bride price: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Academic, Anthropological, Formal
Quick answer
What does “bride price” mean?
Money, goods, or property given by a groom or his family to the family of his bride in some cultures as a condition of marriage.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Money, goods, or property given by a groom or his family to the family of his bride in some cultures as a condition of marriage.
The practice or concept of compensating a bride's family for the transfer of rights in marriage, often viewed as a social institution affirming family alliances.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Spelling: 'bride price' is standard in both; 'bride-price' with a hyphen is also common, especially in older texts.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both, confined to specific contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “bride price” in a Sentence
[Verb] + bride price (pay/demand/negotiate/abolish)[Adjective] + bride price (high/traditional/exorbitant/symbolic)[Subject] + be + [Preposition] + bride price (The debate is about bride price.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bride price” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The family was traditionally bride-priced with cattle. (Note: rare and non-standard usage)
- They no longer practise bride pricing.
American English
- The custom involves bride-pricing the groom's assets. (Note: rare and non-standard usage)
- The tribe ceased to bride-price generations ago.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial form.
American English
- No standard adverbial form.
adjective
British English
- The bride-price negotiations were lengthy.
- He faced bride-price demands.
American English
- The bride price tradition is controversial.
- Bride price payments can be substantial.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not typically used.
Academic
Frequent in anthropology, sociology, gender studies, and legal texts discussing marriage customs.
Everyday
Rare, except in communities where the practice exists or in news discussing such cultures.
Technical
Precise term in ethnography and cross-cultural studies.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bride price”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bride price”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bride price”
- Using 'bride price' to mean 'wedding cost' (which is the cost of the ceremony).
- Confusing it with 'dowry'.
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'They bride priced her' is incorrect).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they are opposites in direction. A bride price is paid by the groom or his family to the bride's family. A dowry is wealth brought by the bride to the marriage, typically from her family.
In anthropological writing, it is a standard, neutral technical term. In everyday feminist or human rights discourse, it can be seen as offensive because it implies a purchase. Alternatives like 'bridewealth' or 'marriage prestation' are sometimes preferred.
The practice is found in many parts of Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. Specific examples include lobola in Southern Africa, bogadi in Botswana, and various forms in parts of China, Southeast Asia, and among some Aboriginal Australian communities.
While you might encounter 'bride-price' used verbally in anthropological descriptions (e.g., 'They bride-priced her at 50 cows'), it is non-standard and rare. It is primarily a noun compound.
Money, goods, or property given by a groom or his family to the family of his bride in some cultures as a condition of marriage.
Bride price is usually academic, anthropological, formal in register.
Bride price: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbraɪd praɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbraɪd praɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated; the term itself is a technical compound.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: The PRICE to 'buy' a BRIDE from her family in certain traditions. (Note: This mnemonic reflects a common simplification, not the full cultural nuance.)
Conceptual Metaphor
MARRIAGE IS A COMMERCIAL TRANSACTION (in the critical view); FAMILY ALLIANCE IS A CONTRACT (in the anthropological view).
Practice
Quiz
What is the key directional difference between 'bride price' and 'dowry'?