In French, family members are described with specific terms that reflect both the relationship and, sometimes, gender. Here's a list of common family members:
| French | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| la famille | the family | |
| le père | the father | |
| la mère | the mother | |
| parents (m/pl) | parents | |
| le frère | the brother | |
| la sœur | the sister | |
| les enfants (m/pl) | children | |
| le fils | the son | |
| la fille | the daughter | |
| les grands-parents | grandparents | |
| le grand-père | the grandfather | |
| la grand-mère | the grandmother | |
| oncle (m) | uncle | |
| tante (f) | aunt | |
| cousin (m) | cousin (male) | |
| cousine (f) | cousin (female) | |
| le mari | the husband | |
| la femme | the wife | Also means "woman" |
| le beau-père | the father-in-law/stepfather | |
| la belle-mère | the mother-in-law/stepmother |
'la sœur' means 'the sister' in English.
The French word for 'children' is 'les enfants'.
Conclusion
French family vocabulary reflects relationships clearly and includes terms for both immediate and extended family.
- Key terms: père/mère, frère/sœur, enfants, grands-parents
- Gender matters: uncle/is uncle = oncle, aunt = tante, cousin/cousine