually applies to a couple for the first year of their marriage or during their honeymoon.
The story behind the word. A compound of 'newly' and 'wed'. 'Wed' comes from the Old English 'weddian', meaning 'to pledge', originally referring to the 'wed' or security deposit given to seal a deal.
Word relationships
- just-marrieds: Informal and less common than 'newlyweds'.
- bridal couple: Refers to them specifically on the day of the wedding.
Commonly confused with
- spouses: Spouses is the general term for married people; newlyweds is time-specific.
Word family
- newlywed (noun (singular)): One person in a recently married couple.
Collocations
- happy newlyweds
- advice for newlyweds
- newlyweds' home
Example sentences
- "The newlyweds were showered with rose petals as they left the church." Describing their departure from the wedding.
- "As newlyweds, they were still getting used to sharing a kitchen." Referring to their new life together.
Memory hook
Newly + Wed = Just joined in a pledge. New to the wedded life.
When not to use
Don't use for a couple married for ten years, even if they seem 'new' to you.
Fun facts
- There was a famous TV game show called 'The Newlywed Game' that tested how well couples knew each other.
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