Today, we’ll look at 45 French words that are all about family. Knowing these words helps you get a deeper sense of French values and the complex roles within families. Learning the difference between ‘une cousine’ (a cousin) and ‘une nièce’ (a niece), or what ‘un tonton’ (an uncle) means to a family, isn’t just about language. It’s about getting into the heart of French culture. So, why do you think understanding these words might change how you see French culture or family life?
Family Members in French
Immediate Family
Learning the French words for immediate family is useful if you’re studying the language. In French, ‘family’ is ‘famille.’ The words for family members are simple. Knowing these basic words helps you talk about family in French, making it easier to connect with French speakers and their culture.
| French | English |
| Père | Father |
| Mère | Mother |
| Frère | Brother |
| Sœur | Sister |
| Fils | Son |
| Fille | Daughter |
| Mari | Husband |
| Femme | Wife |
| Parents | Parents |
| Enfants | Children |
Extended Family
When talking about extended family in French, you’ll find specific terms for in-laws and step-relatives. These terms help us talk about family connections and how they play a critical role in French culture, making it easier to understand who’s who in a family.
| French | English |
| Grand-père | Grandfather |
| Grand-mère | Grandmother |
| Petit-fils | Grandson |
| Petite-fille | Granddaughter |
| Oncle | Uncle |
| Tante | Aunt |
| Neveu | Nephew |
| Nièce | Niece |
| Cousin | Cousin (male) |
| Cousine | Cousin (female) |
| Beau-père | Stepfather/Father-in-law |
| Belle-mère | Stepmother/Mother-in-law |
| Beau-frère | Brother-in-law |
| Belle-sœur | Sister-in-law |
| Gendre | Son-in-law |
| Bru | Daughter-in-law |
Couples
Let’s talk about how to describe couples in French, focusing on family terms. Keywords include ‘le mari’ for husband and ‘la femme’ for wife, which are essential when discussing married life. You might also hear ‘l’époux’ and ‘l’épouse’ for spouses in general. These phrases are polite and show respect, which is important in French culture. Knowing these terms helps you talk about family relationships more easily and gives you a glimpse into French cultural values.
| French | English |
| Couple | Couple |
| Mari et femme | Husband and wife |
| Époux | Spouses |
| Fiancés | Engaged couple |
| Petit ami et petite amie | Boyfriend and girlfriend |
| Partenaires | Partners |
| Conjoints | Spouses / Partners |
| Amants | Lovers |
| Concubins | Cohabitants / Unmarried partners |
| Pacsés | Civil partners (in a PACS) |
Must-Know French Terms for Family Members
Parents and Children
When you’re talking about family in French, here are some basic words to know. ‘Le père’ means father, and ‘la mère’ means mother. If you want to keep it casual, just use ‘maman’ for mom and ‘papa’ for dad. These words help you talk about your immediate family clearly, without getting into all the details about other relatives like brothers or sisters.
| French | English |
| Parent | Parent |
| Parents | Parents |
| Père | Father |
| Mère | Mother |
| Enfant | Child |
| Enfants | Children |
| Fils | Son |
| Fille | Daughter |
| Fils unique | Only son |
| Fille unique | Only daughter |
| Enfant unique | Only child |
| Aîné(e) | Eldest child |
| Cadet(te) | Youngest child |
| Nouveau-né | Newborn |
| Nourrisson | Infant |
| Bambin | Toddler |
| Adolescent | Teenager |
| Parent adoptif | Adoptive parent |
| Enfant adopté | Adopted child |
Siblings
In French, when you’re talking about siblings in general, you say ‘frères et sœurs.’ If you mean just your brother, it’s ‘un frère,’ and for sister, ‘une sœur.’ Knowing these words really helps when Getting these right can make conversations feel more natural and show that you get the culture.
| French | English |
| Frère | Brother |
| Sœur | Sister |
| Frère aîné | Older brother |
| Sœur aînée | Older sister |
| Frère cadet | Younger brother |
| Sœur cadette | Younger sister |
| Demi-frère | Half-brother |
| Demi-sœur | Half-sister |
| Frère jumeau | Twin brother |
| Sœur jumelle | Twin sister |
| Frère adoptif | Adoptive brother |
| Sœur adoptive | Adoptive sister |
| Frères et sœurs | Siblings |
In-laws
Let’s talk about how to refer to in-laws in French, which is key if you’re learning family-related vocabulary. For both parents-in-laws together, you say ‘les beaux-parents.’ If it’s just your father-in-law, you call him ‘le beau-père,’ and for your mother-in-law, ‘la belle-mère.’ These terms show the deep respect for family ties in French culture.
| French | English |
| Beau-père | Father-in-law |
| Belle-mère | Mother-in-law |
| Beau-frère | Brother-in-law |
| Belle-sœur | Sister-in-law |
| Gendre | Son-in-law |
| Bru | Daughter-in-law |
| Beaux-parents | Parents-in-law |
| Beaux-enfants | Children-in-law |
| Beau-fils | Stepson / Son-in-law |
| Belle-fille | Stepdaughter / Daughter-in-law |
Also Read: The 75 Most Common French Adjectives And How To Use Them
Godparents and Godchildren
When we talk about godparents and godchildren, it’s handy to know some French terms. The godchild, called ‘filleul’ if he’s a boy and ‘filleule’ if she’s a girl, also plays a key part in this relationship. They share a special bond with their godparents, which is something really valued in French culture. This bond highlights the importance of choosing family members, not just being born into them.
| French | English |
| Parrain | Godfather |
| Marraine | Godmother |
| Filleul | Godson |
| Filleule | Goddaughter |
| Parrain et marraine | Godparents |
| Filleul(e) | Godchild |
Also Read: Months Of The Year In French
Nicknames for Family Members
When talking about godparents, it’s also good to look at the nicknames used for family members in French culture. These nicknames make family bonds feel warmer and closer. For brothers and sisters, it’s common to hear ‘frérot’ or ‘sœurette.’ Knowing these nicknames helps you connect better with a French family, showing how close-knit and personal their family life is.
| French Nickname | For Family Member | English Translation |
| Papa | Père | Dad |
| Maman | Mère | Mom |
| Papi / Papy | Grand-père | Grandpa |
| Mamie / Mamy | Grand-mère | Grandma |
| Pépé | Grand-père | Gramps |
| Mémé | Grand-mère | Granny |
| Frérot | Frère | Bro |
| Sœurette | Sœur | Sis |
| Tonton | Oncle | Uncle (informal) |
| Tata | Tante | Auntie |
| Frangin | Frère | Bro (very informal) |
| Frangine | Sœur | Sis (very informal) |
| Pépère | Grand-père | Grandpa (affectionate) |
| Mémère | Grand-mère | Grandma (affectionate) |
Conclusion
In short, knowing these 45 essential French words about family helps you communicate better and understand French culture more deeply. Family is very important in France, and these words show that. Learning them is really useful if you’re getting into the French language or culture. So, it’s a good idea to add them to what you know. Keep practicing, and before you know it, talking about family in French will be as easy as in your own language.
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