The term "waifu" is a word that is used prevalently in the Manga/Cartoon, and Video-game fandoms. The origin of the word comes from the katakana word for wife; ワイフ
However, Japanese-speakers will never use that word. The real word for wife is 妻 (tsuma/sai).
"Waifu" is used to refer to a
fictional girl or woman (usually in Anime, Manga, or video-games) that you have
sexual attraction to, and you would even marry.
Remember; "ワイフ waifu" and "妻 tsuma" are completely different. Waifu is a joke word that
Anime fans call fictional female characters that they love and would marry if they were real. Your tsuma is your real wife. That is the real Japanese word for wife.
Example of waifu:
"Do you like Camilla from
Fire Emblem Fates?"
"I LOVE Camilla! Her
large breasts, her curves,... she's my waifu!" 😍
(This guy has sexual attaraction towards Camilla from Fire Emblem Fates. He would even marry her if she was real, he called her his "waifu"
Example of 妻 :
私は今日結婚しました これは私の妻キコです
「I got married today. This is my wife Kiko.」
(A man was married to Kiko that day. She is real, not a
fictional character. The real Japanese word for wife was used.