[Vocabulary] Differences due to culture.

[Abdalghani]

In our culture when a husband and a wife are seperated by divorce, we usually say, for example:
* He has seperated from his wife. (( euphuism ))
Does it sound natural to say? (( using phrasal verbs)) :
A-He has broken away from his wife
B-He has broken up with his wife.
Bearing in mind, due to our culture, we use the same word for both (A) and (B) to mean in Arabic “ infasala"

 

[probus]

B is natural in the context. A is not.

 

[emsr2d2]

In our culture, when a husband and a wife are [STRIKE]separated by[/STRIKE] divorced, we usually say something like: [STRIKE], for example:[/STRIKE]

"He has separated from his wife." (Here, "separated" is a euphemism for "divorced".)
Does it sound natural to say the following, using phrasal verbs?

A-He has broken away from his wife.
B-He has broken up with his wife.

Bear [STRIKE]ing[/STRIKE] in mind that [STRIKE]due to[/STRIKE] in our culture/language, we use the same word for both (A) and (B): [STRIKE]to mean in Arabic[/STRIKE] “infasala".

Note my corrections above. Please don't enclose words in double brackets. They're simply not used like that in written English. If you need to say that someone is divorced (in English), then that's what you need to say. Using "separated" or "broken up with" tells the listener only that they're no longer living together. They could well still be married.

 

[SoothingDave]

In the US, "separated" is used to refer to a married couple who are not together at the moment, but are also not divorced. They may be in the process of divorcing. They may just be taking some time to decide if they want to split permanently or not.

"Separated" is not what is used for a divorced couple.

And "break up with" is not used for a marriage.

 

[emsr2d2]

And "break up with" is not used for a marriage.

In BrE, it can be.

Did you hear about Helen? She's broken up with her husband!
What a shock about Simon! He's broken up with his husband!

It's fair to say, though, that it's used more commonly for relationships that don't involve marriage.

 

[SoothingDave]

Interestingly enough, one can "break up" a marriage, but I would not refer to a married couple as having "broken up." Split (up), separated, divorced.

 

[Tdol]

For me, divorce is divorce, and not the same as separating. Divorce is a legal measure, moving out is not.

 

[Tdol]

PS That is in my culture. I make no judgements of cultures that handle things differently.

 

[emsr2d2]

For me, divorce is divorce, and not the same as separating. Divorce is a legal measure, moving out is not.

I agree entirely. They are totally different things. However, if someone told me they'd split up with their partner, I wouldn't know for certain if they were simply separated or divorced (or planning a divorce).

 

[Tdol]

That could require clarification.

 

[5jj]

Divorce is a legal measure

Legal separation is also a legal measure.

My ex- and I separated in 1998. For personal reasons neither of us wanted a divorce then. Though the separation was amicable, we were aware that the situation might change. This could cause difficulties - we had two children, some joint savings, and jointly-owned house. We therefore decide to lower the risk of any future problems by obtaining a legal separation the following year.

As it happened, we decided to go for a divorce a few years later. That was an extremely simple affair it was little more than putting a divorce rubber stamp on the legal separation already in place. The only real change was that neither of us could legally marry again after the legal separation. We could after the divorce.