sukirat anand May 27, 2011:

Soutan has been used figuratively here Literally speaking, SOUTAN is 'the other wife of one's husband.

In this context ( of slightly figurative use of the word) I suggest the choice of translated word also on these lines.. because it is about two contenders for one man's affection. Whether the boy is two timing , or the girls know each other or not, is not relevant. They are merely rivals/adversaries in this sitauation.

Rachel Fell May 26, 2011:

Sorry, Shera, I hadn't read all the answers when I put that! Thanks.

Shera Lyn Parpia May 26, 2011:

It's Hindi as I said in my answer...

Rachel Fell May 22, 2011:

Punjabi?

Cilian O'Tuama May 22, 2011:

If someone tells us what the source language is... ... we can move the Q to the appropriate language combination.
This clearly does not belong here in Eng-Eng.

Rachel Fell May 21, 2011:

As a native English speaker, I have to agree with writeaway - this isn't En>En

Lara Barnett May 20, 2011:

@ Amel I agree with you that it would be wrong to mislead the Asker. This is why in an earlier discussion entry I posted :
"... I think it would really help to have a bit more context. I was aware on posting the suggestion that it may not correspond to the actual situation, but it was an idea in the absence of context. ASKER: could you please clarify what the situation and relationships are between these three people please."
I am still waiting for the Asker to reply./// EDITED: I don't think my comment about this term being used "loosely" is very clear - what I meant was that although it strictly speaking has one meaning, it is often used in a light hearted way (depending on context) to express any sort of threesome arrangement. This is why I requested more context.

Arabic & More May 20, 2011:

I am from the U.S. and have ONLY heard the term used to describe a sexual relationship between a man and two women. Perhaps some of our colleagues from the U.S. will share their opinions on this as well.

Regardless of the possible wide range of uses, the asker needs to understand that people (whether they are from the U.S. or the U.K.) are likely to assume sex is involved when reading this expression. It could be very embarrassing to use this expression in the wrong context. The asker did not even specify whether we are talking about adults, teenagers, or children (notice he said "girl"), so it feels very wrong to suggest this term without also explaining all that it implies.

Tony M May 20, 2011:

As another native UK English speaker... I really do have to chime in here and disagree with Lara's latest discussion post.

Leaving aside purely figurative uses, I think most UK speakers would interpret 'ménage à trois' in the sense of 3 people living together — that is, after all, the underlying meaning of 'ménage'!

As for any sexual relationship, I agree that it is not taken for granted; at the same time, the specific use of the FR term tends to add a certain "nudge, nudge, wink, wink" implication that sex is involved (FR being, of course, the language of sex!)

I don't think the term is generally used for purely innocent or fortuitous reasons: for example, one might envisage a student house being shared by a guy and two girls; but one wouldn't suggest that was a "ménage à trois" — unless, of course, certain extra-curricular activites developed with time!

So I really think we don't have enough context to be sure either way if this term might be applicable or not here.

Lara Barnett May 20, 2011:

@ Amel I am aware that Wikipedia is not always accurate. However, I can confirm as a native English speaker that I have also heard the term used loosely to suggest a number of different possible situations. I have heard it used to describe people who do NOT live together or are NOT having sex together - it is an EXPRESSION with a wide range of usage, for your information. (In UK English anyway). Lara

Arabic & More May 20, 2011:

Regardless of what Wikipedia says, most people would assume it meant a sexual relationship in which all three were consenting parties. Even Wikipedia acknowledges the following:

"...because it has also been extended to refer to the actual sexual act between three people, otherwise known as a threesome, the term retains its suggestive quality."

There is nothing in the original context to say the three are sexually involved, or even living together in some domestic arrangement.

Lara Barnett May 20, 2011:

Threesome In addition to this, if anybody else wants to disagree please note the actual contemporary usage of the term "Menage a trois" before making your "peer disagree comment" - "In contemporary usage, the meaning of the term has been extended to mean any living relationship between three people, WHETHER OR NOT SEX IS INVOLVED, ..." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ménage_à_trois

Lara Barnett May 20, 2011:

@ Humera Nyem - Context Following the disagrees on my suggestion of "menage a trois", I think it would really help to have a bit more context. I was aware on posting the suggestion that it may not correspond to the actual situation, but it was an idea in the absence of context. ASKER: could you please clarify what the situation and relationships are between these three people please.

writeaway May 20, 2011:

English ek ladhki ki sautan is that supposed to be English?

Maurite Fober May 20, 2011:

Need to clarify... what the relationship is between the two girls. Do they each know the other is in a relationship with the boy? If no, could be a love triangle' or 'the other woman' or 'the homewrecker' or simply Libroediting's suggestion. If yes, and they are happy sharing the boy, then Lara's suggestion is correct. Don't say 'threesome' unless you mean to be explicity sexual.