奥(おく)さん

奥(おく)さん is a polite term used to refer to someone else's wife. Never use it for your own wife when speaking to others.

RELATED WORDS (words for wife):

• 奥(おく)さん / 奥様(おくさま): someone else's wife (honorific / more elevated honorific)
• 妻(つま): my wife (neutral, most standard)
• 家内(かない): my wife (humble, traditional — some consider it old-fashioned)
• かみさん: wife (casual, familiar)
• 嫁(よめ): wife (casual); also means bride or daughter-in-law

Etymology

From 奥(おく) (inner part), originally referring to the person who stays in the inner rooms of the house.

Usage

Also used as a form of address for married women in general, similar to 'ma'am': 奥(おく)さん、これ落(お)としましたよ (Ma'am, you dropped this).