No matter which part of the world you live in, family is an inescapable part of your life. And it\u2019s the same for relations in French! Whether you’re meeting your friend\u2019s (or significant other’s) family (la famille) or simply trying to connect and make new acquaintances, knowing how to address family (immediate or extended) is valuable. This blog will guide you with the essential vocabulary and phrases to confidently navigate these conversations. Ready, set, lingo!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Before learning the specific relations in French, you should be familiar with some general family terms. They are used to indicate different types of family, helping you describe them clearly to your friends and acquaintances. They are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let’s start with the building blocks for learning relations in French: your immediate family or \u201cla famille proche\u201d. While “parents” in French translates directly to “parents” (peh-ron), it\u2019s also used to refer to relatives. Here are some key relations you need to remember: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Every family follows a certain order to distinguish the youngest to oldest members. Here\u2019s a look into what the members are addressed as in family hierarchy in French:<\/p>\n\n\n\n After your immediate family relations in French comes \u201cla famille \u00e9largie\u201d or the extended family. They refer to other family members linked to your parents (such as their parents, siblings, and their children), as shown in the table below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Introducing your in-laws to others require you to use “Belle-” or \u201cBeau-\u201d before the family relations in French (e.g., belle-m\u00e8re for mother-in-law). The same goes for addressing your step-parents and siblings. Here\u2019s how to use these terms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n While referring to your biological\/adoptive relations in French, you need to use the term \u201cbiologique\u201d or \u201cadoptif\u201d after the term of family member you are addressing (ex- p\u00e8re biologique, m\u00e8re biologique). These terms are also used for foster relations as shown in the table below: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes, there are people in your life that you are not related to by blood but have a strong bond with them. A godparent generally serves as a substitute for the child\u2019s actual parent in case of their absence\/demise. Here\u2019s how you refer to these relations in French that go beyond family:<\/p>\n\n\n\nTerm (in French)<\/strong><\/td> English Translation<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> un m\u00e9nage<\/td> a household <\/td><\/tr> les parents<\/td> the parents<\/td><\/tr> les enfants<\/td> the children\/kids<\/td><\/tr> un arbre g\u00e9n\u00e9alogique<\/td> a family tree<\/td><\/tr> une g\u00e9n\u00e9ration<\/td> a generation<\/td><\/tr> un couple<\/td> a couple<\/td><\/tr> la famille par alliance<\/td> family by marriage<\/td><\/tr> un famille recompos\u00e9e<\/td> a blended family<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Relations in French: Immediate Family<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Relation<\/strong><\/td> English Translation<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Mother<\/td> M\u00e8re (informal: maman)<\/td><\/tr> Father<\/td> P\u00e8re (informal: papa)<\/td><\/tr> Brother<\/td> fr\u00e8re<\/td><\/tr> Sister<\/td> s\u0153ur<\/td><\/tr> Son<\/td> fils<\/td><\/tr> Daughter<\/td> fille<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Family Hierarchy<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Hierarchy<\/strong><\/td> English Translation<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> un a\u00een\u00e9\/une a\u00een\u00e9e<\/td> first born son\/daughter (elder brother\/sister)<\/td><\/tr> un cadet\/une cadette<\/td> younger brother\/sister (second-born son\/daughter)<\/td><\/tr> le benjamin\/la benjamine<\/td> the youngest child<\/td><\/tr> les a\u00efeuls\/ a\u00efeules<\/td> the grandparents<\/td><\/tr> les a\u00efeux<\/td> the ancestors<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Relations in French: Extended Family<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Relation<\/strong><\/td> English Translation<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Uncle<\/td> oncle<\/td><\/tr> Aunt<\/td> tante<\/td><\/tr> Nephew<\/td> neveu<\/td><\/tr> Niece <\/td> ni\u00e8ce<\/td><\/tr> Cousin<\/td> cousin (male)Cousine (female)<\/td><\/tr> Grandfather<\/td> grand-p\u00e8re<\/td><\/tr> Grandmother<\/td> grand-m\u00e8re<\/td><\/tr> Great grandfather<\/td> arri\u00e8re-grand-p\u00e8re<\/td><\/tr> Great grandmother<\/td> arri\u00e8re-grand-m\u00e8re<\/td><\/tr> Grandson<\/td> petit-fils<\/td><\/tr> Granddaughter<\/td> petite-fille<\/td><\/tr> Great grandson<\/td> arri\u00e8re-petit-fils<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Relations in French: Family By Marriage<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Relation<\/strong><\/td> English Translation<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> un beau-p\u00e8re<\/td> a father-in-law, step-father<\/td><\/tr> une belle-m\u00e8re<\/td> a mother-in-law, step-mother<\/td><\/tr> le gendre<\/td> the son-in-law<\/td><\/tr> la bru<\/td> the daughter-in-law<\/td><\/tr> un beau-fils<\/td> a son-in-law, step-son<\/td><\/tr> une belle-fille<\/td> a daughter-in-law, step-daughter<\/td><\/tr> un beau-fr\u00e8re<\/td> a brother-in-law, step-brother<\/td><\/tr> une belle-soeur<\/td> a sister-in-law, step-sister<\/td><\/tr> un demi-fr\u00e8re<\/td> a half-brother<\/td><\/tr> une demi-soeur<\/td> a half-sister<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Relations in French: Biological\/Adoptive Family<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Relation<\/strong><\/td> English Translation<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> p\u00e8re biologique<\/td> biological father<\/td><\/tr> m\u00e8re biologique<\/td> biological mother<\/td><\/tr> p\u00e8re adoptif<\/td> adoptive father<\/td><\/tr> m\u00e8re adoptif<\/td> adoptive mother<\/td><\/tr> fils adoptif<\/td> adopted son<\/td><\/tr> fille adoptif<\/td> adopted daughter<\/td><\/tr> p\u00e8re nourricier\/p\u00e8re d\u2019accueil<\/td> foster father<\/td><\/tr> m\u00e8re nourrici\u00e8re\/m\u00e8re d\u2019accueil<\/td> foster mother<\/td><\/tr> enfant plac\u00e9 dans une famille<\/td> foster child<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Godparents and Godchildren<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n