Family is central to many cultures, and France is no exception. Whether you’re discussing your own family, asking about someone else’s, or navigating cultural topics around French families, this vocabulary will be invaluable. This resource will cover all the key family-related terms in French, complete with gendered articles and useful phrases.
1. Immediate Family (La Famille Proche)
These terms cover the core family members you interact with regularly.
- Le père – The father
- La mère – The mother
- Le frère – The brother
- La sœur – The sister
- Le fils – The son
- La fille – The daughter
- L’enfant (m/f) – The child
- Le bébé – The baby
- Le mari – The husband
- La femme – The wife
- Les parents (m) – The parents
Example Sentence:
- Mon frère et ma sœur habitent à Paris. (My brother and sister live in Paris.)
2. Extended Family (La Famille Élargie)
Here are the words you’ll need to describe other relatives.
- Le grand-père – The grandfather
- La grand-mère – The grandmother
- Les grands-parents (m) – The grandparents
- Le petit-fils – The grandson
- La petite-fille – The granddaughter
- Les petits-enfants (m) – The grandchildren
- L’oncle (m) – The uncle
- La tante – The aunt
- Le neveu – The nephew
- La nièce – The niece
- Le cousin – The (male) cousin
- La cousine – The (female) cousin
Example Sentence:
- Mon oncle et ma tante viennent dîner ce soir. (My uncle and aunt are coming for dinner tonight.)
3. In-Laws (La Belle-Famille)
When discussing your spouse’s family or step-relatives, you’ll need these words.
- Le beau-père – The father-in-law / stepfather
- La belle-mère – The mother-in-law / stepmother
- Le beau-frère – The brother-in-law
- La belle-sœur – The sister-in-law
- Le gendre – The son-in-law
- La belle-fille – The daughter-in-law
- Les beaux-parents (m) – The in-laws / stepparents
Example Sentence:
- Mon beau-père est très gentil. (My father-in-law is very kind.)
4. Step- and Half-Relations (Les Demi et Beau)
These terms are useful for talking about blended families.
- Le demi-frère – The half-brother
- La demi-sœur – The half-sister
- Le beau-père – The stepfather
- La belle-mère – The stepmother
- Le beau-fils – The stepson
- La belle-fille – The stepdaughter
Example Sentence:
- J’ai un demi-frère qui habite à Lyon. (I have a half-brother who lives in Lyon.)
5. Marital Status and Relationships (L’État Civil et les Relations)
Talking about relationships and family structure often involves discussing marital status and relationships.
- Marié(e) – Married
- Divorcé(e) – Divorced
- Célibataire – Single
- Fiancé(e) – Engaged
- Veuf / Veuve – Widower / Widow
- Le mariage – The marriage
- Le divorce – The divorce
- Le couple – The couple
- Les fiançailles (f) – The engagement
- Le partenaire – The partner
- Le petit ami / La petite amie – The boyfriend / girlfriend
Example Sentence:
- Ils sont fiancés depuis l’année dernière. (They’ve been engaged since last year.)
6. Family Events and Traditions (Les Événements Familiaux et les Traditions)
Useful terms for family gatherings, events, and special occasions.
- Le baptême – The baptism
- La communion – The communion
- Le mariage – The wedding
- Les funérailles (f) – The funeral
- L’anniversaire (m) – The birthday / anniversary
- La fête de famille – The family celebration
- La réunion de famille – The family reunion
- Le dîner de famille – The family dinner
Example Sentence:
- Nous avons une grande réunion de famille chaque été. (We have a big family reunion every summer.)
7. Useful Phrases and Questions
These sentences and phrases will help you navigate conversations about family.
- Tu as des frères et sœurs? – Do you have siblings?
- C’est ta sœur? – Is that your sister?
- Il est marié? – Is he married?
- Combien d’enfants as-tu? – How many children do you have?
- Ma famille est très grande. – My family is very large.
- Mes grands-parents vivent à la campagne. – My grandparents live in the countryside.
- Ils ont trois enfants. – They have three children.
- Nous avons un dîner de famille ce soir. – We have a family dinner tonight.
8. Family-Related Expressions and Idioms
Here are some French idiomatic expressions related to family.
- Tel père, tel fils. – Like father, like son.
- Maman poule – Overprotective mother (literally: mother hen)
- Famille nombreuse, famille heureuse. – A large family is a happy family.
- Être en famille – To be with family
- Avoir une famille unie – To have a close-knit family
Practice Quiz
Test your knowledge of French family vocabulary:
- What is the French word for “sister-in-law”?
- How do you say “grandson” in French?
- Translate: “My father and mother live in Paris.”
- What’s the French word for “niece”?
- How do you say “He is married” in French?
Conclusion
Understanding French family vocabulary will help you engage in meaningful conversations about family life and relationships. Whether you’re talking about your own family or learning about someone else’s, these words and phrases are fundamental for communicating in French.
