Translation guide
In Japanese, referring to a former husband depends on context, formality, and the speaker's relationship to the person. The most common and neutral term is 元夫 (motootto), but other expressions exist for legal, formal, or casual situations.
Referring to one's own former husband in a neutral or everyday context.
The standard, neutral term for 'former husband' or 'ex-husband'. Used in both spoken and written Japanese.
I'm still friends with my former husband.
My ex-husband came to pick up the kids.
Literally 'previous husband'. Slightly more conversational than 元夫, but still neutral.
My former husband was good at cooking.
Referring to a former husband in official documents, legal contexts, or very formal speech.
Formal term for 'former husband', often used in legal documents, resumes, or official records.
The former husband's name is listed on the family register.
Informally referring to one's ex-husband in conversation with friends or family.
Casual, colloquial term for 'ex-husband'. Combines 元 (former) with ダンナ (husband, informal). Common in everyday speech.
I heard my ex-husband got remarried.
Literally 'husband with one divorce'. バツイチ is slang for someone who has been divorced once. This phrase is very casual and can be jocular.
He's a once-divorced husband, but he's a good guy.
Talking about another person's ex-husband politely.
Attach さん to the person's name and add 元夫. This is the standard polite way to refer to someone else's former husband.
I heard that Tanaka-san's former husband is a lawyer.
Using ご主人 (honorific for husband) with 前の (previous) is a very polite way to refer to someone else's ex-husband.
元夫 (motootto) is the most common and neutral term. 前夫 (zenpu) is formal and used in legal contexts. 前の夫 (mae no otto) is slightly more conversational but still neutral. In everyday speech, 元夫 is the safest choice.
Do not directly translate 'former husband' as 前者の夫 (zensha no otto) or 以前の夫 (izen no otto). These sound unnatural and are not used to mean 'ex-husband'.
I heard that Sato-san's former husband lives abroad.