Starter marriage
Meaning: A first marriage that ends in divorce relatively quickly, often before the couple has children.
A starter marriage is a short-lived first marriage — typically lasting less than five years, with no kids. The term is darkly humorous, comparing a first marriage to a 'starter home' — something you outgrow. It reflects the reality that many Americans marry young, realize it was a mistake, and move on to a more successful second marriage.
Examples
- She got divorced at 25. She calls it her starter marriage. 她25岁就离婚了。她把那段婚姻叫做'练手婚姻'。Se divorció a los 25. Ella lo llama su matrimonio de prueba.25歳で離婚した。彼女はそれを「お試し結婚」と呼んでいる。25살에 이혼했어. 그녀는 그걸 '연습 결혼'이라고 불러.
- A lot of people have starter marriages in their twenties and then find real love later. 很多人二十几岁经历了练手婚姻,后来才找到真爱。Mucha gente tiene un matrimonio de prueba a los veintitantos y luego encuentra el amor de verdad.20代でお試し結婚をして、その後本当の愛を見つける人は多い。20대에 연습 결혼을 하고 나서 나중에 진짜 사랑을 찾는 사람이 많아.
- My starter marriage lasted two years. My second one has lasted twenty. 我的练手婚姻只持续了两年。第二段婚姻已经走过了二十年。Mi matrimonio de prueba duró dos años. El segundo lleva veinte.最初のお試し結婚は2年で終わった。2回目の結婚は20年続いている。첫 번째 연습 결혼은 2년 만에 끝났어. 두 번째 결혼은 20년째 이어지고 있지.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: divorce discussions, self-deprecation, dating
Tone: self-deprecating, darkly humorous
✓ Do Say
- It was a starter marriage — we both learned a lot.那是一段练手婚姻——我们都学到了很多。Fue un matrimonio de prueba — los dos aprendimos mucho.あれはお試し結婚だった — お互い多くを学んだ。연습 결혼이었어 — 둘 다 많이 배웠지.
- Starter marriages are more common than people think.练手婚姻比人们想象的更常见。Los matrimonios de prueba son más comunes de lo que la gente piensa.お試し結婚は思っているより多い。연습 결혼은 생각보다 흔해.
✗ Don't Say
- Don't call someone's failed marriage a 'starter marriage' unless they use the term first除非对方自己先用了这个词,否则不要把别人失败的婚姻称为'练手婚姻'No llames al matrimonio fallido de alguien «matrimonio de prueba» a menos que esa persona use el término primero相手が自らその言葉を使わない限り、失敗した結婚を「お試し結婚」と呼ばないこと상대방이 먼저 그 용어를 쓰지 않는 한, 남의 실패한 결혼을 '연습 결혼'이라고 부르지 말 것
Origin & History
The term gained currency in the late 1990s and was popularized by Pamela Paul's 2002 book 'The Starter Marriage and the Future of Matrimony.' It reflects changing American attitudes toward divorce as a normal part of life rather than a catastrophic failure.
Cultural Context
Era: 2000s
Generation: Millennials and Gen X
Social background: Universal
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