Do you want to learn the French terms for the family?
The traditional French family is close-knit and well-integrated. Family is on top of every family member’s priority, preserving their close relationships.
Some French children even stay at their parents’ place until adulthood, leaving the nest only when they get married. More often than not, they tend to live close by, too.
So, we see that family is a very significant part of French culture.
The French language, another major element in the French culture, is as beautiful as the French people and France itself. Although the family is intrinsically the same for all cultures across the globe, the French vocabulary for family members is a bit different.
Things you'll find in this article
Family In French Vocabulary: Useful Terms To Use
Read on to find out more, starting with the most useful French family vocabulary words you should know.
Immediate Family In French Vocabulary
la famille – family
les parents – parents
le père – father
le papa – papa / daddy
la mère – mother
la maman – mama / mommy
le famille adoptive – adoptive family
le père biologique – biological father
la mère biologique – biological mother
le père adoptif – adoptive father
la mère adoptive – adoptive mother
le mari / le époux – husband
la femme / la épouse – woman / wife
la fille – daughter
le fils – son
le fils adoptif – adopted son
la fille adoptive – adopted daughter
la sœur – sister
le frère – brother
le demi-frère – half-brother
la demi-sœur – half-sister
The French words for “mother” or “mom” are used in different situations. The term you use to call the person who gave birth to you when talking about her with family members is different when you refer to her when you’re in a conversation with someone from outside of the family, or when talking to a child.
Examples:
“Qui est ta mère?” (“Who is your mother?”)
When talking to a child, you say: “Où est ta maman?” (“Where is your mama?”) It’s informal, just as kids are. A child will typically refer to his or her mother as maman rather than mère and father as papa rather than père.
When talking about your parents with non-family members, you say “ma mère” (“my mother”) or “mon père” (“my father”). The French say maman and papa in casual conversations, while père and mère are more formal.
Special French Family Vocabulary
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le aîné – This can be used to address an older brother, the oldest brother, or the firstborn son.
la aînée – This can be used to address an older sister, the oldest sister, or the firstborn daughter.
le cadet – This can be used to refer to a younger brother or the second-born son in the family.
la cadette – This can be used to refer to a younger sister or the second-born daughter in the family.
le benjamin – This term is used to refer to the youngest child in the family, who is a boy.
la benjamin – This term is used to refer to the youngest child in the family, who is a girl.
les gosses – kids / children
l’enfant – child
le bébé – baby or infant
Note that references to multiple babies in French are based on multiplicative numbers. They are as follows:
un singleton – singleton / single birth (male)
une singleton – singleton / single birth (female)
un jumeau – twin / 1 of 2 babies (male)
une jumelle – twin / one of 2 babies (female)
un triplé – triplet / 1 of 3 babies (male)
une triplée – triplet / 1 of 3 babies (female)
un quadruplé – quadruplet / 1 of 4 babies (male)
une quadruplée – quadruplet / 1 of 4 babies (female)
un quintuplé – quintuplet / 1 of 5 babies (male)
une quintuplée – quintuplet / 1 of 5 babies (female)
un sextuplé – sextuplet / 1 of 6 babies (male)
une sextuplée – sextuplet /1 of 6 babies (female)
un septuplé – septuplet / 1 of 7 babies (male)
une septuplée – septuplet / 1 of 7 babies (female)
un octuplé – octuplet / 1 of 8 babies (male)
une octuplée – octuplet / 1 of 8 babies (female)
un nonuplé – nonuplet / 1 of 9 babies (male)
une nonuplée – nonuplet / 1 of 9 babies (female)
un décuplé – decuplet / 1 of 10 babies (male)
une décuplée – decuplet / 1 of 10 babies (male)
Grandparents
les grands-parents – grandparents
le grand-père – grandfather
le papi / le pépé – grandpa
la grand-mère – grandmother
la mamie / la mémé – grandma / granny
les petits-enfants – grandchildren
le petit-fils – grandson
la petite-fille – granddaughter
le arrière-grand-père – great-grandfather
la arrière-grand-mère – great-grandmother
le arrière-petit-fils – great-grandson
la arrière-petite-fille – great-granddaughter
The formal and casual terms for grandparents in French are the same as how parents are addressed, as discussed prior.
Relatives In French Vocabulary
la famille étendue – extended family
les proches – next of kin
parenté – kinship / relations
l’oncle – uncle
la tante – aunt
le neveu / les neveux – nephew / nephews
la nièce / les nièces – niece / nieces
le cousin – male cousin
la cousine – female cousin
It’s interesting to note that in the French family vocabulary, “parent” means not only “mother” or “father” but “relative” in general, as well.
For example, “My guests are relatives from Paris.” The French translation goes like this: “Mes invités sont des parents Parisiens.”
However, proches is also used, as in this example: “Mes proches sont de Paris.” (“My relatives are from Paris.”)
Family In-Laws In French
les beaux-parents – in-laws
la belle-famille – family-in-law
la famille recomposée – step-family / blended family
la famille par alliance – family by marriage
le beau-père – father-in-law / step-father
la belle-mère – mother-in-law / step-mother
le beau-fils – used for both son-in-law and step-son
le gendre – son-in-law
la belle-fille – used for both daughter-in-law and step-daughter
la bru – daughter-in-law
beau-frère – brother-in-law / step-brother
belle-sœur – sister-in-law / step-sister
Please note that in the French vocabulary, there is no distinction between family-in-law and step-family.
The French counterparts for “step-” and “-in-law” are the same: “beau-“ or “belle-” plus the family member. “Le gendre” and “la bru,” however, are specifically used for “son-in-law” and “daughter-in-law,” respectively.
Other French Family Terms
la famille nourricière / la famille d’accueil – foster family
le père nourricier / le père d’accueil – foster father
la mère nourricière / la mère d’accueil – foster mother
l’enfant placé dans une famille – foster child
le parrain – godfather
la marraine – godmother
le filleul – godson
le filleule – goddaughter
Want to learn more French phrases? Check out our language guides below:
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Hi, I’m Christine – a full-time traveler and career woman. Although I’m from the Philippines, my location independent career took me to over 40 countries and lived in 4 continents in the last 10 years, including France. A self-proclaimed Francophile, I love everything France.
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