dowry

Also known as marriage portion, trousseau, tocher

A dowry is a payment such as land, property, money, livestock, or a commercial asset that is paid by the bride's (woman's) family to the groom (man) or his family at the time of marriage.

AI overview

A dowry is a payment—such as money, land, property, or livestock—that the bride's family gives to the groom or his family when they marry. It matters because this practice has significantly shaped family finances, women's economic status, and marriage customs across many cultures throughout history.

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Commons category: Dowry

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~51 min read

Article

40 sections

Contents

Definition
Origins
Historical practices
Babylon
Ancient Greece
Roman Empire
Indian subcontinent
China
Europe
England
Russia
Romania
The Americas
Indigenous cultures
Mexico
New France
United States
Brazil
Current practices
India
Bangladesh
Pakistan
Nepal
Sri Lanka
Afghanistan
Iran
Turkey
Thailand
Azerbaijan
Tajikistan
Egypt
Morocco
Bosnia
Serbia
Violence against women and international perspectives
See also
References
Sources
Further reading
External links

A dowry is a payment such as land, property, money, livestock, or a commercial asset that is paid by the bride's (woman's) family to the groom (man) or his family at the time of marriage.

Dowry contrasts with the related concepts of bride price and dower. While bride price or bride service is a payment by the groom, or his family, to the bride, or her family, dowry is the wealth transferred from the bride, or her family, to the groom, or his family. Similarly, dower is the property settled on the bride herself, by the groom at the time of marriage, and which remains under her ownership and control.