The vocabulary used to describe family in French includes specific nouns for each relative, as well as adjectives to indicate gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural).
Family Member Types
French family vocabulary includes distinct words for each type of relative. These words change slightly depending on gender and number.
Immediate Family
Irreducible set of core family members, including parents, siblings, and children.
| Role | Masculine Singular | Feminine Singular | Masculine Plural | Feminine Plural | English Singular | English Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Father | père | pères | father | fathers | ||
| Mother | mère | mères | mother | mothers | ||
| Brother | frère | frères | brother | brothers | ||
| Sister | sœur | sœurs | sister | sisters | ||
| Son | fils | fils | son | sons | ||
| Daughter | fille | filles | daughter | daughters |
Extended Family
Includes common relatives beyond the immediate family.
| Role | Masculine Singular | Feminine Singular | Masculine Plural | Feminine Plural | English Singular | English Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grandfather | grand-père | grands-pères | grandfather | grandfathers | ||
| Grandmother | grand-mère | grands-mères | grandmother | grandmothers | ||
| Uncle | oncle | oncles | uncle | uncles | ||
| Aunt | tante | tantes | aunt | aunts | ||
| Cousin | cousin | cousine | cousins | cousines | cousin | cousins |
Gender and Number
French uses different endings and articles to indicate gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural).
Gender Rules
- Most masculine nouns end in a consonant or -e (e.g., frère, oncle).
- Most feminine nouns add -e (e.g., sœur, tante).
- Some nouns have irregular forms (e.g., fils is masculine; fille is feminine).
Which of these nouns does NOT follow the regular pattern of adding '-e' for the feminine form?
fils / fille
The masculine noun 'fils' (son) is irregular; its feminine counterpart is 'fille', which is not formed by simply adding '-e'.
How is the feminine form usually created from a masculine family noun in French?
Add an '-e' to the masculine form.
Typically, feminine nouns are formed by adding -e to the masculine singular form, e.g., oncle → tante, cousin → cousine.
Number Rules
- Plurals typically add -s (e.g., père → pères).
- For nouns ending in -s or -x, the plural form is the same as singular (e.g., fils, oncle → oncles).
- Articles change: le (masc. sing.), la (fem. sing.), les (plural).
Examples with Articles
| Singular | Plural | English Singular | English Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| le père | les pères | the father | the fathers |
| la mère | les mères | the mother | the mothers |
| le frère | les frères | the brother | the brothers |
| la sœur | les sœurs | the sister | the sisters |
Summary
French family vocabulary is organized by specific roles, with distinct forms for gender and number. Learning these patterns makes it easier to describe any family situation.
Flashcards (1 of 5)
- Role: Cousin
- Masculine Singular: cousin
- Feminine Singular: cousine
- Masculine Plural: cousins
- Feminine Plural: cousines
- English Singular: cousin
- English Plural: cousins
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
