Quote:
Originally Posted by Nyororin
I have only heard 家内 used with the over 50 or so set. Everyone younger seems to introduce with 妻. I have also never heard 奥さん used even in a casual context. In my experience, 嫁 tends to be used most in casual situations.
Perhaps a generational difference?
For women, 主人 is #1, and 旦那 #2. Pretty much as Masaegu said - 旦那 is a bit more casual, but can still be used pretty much everywhere.
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Dang, you make me feel old!
In retrospect, though, what you said about 家内 may be true.
奥さん can be used when the husband already knows well the person(s) to whom he is introducing his wife kind of jokingly in a relaxed situation. It does require a special type of atmosphere to use it, so I may not recommend that someone not too fluent use it over 妻.
I rarely hear 嫁（よめ） around Tokyo but I do hear it quite often in dramas set in Kansai and the larger western Japan.
To OP:
What words sound most appropriate depends also on who you are talking to. As you know, we don't speak the same way to our boss and close friends.