essay on my brother in french

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Write an essay in French

Beyond the fact that writing an essay in French can be a good practice to improve your writing, you may also be asked to write one during your schooling. So, it is important to study the topic of French essay writing and get some useful tips..

» Tips and tricks for your French essay » The structure of a French essay » Sample French Essay

Tips and tricks for your French essay

When writing a French essay for school, you should always use a structured approach and good French skills to present your arguments in a focused way. Beyond French skills, there are also important formal requirements for a successful French essay. We will come back to this in detail later. First, you will find some useful tips and tricks that will help you write more compelling and better French essays in the future.

• Have a clear thesis and structure
• Do sufficient research and use reliable sources
• Use examples and arguments to support your thesis
• Avoid plagiarism and cite correctly
• Always check structure, grammar and spelling

When you write your essay at school or university, you need to make sure that the general structure of your essay, the presentation of the arguments and, above all, your French language skills play a role in the mark you will get. This is why you should definitely take a closer look at the structure of an essay as well as the most important grammar rules and formulations for French essays.

The structure of a French essay

In an essay, you deal at length and in detail with a usually given topic. When you write an essay in French, you must follow a certain structure. Below we show you what this structure looks like and give you some tips for writing the most important parts of your essay.

The Introduction

The introduction prepares the main body of your essay. You think of a meaningful title for your essay, you describe your thesis or your question, you give general information on the subject and you prepare your argument by giving an overview of your most important arguments.

Below are examples and phrases that you can use to write the introduction to your essay in French.

The title should be meaningful, concise and reflect the content of the essay.

Introductory paragraph

The first paragraph of your French essay should briefly introduce the topic and engage the reader. Here are some examples to help you write your essay:

Proposal or question

The central proposition or question of your French essay should be a clear and concise definition of the purpose of the essay. Use these examples to get a clearer idea of ​​how to write theses in French:

Overview of Arguments and Structure

At the end of your introduction, describe the structure of the main part of your essay (your outline) and outline your argument. Here are some French expressions that will certainly help you write your essay:

The body of your essay

The main part of your French essay deals with the given topic in detail. The subject is studied from all angles. The main body of your essay follows a thread of argument and discusses in detail the main arguments of your thesis previously made in the introduction.

In the body of the text, you should discuss the subject of your essay in clear and concise language. To achieve this, we give you some wording aids as well as vocabulary and phrases that you can use to write your essay in French.

Formulation tools:

French vocabulary for essays.

In the conclusion of your French essay, you address the thesis of your essay, summarize the main points of your discussion in the main body, and draw a conclusion. On the basis of the arguments and the resulting conclusions, you formulate in the conclusion of your dissertation final thoughts and suggestions for the future. It is important that you do not add new information or new arguments. This should only be done in the body of your text.

Here are some wording guides to help you write your essay in French:

Sample French Essay

Les avantages des voyages linguistiques

Malgré les difficultés potentielles, les voyages linguistiques offrent aux apprenants une occasion unique d'améliorer leurs compétences linguistiques et de découvrir de nouvelles cultures, ce qui en fait un investissement précieux pour leur développement personnel et académique.

Les séjours linguistiques sont des voyages organisés dans le but d'améliorer les compétences linguistiques des participants. Ces voyages peuvent se dérouler dans le pays ou à l'étranger et durer d'un week-end à plusieurs semaines. L'un des principaux avantages des séjours linguistiques est l'immersion. Entourés de locuteurs natifs, les apprenants sont contraints de pratiquer et d'améliorer leurs compétences linguistiques dans des situations réelles.Il s'agit d'une méthode d'apprentissage beaucoup plus efficace que le simple fait d'étudier une langue dans une salle de classe.

Un autre avantage des séjours linguistiques est l'expérience culturelle. Voyager dans un nouveau pays permet aux apprenants de découvrir de nouvelles coutumes, traditions et modes de vie, et de se familiariser avec l'histoire et la culture du pays. Cela enrichit non seulement l'expérience d'apprentissage de la langue, mais contribue également à élargir les horizons et à accroître la sensibilisation culturelle.

Cependant, les séjours linguistiques peuvent également présenter des inconvénients. Par exemple, le coût du voyage et de l'hébergement peut être élevé, en particulier pour les séjours de longue durée. En outre, les apprenants peuvent être confrontés à la barrière de la langue ou à un choc culturel, ce qui peut être difficile à surmonter. Le coût et les difficultés potentielles des séjours linguistiques peuvent sembler décourageants, mais ils offrent des avantages précieux en termes d'épanouissement personnel et scolaire.

Les compétences linguistiques et les connaissances culturelles acquises peuvent déboucher sur de nouvelles opportunités d'emploi et améliorer la communication dans un cadre professionnel. Les bourses et les aides financières rendent les séjours linguistiques plus accessibles. Le fait d'être confronté à une barrière linguistique ou à un choc culturel peut également être l'occasion d'un développement personnel. Ces avantages l'emportent largement sur les inconvénients et font des séjours linguistiques un investissement qui en vaut la peine.

En conclusion, malgré les difficultés potentielles, les séjours linguistiques offrent aux apprenants une occasion unique d'améliorer leurs compétences linguistiques et de découvrir de nouvelles cultures, ce qui en fait un investissement précieux pour le développement personnel et académique. Qu'il s'agisse d'un débutant ou d'un apprenant avancé, un voyage linguistique est une expérience à ne pas manquer.

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All The French Words You Need To Talk About Your Family

• Read time 12 mins

Do you know the words needed to identify members of your family in French? 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

It’s clearly important, especially if someone asks you about your family and, for example, wants to know how old your frère is.

If you’ve found that talking about your family members once you’ve introduced yourself is a bit difficult because you don’t have the French vocabulary, this guide will help.

This guide will help you revise what you’ve covered in your French course .

How do you say family in French?

The word for “family” is la famille .

It’s a feminine noun, which you can tell by looking at the feminine article la .

To say “family members”, use the phrase les membres de la famille . It’s not too difficult to remember, since the word “members” is practically a cognate.

What does parent mean in French?

The French word parent has two meanings:

• It can refer to your “mother” or “father” and, in this sense, is used to refer to your “parents”. In this sense, it’s not difficult to remember because it’s the same in English.
• The word parent can also mean “relative”, and is used as a French adjective and a noun in this regard.

For example, you wanted to tell someone that you don’t have relatives in Canada, you could say:

Je n’ai pas de parents au Canada.

Alternatively, you could use parents as an adjective to describe how you are related to one of your family members.

In this sense, parents means “related”. Here’s an example of how to use it:

Nous ne sommes pas parentes.

Essential vocabulary for speaking about and identifying family in French

Now that we’ve covered some of the basics, let’s turn our attention to the essential vocabulary needed to speak about and identify family in French.

I’ve split this section into immediate and wider members of the family in French.

Vocabulary to speak about immediate family in French

Here are some of the vocabulary you can use to speak about your immediate family in French.

Which of these do you know?

Use mère when you want to say “mother” in French. This feminine French noun can be used to talk about your female parent.

Usage example:

Ma mère aime cuisiner des plats italiens.

Use père when you want to say “father” in French. This masculine French noun can be used to identify and speak about your male parent.

Mon père aime réparer les ordinateurs et créer des logiciels.

Les parents can be used to talk about both your mother and father in French. This phrase is a cognate, so you’ll have less trouble remembering it.

Mes parents se sont rencontrés à l’université. Ils ont tous deux étudié la littérature française.

Sœur is a feminine French noun that translates to English as “sister”. Use it when you want to identify your female sibling in French.

Ma sœur aime lire des livres et regarder des films espagnols.

Frère is the French noun for “brother”. If you’re describing your male sibling, who has the same parents as you, use frère to identify them.

Est-ce que ton frère aime le football ?

Frères et sœurs

The French word for “siblings” is frères et sœurs . This phrase literally translates to “brothers and sisters” in English.

Les frères et sœurs de Louisa se disputent toujours à propos des programmes télévisés qu’ils regardent.

Combining the words “grand” and “mère”, meaning “grand” and “mother” in English, this French noun means “grandmother”. If you’re refering to your father’s mother, or your mother’s mother, use grand-mère .

Sophie avait l’habitude d’aller à l’église avec sa grand-mère tous les week-ends.

This French noun combines the words “grand” and “père”, which mean “grand” and “father. It means “grandfather” in English and can be used to refer to your mother’s father, or your father’s father.

Sophie demandait des chocolats à son grand-père tous les samedis.

Grands-parents

Combining the words “grands” and “parents” this French noun means “grandparents”. You can use it to speak about the parents of your parents.

Leurs grands-parents sont nés en 1920.

Femme means “wife” in French. It can be used to refer to a married woman in a spousal relationship with her husband.

Sa femme voulait divorcer mais a décidé de réessayer.

Mari means “husband” in French. Use it to refer to a married man in a spousal relationship with his wife.

Son mari l’aimait beaucoup mais ne voulait pas d’enfant.

Use fille when you want to talk about a “daughter” or someone’s daughter. Note the difference between enfant and fille . Use fille to talk about a daughter of any age, and enfant when talking about a child.

Notre fille étudie la langue espagnole. Elle veut aller au Pérou.

Fils means “son” in English. Use this French noun to identify someone’s son in French.

Notre fils étudie la langue italienne. Il veut aller en Italie.

Enfants , which is similar to the partial cognate “infants”, means children in English. Use this French noun when referring to more than one child.

Nos enfants aiment jouer aux jeux vidéo. Ils ne font pas de sport.

Petite fille

Petite fille means “granddaughter” in English. Use this French noun to refer to the daughter of your daughter or the daughter of your son.

Ma petite-fille me ressemble. Elle a la même couleur de cheveux.

Petit fils translates to English as “grandson”. This French noun can be used to refer to the son of your daughter or the son of your son.

Mon petit-fils ressemble à son père. Leur nez et la forme de leurs yeux sont identiques.

Petits enfants

Use petits enfants as the plural form of petit enfant to identify or talk about several “grandchildren” in the French language.

Tous ses petits-enfants sont gentils les uns avec les autres. Ils sont polis et respectueux.

Vocabulary to speak about wider family in French

Let’s now focus on the vocabulary you can use to speak about your extended family in French. Which ones do you recognise? Which ones do you need to revise?

Tante means “aunt” in English. Use this to refer to the sister of your mother, the sister of your brother, or your uncle’s wife.

Ma tante fait des gâteaux le week-end et les partage avec nous.

Use oncle to refer to your “uncle” in French. This is a sort of cognate that makes oncle simpler to remember.

Mon oncle nous aide à installer des logiciels sur nos ordinateurs.

Grand-tante

A grand-tante , which combines the words grand and tante , is your “great-aunt” or “great-aunty” in English. Keep in mind that this French noun contains the word tante , meaning aunt, which will help you to remember this one.

Sa grand-tante est décédée la semaine dernière. Il était très triste.

Grand-oncle

Grand-oncle means “great-uncle” in English. Try to remember that oncle means “uncle”, which will help you remember this family member more easily.

Ma grand-oncle est toujours en vie. Il a cent deux ans.

Cousine is a French noun that means “female cousin”. Use this to refer to the daughter of your aunt or uncle.

Ma cousine a le même âge que moi. Nous avons tous les deux trente et un ans.

Just like the Spanish family members , “cousin” has a masculine and feminine word. Cousin is a masculine French noun that means “male cousin”. Use this noun to refer to the son of your aunt or uncle.

Mon cousin est plus âgé que moi. Nous aimons tous les deux patiner et manger du chocolat.

Cousins is the plural form of the French noun cousin . Use it to refer to several cousins – that is the sons and daughters of your aunts and uncles.

Tous mes cousins aiment chanter et danser. Je n’aime pas ça.

This cognate, though pronounced differently in French, means “niece” in English. Use this noun to refer to the female child of your brother or sister. Your nièce can also be the daughter of your brother- or sister-in-law.

Je suis allé à l’hôpital quand ma nièce est née. Elle était petite, mais ne pleurait pas beaucoup.

A neveu is your “nephew”. Use this French noun to talk about the male son of your brother or your sister. Your neveu can also be the son of your brother- or sister-in-law.

Mon neveu est très méchant. Mais il est aussi très drôle.

Belle-mère means “stepmother”. You can use this French noun to talk about a female partner of your father, where the female partner is not your biological mother and has married your father after divorce or separation.

Je ne connais pas très bien ma belle-mère, mais elle a l’air très gentille.

Beau-père means “stepfather”. Use this French noun to refer to the male partner of your mother, where the male partner is not your biological father, or has married your mother after separation.

Je connais très bien mon beau-père. Il est très sérieux mais très gentil.

Belle fille

Use belle fille to refer to your “daughter-in-law” when speaking in French.

J’aime ma belle-fille comme si elle était mon propre enfant.

Use beau fils to refer to your “son-in-law” when speaking in French.

Mon beau-fils est très intelligent et aimant.

Containing the words demi (meaning “half”) and sœur (meaning “sister”) demi-sœur means “half-sister” or “step sister”.

Ma demi-sœur vit au Canada. Je ne l’ai jamais rencontrée.

Containing the words demi (meaning “half”) and frère (meaning “brother”) demi-frère means “half-brother” or “step brother”.

Mon demi-frère vit en Côte d’Ivoire. Je lui ai rendu visite l’année dernière.

Use marraine to refer to your godmother in French.

Ma marraine s’occupe de moi quand je ne vais pas bien.

Use parrain to refer to your godfather in French.

Mon parrain m’a appris à attraper un ballon de rugby.

Your goddaughter is your filleule in French.

Sa filleule n’a jamais réalisé qu’elle n’était pas sa mère biologique.

Your godson is your filleul in French.

Mon filleul est un garçon heureux et énergique.

Belle-sœur means “sister-in-law” in French. Use this French noun to refer to the daughter of your stepmother or stepfather.

Je suis tellement contente d’avoir une belle-sœur. Mon frère était très ennuyeux.

Beau-frère means “brother-in-law” in French. Use this French noun to refer to the son of your stepmother or stepfather.

Mon beau-frère n’arrête pas de parler. Il parle de choses ennuyeuses.

Speak about family in French and ask others about theirs

If you’re in a country where French is spoken , being able to talk about your family members is important. It’s crucial that you learn the right French words to describe your family.

Looking at the list, it might seem daunting.

But practising a little bit each day, and memorising these nouns will give you more confidence when chatting about your relatives.

Any other French family members I missed?

Comment below.

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Common French phrases: talking about family

Family is an important topic of conversation in any language, and being able to talk about your family in French is a useful skill.

In this lesson, we’ll go over some common French phrases for talking about family.

Ma famille est très importante pour moi. (My family is very important to me.) This phrase is used to indicate the significance of your family in your life.

J’ai une grande famille. (I have a big family.) This phrase is used to describe the size of your family.

Mes parents s’appellent ____ et _____. (My parents are named ____ and _____.) This phrase is used to introduce the names of your parents.

Mon père/mère est _____. (My father/mother is ___.) This phrase is used to describe the occupation or characteristics of your parents.

J’ai ____ frères/sœurs. (I have ____ brothers/sisters.) This phrase is used to describe the number of siblings you have.

Mon frère/ma sœur s’appelle _____. (My brother/sister’s name is _____.) This phrase is used to introduce the names of your siblings.

Ma famille est originaire de ____. (My family is originally from ___.) This phrase is used to describe the origins of your family.

Nous avons une tradition de ____. (We have a tradition of ___.) This phrase is used to describe a tradition that your family has.

Nous aimons passer du temps ensemble. (We like to spend time together.) This phrase is used to describe the time you spend with your family.

Ma famille me soutient toujours. (My family always supports me.) This phrase is used to indicate the support you receive from your family.

Learning these common French phrases for talking about family will help you to communicate more effectively with native French speakers and better express yourself in a French-speaking environment. Additionally, it is helpful to learn some basic French vocabulary related to family, such as different family members or family-related activities. With practice and persistence, you’ll soon be able to speak confidently about your family in French.

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How to Write an Essay in French

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When it comes to expressing your thoughts in French , there’s nothing better than the essay.

It is, after all, the favorite form of such famed French thinkers as Montaigne, Chateaubriand, Houellebecq and Simone de Beauvoir.

In this post, I’ve outlined the four most common types of essays in French, ranked from easiest to most difficult, to help you get to know this concept better. 

Why Are French Essays Different?

Must-have french phrases for writing essays, 4 types of french essays and how to write them, 1. text summary (synthèse de texte).

• 2. Text Commentary (Commentaire de texte)

3. Dialectic Dissertation (Thèse, Antithèse, Synthèse)

• 4. Progressive Dissertation (Plan progressif)

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Writing an essay in French is not the same as those typical 5-paragraph essays you’ve probably written in English.

In fact, there’s a whole other logic that has to be used to ensure that your essay meets French format standards and structure. It’s not merely writing your ideas in another language .

And that’s because the French use Cartesian logic (also known as Cartesian doubt) , developed by René Descartes , which requires a writer to begin with what is known and then lead the reader through to the logical conclusion: a paragraph that contains the thesis. Through the essay, the writer will reject all that is not certain or all that is subjective in his or her quest to find the objective truth.

Sound intriguing? Read on for more!

Before we get to the four main types of essays, here are a few French phrases that will be especially helpful as you delve into essay-writing in French:

Introductory phrases , which help you present new ideas.

Connecting phrases , which help you connect ideas and sections.

Contrasting phrases , which help you juxtapose two ideas.

Concluding phrases , which help you to introduce your conclusion.

The text summary or synthèse de texte  is one of the easiest French writing exercises to get a handle on. It essentially involves reading a text and then summarizing it in an established number of words, while repeating no phrases that are in the original text. No analysis is called for.

A  synthèse de texte  should follow the same format as the text that is being synthesized. The arguments should be presented in the same way, and no major element of the original text should be left out of the  synthèse.

Here is an informative post about writing a synthèse de texte , written for French speakers. 

The text summary is a great exercise for exploring the following French language elements:

• Synonyms , as you will need to find other words to describe what is said in the original text.
• Nominalization , which involves turning verbs into nouns and generally cuts down on word count.
• Vocabulary , as the knowledge of more exact terms will allow you to avoid periphrases and cut down on word count.

While beginners may wish to work with only one text, advanced learners can synthesize as many as three texts in one text summary. 

Since a text summary is simple in its essence, it’s a great writing exercise that can accompany you through your entire learning process.

2. Text Commentary  (Commentaire de texte)

A text commentary or commentaire de texte   is the first writing exercise where the student is asked to present an analysis of the materials at hand, not just a summary.

That said, a  commentaire  de texte  is not a reaction piece. It involves a very delicate balance of summary and opinion, the latter of which must be presented as impersonally as possible. This can be done either by using the third person (on) or the general first person plural (nous) . The singular first person (je) should never be used in a  commentaire de texte.

A commentaire de texte  should be written in three parts:

• An introduction , where the text is presented.
• An argument , where the text is analyzed.
• A conclusion , where the analysis is summarized and elevated.

Here is a handy in-depth guide to writing a successful commentaire de texte,  written for French speakers.

Unlike with the synthesis, you will not be able to address all elements of a text in a commentary. You should not summarize the text in a commentary, at least not for the sake of summarizing. Every element of the text that you speak about in your commentary must be analyzed.

To successfully analyze a text, you will need to brush up on your figurative language. Here are some great resources to get you started:

• Here’s an introduction to figurative language in French.
• This guide to figurative language  presents the different elements in useful categories.
• This guide , intended for high school students preparing for the BAC—the exam all French high school students take, which they’re required to pass to go to university—is great for seeing examples of how to integrate figurative language into your commentaries.
• Speaking of which, here’s an example of a corrected commentary from the BAC, which will help you not only include figurative language but get a head start on writing your own commentaries.

The French answer to the 5-paragraph essay is known as the  dissertation .  Like the American 5-paragraph essay, it has an introduction, body paragraphs and a conclusion. The stream of logic, however, is distinct.

There are actually two kinds of  dissertation,  each of which has its own rules.

The first form of  dissertation  is the dialectic dissertation , better known as  thèse, antithèse, synthèse . In this form, there are actually only two body paragraphs. After the introduction, a thesis is posited. Following the thesis, its opposite, the antithesis, is explored (and hopefully, debunked). The final paragraph, what we know as the conclusion, is the  synthesis , which addresses the strengths of the thesis, the strengths and weaknesses of the antithesis, and concludes with the reasons why the original thesis is correct.

For example, imagine that the question was, “Are computers useful to the development of the human brain?” You could begin with a section showing the ways in which computers are useful for the progression of our common intelligence—doing long calculations, creating in-depth models, etc.

Then you would delve into the problems that computers pose to human intelligence, citing examples of the ways in which spelling proficiency has decreased since the invention of spell check, for example. Finally, you would synthesize this information and conclude that the “pro” outweighs the “con.”

The key to success with this format is developing an outline before writing. The thesis must be established, with examples, and the antithesis must be supported as well. When all of the information has been organized in the outline, the writing can begin, supported by the tools you have learned from your mastery of the synthesis and commentary.

Here are a few tools to help you get writing:

• Here’s a great guide to writing a dialectic dissertation .
• Here’s an example of a plan for a dialectic dissertation , showing you the three parts of the essay as well as things to consider when writing a dialectic dissertation.

4. Progressive Dissertation ( Plan progressif)

The progressive dissertation is slightly less common, but no less useful, than the first form.

The progressive form basically consists of examining an idea via multiple points of view—a sort of deepening of the understanding of the notion, starting with a superficial perspective and ending with a deep and profound analysis.

If the dialectic dissertation is like a scale, weighing pros and cons of an idea, the progressive dissertation is like peeling an onion, uncovering more and more layers as you get to the deeper crux of the idea.

Concretely, this means that you will generally follow this layout:

• A first, elementary exploration of the idea.
• A second, more philosophical exploration of the idea.
• A third, more transcendent exploration of the idea.

This format for the dissertation is more commonly used for essays that are written in response to a philosophical question, for example, “What is a person?” or “What is justice?”

Let’s say the question was, “What is war?” In the first part, you would explore dictionary definitions—a basic idea of war, i.e. an armed conflict between two parties, usually nations. You could give examples that back up this definition, and you could narrow down the definition of the subject as much as needed. For example, you might want to make mention that not all conflicts are wars, or you might want to explore whether the “War on Terror” is a war.

In the second part, you would explore a more philosophical look at the topic, using a definition that you provide. You first explain how you plan to analyze the subject, and then you do so. In French, this is known as  poser une problématique  (establishing a thesis question), and it usually is done by first writing out a question and then exploring it using examples: “Is war a reflection of the base predilection of humans for violence?”

In the third part, you will take a step back and explore this question from a distance, taking the time to construct a natural conclusion and answer for the question.

This form may not be as useful in as many cases as the first type of essay, but it’s a good form to learn, particularly for those interested in philosophy. Here’s an in-depth guide  to writing a progressive dissertation.

As you progress in French and become more and more comfortable with writing, try your hand at each of these types of writing exercises, and even with other forms of the dissertation . You’ll soon be a pro at everything from a synthèse de texte to a dissertation!

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by Anne-Lise Vassoille

Updated on January 3, 2024

How to talk about members of the family in French

Family-related vocabulary in French is important to learn. It’s one of the most common ice-breakers you can use when you’re meeting someone for the first time. And it could even help you make some deeper friends, since introducing your family members in French can be a way to talk about yourself in more detail. Of course, the range of words you need to memorize can increase significantly depending on whether you want to talk about your immediate family or extended family. To help you along, we’ve made you a guide to French family vocabulary.

Introducing close family members in French

The age hierarchy among siblings, the in-laws in french, the members of a blended family in french, the adopting family in french, learn languages at your pace.

La famille proche (immediate family) is made of the closest membres de la famille (family members) appearing in un arbre généalogique (family tree). From a grammatical point of view, if la famille is a feminine word in French, the words for the various family members follow the usual gender of the people they are referring to:

Considering the close ties usually shared in an immediate family, there are also several affectionate words to describe its members:

It’s interesting to note that there is no translation for the word “sibling” in French. Instead, you need the longer phrase frères et sœurs (brothers and sisters) to convey the meaning of “sibling”. With it, there comes une hiérarchie des âges (age hierarchy) of sorts among the siblings, from the oldest to the youngest.

Un.e aîné.e refers to the eldest child in a family. By extension, it can also designate an elder or a senior person. Conversely, un.e cadet.te refers either to the youngest child or the second child in a family, and by extension to a person younger than you. Finally, un.e benjamin.e may also refer to the youngest child, as well as the third child in a family.

If you happen not to have any brother or sister, then you are un enfant unique (only child), or more specifically un fils unique (an only son) or une fille unique (an only daughter).

In a rather cute way, la belle famille (literally, “the beautiful family”) is the phrase designating in-laws. In effect, the French adjective beau (or belle in its feminine form) is attached to the relevant words of family members to refer to in-laws. 

As you may have noted, there are two words for “son-in-law” and “daughter-in-law”. While gendre is still commonly used to refer to a “son-in-law”, bru (“daughter-in-law”) is rarer and more old-fashioned. It may even carry a negative connotation.

Modern France has an increasing number of familles recomposées (blended families). There are two main adjectives to know in order to describe the various members of a blended family in French. 

As with in-laws, beau and belle refer to family members with whom you only have a legal connection, and no blood relation. As such, only the context of the conversation will help you determine if you’re talking about in-laws or a stepfamily. It’s also worth noting that gendre and bru are used only to refer to a son-in-law and a daughter-in-law, but not a stepson or a stepdaughter. The same goes for un beau-frère and une belle-sœur , which can only refer to a brother-in-law and a sister-in-law. There are simply no specific words to designate a stepbrother or a stepsister.

If you share just one parent with someone, then you need to add the adjectif demi (half) before frère and demie before sœur .

Here is the full list of words for members of a stepfamily:

Potentially less common, the case of adopting families is also important to mention, with three adjectives to remember: adoptif/adoptive (adopting), adopté.e (adopted) and biologique (biological).

Welcome to the French family!

So there you have it!  All the words you need to talk about the members of the family in French. We hope learning this vocabulary will prove priceless when you want to help people understand where – and who – you come from in French.

Anne-Lise Vassoille

Anne-Lise is a translator and copywriter working for various industries... Settled down in London, she cannot get enough of the exceptional cultural life in the English capital city, starting with theater, be it to see a new West End show or to roll up her sleeves with her amateur drama group. She is also interested in photography, as her Instagram profile shows. She indulges her passion for languages in a translation blog she writes with other linguist friends. Go to her Linkedin page to know more about her background and her professional experience.

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Learn French: how to talk about your family?

Talking about your family is an important part of everyday communication. Whether you are discussing your family circle with friends, filling out an administrative form or giving a presentation, knowing how to talk about your family in French is essential.

In this lesson, we will explore the different ways of expressing family relationships in French and provide you with practical examples.

Family members

Let's start with the basic members of a family and how to name them in French. Here are some key words to know:

• The parents : father, mother
• Brothers and sisters : brother, sister
• Grand parents : the grandfather, the grandmother
• children : son, daughter

Terms of affection

In French, it is common to use terms of affection to refer to members of one's family.

Here are some examples :

• My girlfriend)

Family ties

There are different ways to describe family relationships in French. Here are some examples :

• My older brother
• My younger sister
• My maternal uncle
• My first cousin
• My step-dad

The formal presentation

When filling out administrative forms or having to make a formal presentation, it is important to know how to use the correct terms. Here are some useful expressions:

• Husband Wife
• Son daughter
• Brother sister

Speaking about your family in French requires a good knowledge of appropriate terms and expressions. By understanding family members, terms of endearment, family connections and formal introductions, you will be able to communicate effectively about your family in French. Do not hesitate to practice these terms and use them in your daily life to strengthen your language skills and your confidence during family conversations in French.

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How to talk about family (la famille) in French

July 19, 2021

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How do you say “family” in French? It’s a question that seems pretty simple, but as is the case with families in general, sometimes things can get a little complicated!

Let’s look at some common French family vocabulary and clear up some confusion about things like talking about family members in French and how to differentiate between step-family and in-laws.

How do you say “family” in French?

The French word for “family” is la famille . It’s a feminine word and can also be used to say “relatives” in some cases.

If you want to talk about your family specifically, you can say ma famille . The pronoun “ma” is used because famille is a feminine word .

Family members in French

• les parents  – parents. This word can also be used to mean “relatives”, so pay attention to context.
• la mère  – mother
• Maman  – Mom/Mum
• le père  – father
• Papa  – Dad/Da
• l’enfant/les enfants  – child/children
• le fils  – son
• la fille  – daughter
• l’époux/l’épouse – spouse
• La famille étendue / la famille élargie – extended family
• le frère  – brother
• un frérot  – an affectionate term for “brother”. Can also be slang for bro/bruv.
• un frangin  – an affectionate term for brother.
• le demi-frère  – half-brother (a brother who shares one biological parent with you)
• la sœur  – sister
• une frangine  – an affectionate term for sister
• la demi-sœur – half-sister (a sister who shares one biological parent with you)

Note that there is no single French word for “sibling” or “siblings”. You have to specify if you’re talking about a  brother or sister, or you can say either mes fr è res, mes sœurs, or mes fr è res et soeurs.

The word la fratrie may also be used, but this is closer to “the children” in meaning.

Other immediate family members

• un tuteur/une tutrice  – legal guardian
• un animal de compagnie/ un animal domestique  – a pet
• le couple  – the couple
• le mari  – the husband
• la femme – the wife
• le/la fiancé(e)  – fiancé
• le/la conjoint(e)  – formal name for domestic partner
• le copain/la copine  – boyfriend/girlfriend

Note that in many French families with children, the parents may not be married.  In some cultures, this might be seen as controversial, but in France it’s not an issue .

Grandparents and grandchildren

• les grands-parents  – grandparents
• la grand-mère  – grandmother. Note that while this is a feminine word, grand  doesn’t take an e at the end.
• Mamie – Grandma/Gran. As in English, there can be some exceptions and variants for this term, but this is the most common way for someone to address their grandmother in France. Ex: Salut Mamie, comment vas-tu aujourd’hui ? (Hi Grandma, how are you doing today?)
• le grand-père  – grandfather
• Pépé/Papy  – Grandpa/Granddad. As in English, there can be some exceptions and variants for this term, but these are the most common ways for someone to address their grandfather in France. Ex: On fait un petit tour en village, Papy ?  (Shall we take a walk around the village, Granddad?)
• les petits-enfants  – grandchildren
• le petit-fils  -grandson
• la petite-fille  – granddaughter
• les arrière-grands-parents – great-grandparents
• l’arrière-grand-père  – great-grandfather
• l’arrière-grand-mère  – great-grandmother
• les arrière-petits-enfants  – great grandchildren

Aunts, uncles, cousins….

la tante  – aunt. Note that this word is almost always preceded by an article or possessive pronoun. For instance, in English you might say, “Aunt Judy is coming over.” But in French, you’d more likely hear, La tante Judy vient chez nous  or Ta tante Judy vient chez nous , not Tante  on its own.

(une) tatie  – aunt/auntie. This is an informal term of endearment for an aunt or great-aunt. It’s not used by everyone, but you will probably come across it. Note that unlike tante , this word isn’t always preceded by an article or possessive pronoun, and can be used to directly address one’s aunt.  Ex: Tatie Simone, la tante Clara nous attend au cafe.  (Auntie Simone, Aunt Clara is waiting for us at the cafe.)

l’oncle  – uncle. Note that this word is almost always preceded by an article or possessive pronoun. For instance, in English you might say, “Uncle Charles is coming over.” But in French, you’d more likely hear, L’oncle Charles vient chez nous  or Ton oncle Charles vient chez nous , not Oncle  on its own.

(un) tonton  – an informal, somewhat childish term for an uncle or a great-uncle, somewhere between “Uncle” and “Unky”. Note that unlike oncle , this word isn’t preceded by an article or possessive pronoun, and can be used to directly address one’s uncle. Ex: Voici mon oncle Pierre. Tonton Pierre, je te présente Sylvie, ma copine.  (This is my uncle Pierre. Uncle Pierre, I’d like you to meet Sylvie, my girlfriend.)

le neveu  – nephew

la nièce  – niece

un cousin/une cousine  – a cousin. As with some other words on this list, this word is usually preceded by an article or possessive pronoun.  Ex: La Cousine Bette est un superbe livre écrit par Honoré de Balzac. ( Cousin Bette  is an amazing book by Honoré de Balzac.)

Godparents and godchildren

• le parrain  –  godfather. Even if you’re not familiar with the Catholic practice of naming godparents (usually relatives or close family friends who would care for a child if their parents died – at least traditionally speaking), you’ve probably come across this word, since it’s the French title of the film The Godfather .
• la marraine  – godmother. Fellow fairy tale fans, note that this word is not the same when you’re talking about a fairy godmother: that would be une bonne fée .
• le filleul – godson
• la filleule  – goddaughter

Step-family and in-laws in French

You may wonder why these two categories of family members are grouped together. That’s because in French, both are said the same way:

• les beaux-parents  – mother- and father -in-law OR stepparents
• la belle-mère – mother-in-law OR stepmother
• le beau-père – father-in-law OR stepfather
• le beau-frère – brother-in-law OR stepbrother
• la belle-sœur – sister-in-law OR stepsister
• le beau-fils – son-in-law OR stepson
• la belle-fille – daughter-in-law OR stepdaughter
• la belle-famille – in-laws or stepfamily. Note that it is far more common to hear this word used to mean “in-laws”, though.

Associating both of these kinds of family members with the word beau  or belle  (beautiful, lovely, handsome) probably came from the fact that the initial intention was to put them in a positive light…but it can lead to a lot of confusion.

For example, if I want to talk about my half-brother and my brother-in-law in the same sentence in French, I could say: Lors de mon dernier voyage aux États-Unis, j’ai vu mon beau-fr è re et mon beau-fr è re.  (On my last trip to the US, I saw my stepbrother and my brother-in-law.)

Luckily, there are ways to avoid confusion, both as a speaker and a listener.

If you’re listening to someone else, try to pay attention to context. For instance, if the person talking is a child, it’s likely they mean “stepbrother”, since most of the time siblings are close enough in age that the child probably doesn’t have any married brothers or sisters. Of course, that’s not a total certainty.

If you’re reading a story, you can also use context. for instance, the wicked stepmother is a typical trope in fairy tales, so if you come across the word belle-m è re  in a French fairy tale , it probably doesn’t mean “mother-in-law”.  

On the other hand, in more contemporary storytelling, the difficult mother-in-law is a common trope, so if you watch a French sitcom or sketch comedy show  and hear someone complaining about their belle-mère , that’s who they probably mean.

When you’re talking to a French person, the good news is that you can always ask for clarification – even simply by using intonation: For instance: –  Mon beau-fr è re est un passionn é  de veilles voitures.   – Ton beau-frère ? – Oui, le mari de ma sœur.  (“My beau-frère  is a fan of old cars.” “Your beau-frère ?” “My sister’s husband.”)

Some people may even clarify in advance, the same as you might in English. It’s not uncommon to hear something like: Nous sommes partis en vacances avec mon fr è re et sa femme (We went on vacation with my brother and his wife) or La femme de mon fr è re travaille dans le IT.  (My brother’s wife works in IT.)

There are a two words that only apply to stepfamily members or in-laws, though. These are:

un gendre – a very common word for son-in-law

une bru  – a less common, somewhat old-fashioned term for “daughter-in-law”

How to address family members in French

As you can see from the list, in most cases, you have to use an article or possessive pronoun when talking about family members in a general way in French. Some family members can also be called by their title in lieu of their name.

For instance, although this would be considered formal or old-fashioned, a French person could directly address their mother as M è re  or their grandfather as Grand-p è re . You could say this is the English equivalent of someone addressing their mom as “Mother” rather than “Mom” or “Mum”, and “Grandfather” rather than “Grandpa”, “Granddad”, and so on. (These family members are more typically directly addressed as Maman  and Papy , respectively.)

The French family members that you can normally do this with are:

In addition, you may hear frère  or soeur  used either abstractly, as in poetry, or as a religious title for a monk or nun.

In most other cases, all other French family members’ titles would have to be used with an article or possessive pronoun.

That said, there are some exceptions. For instance, Scrooge McDuck (Picsou) is a very popular character in France. Picsou’s nephews often address him directly as Oncle Picsou .

Typically, though, when addressing a family member directly in French, you either omit their title or use a more affectionate one.

For example, my French husband used to call his uncle Tonton Yves  when talking to him directly as a child. Now that he’s an adult, he just calls him by his first name, Yves.

On the other hand, when he speaks to his mom, he always calls her Maman . His grandmother is always addressed as Mamie , and he always called his great-aunt Tatie .

Keep in mind that this is just a general rule. Each family is different, and some may not even use typical or traditional family member titles in the first place, but rather nicknames or the like. You can think of this the way many people in English have fond nicknames for their grandparents – for example, instead of Granddad or Grandpa, they might say “Pop-Pop.”

The most important preposition for talking about family relationships in French

In English, we use the possessive form a lot when talking about family: My mother’s brother; My uncle’s cat; My sisters’ farm, etc.

The same goes for French, which means you’ll often see and use the preposition de  when family is being described or discussed: le frère de ma mère ; le chat de mon oncle ; la ferme de mes sœurs , etc.

French family vocabulary

Here are some common family-related words and expressions you’ll come across in French.

la famille – the family. Note that this word can also have a more figurative meaning, or a scientific one or mathematical one. You can visit this helpful webpage to find a list of famille ’s many meanings .  

la famille [nom]  – the ___ family. Example: C’est une famille presque aussi bizarre que   la famille Addams.  (This family is nearly as bizarre as the Addams Family.)

Les [nom]  – The ___s : Ex: Voici nos voisins, les Dupont.  (Those are our neighbors, the Duponts.)  Note that, unlike in English, while the article in French is plural, the family’s name stays singular.

en famille  – among family OR “family” as an adjective. For example: Hier soir, on a dîné en famille.  (Last night, we had a family dinner.)

un foyer  – household

un ménage  – household

une famille monoparentale  – a single-parent family

une famille d’adoption  – a found family (a group of friends who become like your family)

une famille d’accueil  – a foster family. Note that this term can also sometimes be used to denote a host family, when dealing with exchange students, for instance.

une famille recomposée  – a blended family (a family where the parents have remarried/gotten together and now there are step-parents, step-siblings, etc.)

un fils adopté/un fils adoptif/une fille adoptée/une fille adoptive  – adopted son/adopted daughter. Ex: C’est le fils adoptif de mon oncle.  (He’s my uncle’s adopted son.) Note that, as in English,there is nothing wrong with specifying that someone is adopted, in some contexts. But family is family and so it isn’t polite or normal or necessary to point out that someone is adopted in most situations.

avoir un air de famille (avec)  – to have a family resemblance (with). Ex: Ça se voit que c’est ton cousin, vous avez un vrai air de famille !  (You can tell that you’re cousins; you two really have a strong family resemblance!)

C’est de famille. – It runs in the family.

You can find more family-related French words and expressions  in this Wiktionnaire entry.  

How can I learn about French family life?

If you’d like to learn more about family life in France, our list of statistics about France is a good place to start.  

Once you’ve learned the basics, you can gain more insights by reading books in French and watching French movies and TV shows  – after all, families of one kind or another are kind of ubiquitous.

An easy way to practice French family vocabulary is to describe your family, either written down on your own, or to online friends and conversation partners .  You can also imagine a family and write about it in French!

We’re glad that you’re part of the French Together family, or at least that you’ve stopped by for a visit!

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Home » Articles » Talk About Family in French – A Guide to French Family Vocabulary [with Audio]

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written by Alice Cimino

Language: French

Reading time: 13 minutes

Published: Feb 28, 2022

Talk About Family in French – A Guide to French Family Vocabulary [with Audio]

If you’re learning French, you should learn how to talk about family in French. That’s because family is an important topic that often comes up in conversations. In this article, I’ll share the words you need to know, with audio recordings from myself, a native French speaker.

Allons-y!  Let’s get started.

Table of contents

French words to talk about your family.

• How to Say “Family” in French: Famille

Rules of Gender, Number Agreement, and the French Family Member Collectives

French terms of endearment for family members, how to write about your family in french – some more vocabulary.

• 1. Qu’est-ce qu’on a fait au Bon Dieu ?
• 2. C’est quoi cette famille?!
• 3. Il a déjà tes yeux

You’re All Set to Talk About Your Family in French!

Psst… Do you like French cinema? Stick around until the end of the article for French movie recommendations that revolve around family!

“Family” in French is  famille‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ .

To say “family member” in French you would say  membre de la famille‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ . You can also say  parent‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ , which also translates to “parent”, as in father or mother.

If you want to talk about family in French, you will need to know the appropriate words to describe the different  liens de famille  (“family relationships”).

Immediate family:

• la femme ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ or  l’épouse‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “the wife”
• le mari ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ or  l’époux‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “the husband”
• les parents ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “the parents”
• la mère ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “the mother”
• le père ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “the father”
• les enfants ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “the children”
• la fille ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “the daughter”
• le fils ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “the son”
• la sœur ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “the sister”
• le frère ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “the brother”

Extended family:

• la tante ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “the aunt”
• l’oncle ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “the uncle”
• la nièce ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “the niece”
• le neveu ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “the nephew”
• la cousine ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “the cousin” (feminine)
• le cousin ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “the cousin” (masculine)
• la petite-fille ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “the grand-daughter”
• le petit-fils ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “the grandson”
• la grand-mère ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “the grandmother”
• le grand-père ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “the grandfather”
• l’arrière-petite-fille ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “the great-granddaughter”
• l’arrière-petit-fils ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “the great-grandson”
• l’arrière-grand-mère ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “the great-grandmother”
• l’arrière-grand-père ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “the great-grandfather”

All of these form  les proches ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ (“close relations”).

Since this is a lot of information, you can download this chart to keep it for further studies:

Step-family:

• la belle-mère ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “the stepmother”
• le beau-père ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “the stepfather”
• la demi-sœur ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “the stepsister” or “the half-sister”
• le demi-frère ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “the stepbrother” or “the half-brother”
• la belle-fille ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “the stepdaughter”
• le beau-fils ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “the stepson”
• la belle-mère  – “the mother-in-law”
• le beau-père  – “the father-in-law”
• la belle-sœur ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “the sister-in-law”
• le beau-frère ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “the brother-in-law
• la belle-fille  – “the daughter-in-law”
• le beau-fils  – “the son-in-law”

It might also be useful for you to learn the members of the “godparent family”:

• les parrains ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “the godparents”
• la marraine ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “the godmother”
• le parrain ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “the godfather”
• la filleule ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “the goddaughter”
• le filleul ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “the godson”

How to Say “Family” in French:  Famille

As I mentioned above, “Family” in French is  famille ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ .

Famille  is a noun, so you will often see  famille  coming after an article or a pronoun.

The most common ones are:

• La  famille  – “(the) family”
• Une  famille  – “a family”
• Ma  famille  – “my family”

Let’s pause for a second and take a look at how similar  famille  is to “family”. These words are  cognates : even though they’re from different languages, their spelling and pronunciation are similar, and they have the same meaning.

Cognates help you start learning a new language by giving you an instant vocabulary base. One of our favorite courses at  Fi3M ,  French Uncovered , teaches you to recognise French cognates from the very start of yourjourney learning French. It’s a great way to feel more confident in your knowledge and less intimidated by your target language.

(Remember, at  Fi3M  we’re all about simple language hacks like this that help you learn a language faster 😉.)

The Different Types of Family in French

Once you’ve mastered how to say  famille , you can go a little more in-depth and learn the different types of family categorization in French:

• la famille nucléaire‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ or  la famille traditionnelle‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “immediate family”
• la famille monoparentale‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “single-parent family”
• la famille recomposée‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “stepfamily” or “reconstituted family”
• la famille élargie‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ or  la famille étendue‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “extended family”
• la belle-famille‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “in-laws”
• la famille adoptive‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “adoptive family” or “foster family”

French follows rules of gender and number agreement. This means that if a noun is feminine, the article and adjective(s) that describe it will also be feminine. The same goes for when a noun is singular or plural. This is important to know if you want to describe your family members, for example.

Let’s look at how the agreement rules work.

While we’re looking at the plural forms of French family members, let’s talk about the collective terms for family members. These are words like “the parents” or “the siblings”, which describe the whole group of family members with the same titles, regardless of their gender.

Here are the most common:

• les parents  – “the parents”
• all other terms with  parents  in them, such as  les grandparents
• les enfants  – “the children”
• all other terms with  enfants  in them, such as  les petits-enfants
• les cousins  – “the cousins”

For the other collective terms, you would mention the plural of both the masculine and femenine members. Here are some examples:

• les frères et sœurs  – “the siblings”
• les oncles et tantes  – “the uncles and aunts”

When you’re referring to several members of the same gender, for examples “the sisters”, you would use the plural of the term, so  les sœurs .

When I’m speaking French with my parents, I don’t call my them *  mère  (“mother”) and père  (father).

For parents, the most common terms used in French are:

• la maman‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “the mom”
• le papa‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “the dad”

There isn’t a collective term for parents other than  parents  in French, you would simply say  maman et papa  (“Mom and Dad”).

Grandparents too have their own terms of endearment:

• la mamie‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ – “the granma”
• le papi‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ (sometimes also spelt  papy ) – “the grandpa”

You might also hear  mémé‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ (“grannie”) and  pépé‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ (“granda”), although they are more old fashioned words. My grandmother has never wanted her grandchildren to call her  mémé ; she says it makes her sound too old!

For siblings, adding  petit(e)  or  grand(e)  does the work:

• petite sœur  – “little sister”
• petit frère  – “little brother”
• grande sœur  – “big sister”
• grand frère  – “big brother”

When it comes to the rest of the family,  oncle  has a more tender version:  tonton‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ (“uncle”). In some places,  tante  also has a sweeter version in  tatie‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎ . In Guadeloupe, where I grew up, children use  tatie  as an affectionate term for women, even if they aren’t their aunts.

You’ve learnt the basics of French family vocabulary. Now are you ready for some more specific phrases?

Here are a few phrases you might want to know to talk or write about your family:

• J’ai une grande famille  – “I have a big family.”
• J’aime ma famille  – “I love my family.”
• La famille d’abord  – “family comes first”
• La famille pour toujours  – “family forever”

Depending on how deep you get into conversation about your family tree, you might want to know how to say just that. In French, “family tree” is  arbre généalogique , which literally translates to “genealogical tree”.

French Cinema and Family – A Few Recommendations

French cinema likes to focus on family. Extended families, reconstituted families, adoptive families… All of them can be the foundation of great French comedy!

As promised at the beginning of the article, here are some of the most popular French films about family.

1.  Qu’est-ce qu’on a fait au Bon Dieu ?

Qu’est-ce qu’on a fait au Bon Dieu ? , or “Serial (Bad) Weddings” in English, is a comedy that features an extended family.

Claude and Marie, a Catholic bourgeois couple from a small village in the north of France, see their conservative views challenged by the marriages of their daughters. The three eldest have married men of different ethnic origins and religious beliefs, so their hopes for a Catholic son-in-law rest with their youngest.

This movie and its sequel, which both star some famous French comedians, is a window into complex French modern culture.

2.  C’est quoi cette famille?!

C’est quoi cette famille?! , or “We Are Family” in English, focuses on a reconstituted family.

After several marriages and divorces of both his parents, thirteen-year-old Bastien finds himself part of a very big reconstituted family. Tired of being moved from house to house for shared parenting, the many “half-siblings” decide to live together and have their parents move houses instead.

Even though this movie exaggerates for the sake of comedy, it taps into the reality of reconstituted families, which are very common in France.

3.  Il a déjà tes yeux

Il a déjà tes yeux , “He Even Has Your Eyes” in English, is the story of a black couple who can’t have biological children and decide to adopt a baby. The baby is four-months-old, and white. Several people around the couple refuse to accept the adoption.

There is also a mini series whose events take place after the movie.

You can now shop at the  père et fils  business and listen to your B&B host’s story, and understand everything! Well, at least the part about the family.

If you’re looking for more vocabulary to learn, you could start by checking out  this guide to 27 French colors  (with audio).

If you’re ready for something else, try working on grammar!  French pronouns  are a good starting point.

Or maybe try some of these articles:

• How to Speak French: The Faster Way to Learn French
• FrenchPod101 Review: 30 Days with FrenchPod101
• 111 Core French Words — The Most Commonly Used Words in French
• An In-Depth Review of the Staircase Method — Learn a Language through Story
• 30+ Free Online French Classes and Resources (Only the Best!)

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Learn the vocabulary needed to describe, “Ma famille”, you will find a reading of family members in French with their corresponding translation in English. Here you will learn how to say brother and sister, friends, etc, in French.

Enjoy the reading about : Ma famille.

Reading : My family

Short video: the family

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Translation of "Brother" into French

Le Retour du frère prodigue, frère, frère are the top translations of "Brother" into French. Sample translated sentence: Virtues should be sisters, the same way vices are brothers. ↔ Les vertus devraient être sœurs ainsi que les vices sont frères.

Title of respect for an adult male member of a religious or fraternal order. [..]

English-French dictionary

Le retour du frère prodigue.

Brother, Can You Spare Two Dimes?

Virtues should be sisters, the same way vices are brothers .

Les vertus devraient être sœurs ainsi que les vices sont frères .

Show algorithmically generated translations

Automatic translations of " Brother " into French

Translations with alternative spelling

Son of the same parents as another person. [..]

male sibling [..]

Two men whose hearts are bleeding for a brother doctor in distress.

Deux hommes qui sont tristes devant la détresse d'un confrère .

Less frequent translations

• fraterniser
• frère cadet
• la petite amie de mon frère
• frère de l’ordre
• faire valoir
• faire-valoir
• frère de l'ordre

Images with "Brother"

Phrases similar to "brother" with translations into french.

• Brothers Grimm Jacob et Wilhelm Grimm
• Brothers of Mary Frères de la Société de Marie · Marianistes · Société de Marie · Société de Marie de Paris
• foster-brother
• Little Brothers of the Gospel Petits Frères de l’Évangile
• Brother Jonathan Brother Jonathan
• Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Newfoundland Big Brothers Association of St. John's · Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Newfoundland
• Brothers of Saint Patrick Frères de Saint Patrick

Translations of "Brother" into French in sentences, translation memory

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My brother in French

My brother in French is mon frère

Example Sentences

• Aimes-tu mon frère plus que moi ? Do you love my brother more than me? Source
• J'ai ici la fille de mon frère avec ses mômes. I have here my brother 's daughter with her kids. Source
• Mon frère parle très vite. My brother speaks very fast. Source
• Le pied d'athlète est le problème de mon frère . Athlete's foot is my brother 's problem. Source
• Cela appartient à mon frère . That belongs to my brother . Source
• Mon frère a une bonne mémoire. My brother has a good memory. Source
• Je partage un appartement avec mon frère . I share an apartment with my brother . Source
• La chambre de mon frère est toujours en désordre. My brother 's room is always a mess. Source
• Mon frère adore prendre des photos des montagnes. My brother loves taking pictures of mountains. Source
• Vous ne connaissez pas mon frère . You don't know my brother . Source
• Mon frère est en bonne santé. My brother is healthy. Source
• Mon frère travaille dans une station service. My brother is working at a gas station. Source
• Mon frère me hait. My brother hates me. Source
• Tout le monde me prend pour mon frère . Everyone mistakes me for my brother . Source
• Mon frère reste souvent éveillé toute la nuit. My brother will often sit up all night. Source
• Mon frère m'a envoyé une lettre la semaine dernière. My brother sent me a letter last week. Source
• Mon frère prend grand plaisir à sa collection de timbres. My brother takes great delight in his stamp collection. Source

Looking for something a bit more visual? Check out our infographic on My brother in French with example sentences and translations.

Useful Links

• Collins Dictionary
• Cambridge Dictionary
• WordReference
• Google Translate

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What's the opposite of Meaning of the word Words that rhyme with Sentences with the word Translate to Find Words Use * for blank tiles (max 2) Use * for blank spaces Find the of Pronounce the word in Find Names     Appearance ✓ Use device theme   ✓ Dark theme ✓ Light theme in French Use * for blank tiles (max 2) Use * for blank spaces pronoun bottom_desktop desktop:[300x250] go Word Tools Finders & Helpers Apps More Synonyms Copyright WordHippo © 2024 To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories . As a Teenager in Europe, I Went to Nudist Beaches All the Time. 30 Years Later, Would the Experience Be the Same? In July 2017, I wrote an article about toplessness for Vogue Italia. The director, actor, and political activist Lina Esco had emerged from the world of show business to question public nudity laws in the United States with 2014’s Free the Nipple . Her film took on a life of its own and, thanks to the endorsement from the likes of Miley Cyrus, Cara Delevingne, and Willow Smith, eventually developed into a whole political movement, particularly on social media where the hashtag #FreeTheNipple spread at lightning speed. The same year as that piece, actor Alyssa Milano tweeted “me too” and encouraged others who had been sexually assaulted to do the same, building on the movement activist Tarana Burke had created more than a decade earlier. The rest is history. In that Vogue article, I chatted with designer Alessandro Michele about a shared memory of our favorite topless beaches of our youth. Anywhere in Italy where water appeared—be it the hard-partying Riviera Romagnola, the traditionally chic Amalfi coast and Sorrento peninsula, the vertiginous cliffs and inlets of Italy’s continuation of the French Côte d’Azur or the towering volcanic rocks of Sicily’s mythological Riviera dei Ciclopi—one was bound to find bodies of all shapes and forms, naturally topless. In the ’90s, growing up in Italy, naked breasts were everywhere and nobody thought anything about it. “When we look at our childhood photos we recognize those imperfect breasts and those bodies, each with their own story. I think of the ‘un-beauty’ of that time and feel it is actually the ultimate beauty,” Michele told me. Indeed, I felt the same way. My relationship with toplessness was part of a very democratic cultural status quo. If every woman on the beaches of the Mediterranean—from the sexy girls tanning on the shoreline to the grandmothers eating spaghetti al pomodoro out of Tupperware containers under sun umbrellas—bore equally naked body parts, then somehow we were all on the same team. No hierarchies were established. In general, there was very little naked breast censorship. Free nipples appeared on magazine covers at newsstands, whether tabloids or art and fashion magazines. Breasts were so naturally part of the national conversation and aesthetic that Ilona Staller (also known as Cicciolina) and Moana Pozzi, two porn stars, cofounded a political party called the Love Party. I have a clear memory of my neighbor hanging their party’s banner out his window, featuring a topless Cicciolina winking. A lot has changed since those days, but also since that initial 2017 piece. There’s been a feminist revolution, a transformation of women’s fashion and gender politics, the absurd overturning of Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction in New York, the intensely disturbing overturning of Roe v Wade and the current political battle over reproductive rights radiating from America and far beyond. One way or another, the female body is very much the site of political battles as much as it is of style and fashion tastes. And maybe for this reason naked breasts seem to populate runways and street style a lot more than they do beaches—it’s likely that being naked at a dinner party leaves more of a permanent mark than being naked on a glamorous shore. Naked “dressing” seems to be much more popular than naked “being.” It’s no coincidence that this year Saint Laurent, Chloé, Ferragamo, Tom Ford, Gucci, Ludovic de Saint Sernin, and Valentino all paid homage to sheer dressing in their collections, with lacy dresses, see-through tops, sheer silk hosiery fabric, and close-fitting silk dresses. The majority of Anthony Vaccarello’s fall 2024 collection was mostly transparent. And even off the runway, guests at the Saint Laurent show matched the mood. Olivia Wilde appeared in a stunning see-through dark bodysuit, Georgia May Jagger wore a sheer black halter top, Ebony Riley wore a breathtaking V-neck, and Elsa Hosk went for translucent polka dots. In some strange way, it feels as if the trends of the ’90s have swapped seats with those of today. When, in 1993, a 19-year-old Kate Moss wore her (now iconic) transparent, bronze-hued Liza Bruce lamé slip dress to Elite Model Agency’s Look of the Year Awards in London, I remember seeing her picture everywhere and feeling in awe of her daring and grace. I loved her simple sexy style, with her otherworldly smile, the hair tied back in a bun. That very slip has remained in the collective unconscious for decades, populating thousands of internet pages, but in remembering that night Moss admitted that the nude look was totally unintentional: “I had no idea why everyone was so excited—in the darkness of Corinne [Day’s] Soho flat, the dress was not see-through!” That’s to say that nude dressing was usually mostly casual and not intellectualized in the context of a larger movement. But today nudity feels loaded in different ways. In April, actor and author Julia Fox appeared in Los Angeles in a flesh-colored bra that featured hairy hyper-realist prints of breasts and nipples, and matching panties with a print of a sewn-up vagina and the words “closed” on it, as a form of feminist performance art. Breasts , an exhibition curated by Carolina Pasti, recently opened as part of the 60th Venice Biennale at Palazzo Franchetti and showcases works that span from painting and sculpture to photography and film, reflecting on themes of motherhood, empowerment, sexuality, body image, and illness. The show features work by Cindy Sherman, Robert Mapplethorpe, Louise Bourgeois, and an incredible painting by Bernardino Del Signoraccio of Madonna dell’Umiltà, circa 1460-1540. “It was fundamental for me to include a Madonna Lactans from a historical perspective. In this intimate representation, the Virgin reveals one breast while nurturing the child, the organic gesture emphasizing the profound bond between mother and child,” Pasti said when we spoke. Through her portrayal of breasts, she delves into the delicate balance of strength and vulnerability within the female form. I spoke to Pasti about my recent musings on naked breasts, which she shared in a deep way. I asked her whether she too noticed a disparity between nudity on beaches as opposed to the one on streets and runways, and she agreed. Her main concern today is around censorship. To Pasti, social media is still far too rigid around breast exposure and she plans to discuss this issue through a podcast that she will be launching in September, together with other topics such as motherhood, breastfeeding, sexuality, and breast cancer awareness. With summer at the door, it was my turn to see just how much of the new reread on transparency would apply to beach life. In the last few years, I noticed those beaches Michele and I reminisced about have grown more conservative and, despite being the daughter of unrepentant nudists and having a long track record of militant topless bathing, I myself have felt a bit more shy lately. Perhaps a woman in her 40s with two children is simply less prone to taking her top off, but my memories of youth are populated by visions of bare-chested mothers surveilling the coasts and shouting after their kids in the water. So when did we stop? And why? When did Michele’s era of “un-beauty” end? In order to get back in touch with my own naked breasts I decided to revisit the nudist beaches of my youth to see what had changed. On a warm day in May, I researched some local topless beaches around Rome and asked a friend to come with me. Two moms, plus our four children, two girls and two boys of the same ages. “Let’s make an experiment of this and see what happens,” I proposed. The kids all yawned, but my friend was up for it. These days to go topless, especially on urban beaches, you must visit properties that have an unspoken nudist tradition. One of these in Rome is the natural reserve beach at Capocotta, south of Ostia, but I felt a bit unsure revisiting those sands. In my memory, the Roman nudist beaches often equated to encounters with promiscuous strangers behind the dunes. I didn’t want to expose the kids, so, being that I am now a wise adult, I went ahead and picked a compromise. I found a nude-friendly beach on the banks of the Farfa River, in the rolling Sabina hills. We piled into my friend’s car and drove out. The kids were all whining about the experiment. “We don’t want to see naked mums!” they complained. “Can’t you just lie and say you went to a nudist beach?” We parked the car and walked across the medieval fairy-tale woods until we reached the path that ran along the river. All around us were huge trees and gigantic leaves. It had rained a lot recently and the vegetation had grown incredibly. We walked past the remains of a Roman road. The colors all around were bright green, the sky almost fluorescent blue. The kids got sidetracked by the presence of frogs. According to the indications, the beach was about a mile up the river. Halfway down the path, we bumped into a couple of young guys in fanny packs. I scanned them for signs of quintessential nudist attitude, but realized I actually had no idea what that was. I asked if we were headed in the right direction to go to “the beach”. They nodded and gave us a sly smile, which I immediately interpreted as a judgment about us as mothers, and more generally about our age, but I was ready to vindicate bare breasts against ageism. We reached a small pebbled beach, secluded and bordered by a huge trunk that separated it from the path. A group of girls was there, sharing headphones and listening to music. To my dismay they were all wearing the tops and bottoms of their bikinis. One of them was in a full-piece bathing suit and shorts. “See, they are all wearing bathing suits. Please don’t be the weird mums who don’t.” At this point, it was a matter of principle. My friend and I decided to take our bathing suits off completely, if only for a moment, and jumped into the river. The boys stayed on the beach with full clothes and shoes on, horrified. The girls went in behind us with their bathing suits. “Are you happy now? my son asked. “Did you prove your point?” I didn’t really know what my point actually was. I think a part of me wanted to feel entitled to those long-gone decades of naturalism. Whether this was an instinct, or as Pasti said, “an act that was simply tied to the individual freedom of each woman”, it was hard to tell. At this point in history, the two things didn’t seem to cancel each other out—in fact, the opposite. Taking off a bathing suit, at least for my generation who never had to fight for it, had unexpectedly turned into a radical move and maybe I wanted to be part of the new discourse. Also, the chances of me going out in a fully sheer top were slim these days, but on the beach it was different. I would always fight for an authentic topless experience. After our picnic on the river, we left determined to make our way—and without children—to the beaches of Capocotta. In truth, no part of me actually felt very subversive doing something I had been doing my whole life, but it still felt good. Once a free breast, always a free breast. This article was originally published on British Vogue . More Great Living Stories From Vogue Meghan Markle Is Returning to Television Is Art Deco Interior Design Roaring Back Into Style? Kate Middleton and Prince William Share a Never-Before-Seen Wedding Picture Sofia Richie Grainge Has Given Birth to Her First Child—And the Name Is… The 10 Best Spas in the World Never miss a Vogue moment and get unlimited digital access for just $2 $1 per month. Vogue Daily By signing up you agree to our User Agreement (including the class action waiver and arbitration provisions ), our Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement and to receive marketing and account-related emails from Vogue. You can unsubscribe at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. 410 COMMENTS How to Describe Your Family in French II./. Knowing how to describe the structure of your family in French To describe the structure of your family in French, you need to follow the guidelines below: 1. Ton nom (your name). Here, you need to mention your name in any of the following formats:. Je m'appelle Elvis Fiati. Mon est Fiati, mon prénom est Elvis. (My name is Elvis Fiati. The Easy Guide to Talking About Your Family in French I present to you my brother, Charles. Charles, Brigitte is my classmate.) Il s'appelle… / Elle s'appelle… (His/her name is…) Je te présente mon oncle. Il s'appelle Nico. (I present to you my uncle. His name is Nico.) Bonjour, madame. Je vous présente ma tante. Elle s'appelle Esther. (Hello, ma'am. I present to you my aunt. Her ... Moi et ma famille Moi et ma famille. Me and My Family. Bonjour, je m'appelle Élisabeth. J'ai vingt-neuf ans et je suis française. Je suis née à Lyon mais j' ai grandi à Marseille. Je suis allée à l'université à Paris. Maintenant, j'habite à Strasbourg et je suis ingénieur. Translation. Hello, my name is Élisabeth. How to write an essay in French The first paragraph of your French essay should briefly introduce the topic and engage the reader. Here are some examples to help you write your essay: In recent years, the [topic] has become a hotly debated issue, with [brief outline of arguments]. The [subject] has been the subject of controversy for several decades, with [brief overview of ... All The French Words You Need To Talk About Your Family Grand-père. This French noun combines the words "grand" and "père", which mean "grand" and "father. It means "grandfather" in English and can be used to refer to your mother's father, or your father's father. Usage example: Sophie demandait des chocolats à son grand-père tous les samedis. Common French phrases: talking about family Ma famille me soutient toujours. (My family always supports me.) This phrase is used to indicate the support you receive from your family. Learning these common French phrases for talking about family will help you to communicate more effectively with native French speakers and better express yourself in a French-speaking environment. How to Write an Essay in French A commentaire de texte should be written in three parts: An introduction, where the text is presented. An argument, where the text is analyzed. A conclusion, where the analysis is summarized and elevated. Here is a handy in-depth guide to writing a successful commentaire de texte, written for French speakers. How to talk about members of the family in French The age hierarchy among siblings. It's interesting to note that there is no translation for the word "sibling" in French. Instead, you need the longer phrase frères et sœurs (brothers and sisters) to convey the meaning of "sibling". With it, there comes une hiérarchie des âges (age hierarchy) of sorts among the siblings, from the oldest to the youngest. Learn French: how to talk about your family? Here are some useful expressions: Père. Mother. Husband Wife. Son daughter. Brother sister. Speaking about your family in French requires a good knowledge of appropriate terms and expressions. By understanding family members, terms of endearment, family connections and formal introductions, you will be able to communicate effectively about ... How to talk about family in French In English, we use the possessive form a lot when talking about family: My mother's brother; My uncle's cat; My sisters' farm, etc. The same goes for French, which means you'll often see and use the preposition de when family is being described or discussed: le frère de ma mère; le chat de mon oncle; la ferme de mes sœurs, etc.. French family vocabulary Talk About Family in French Here are a few phrases you might want to know to talk or write about your family: J'ai une grande famille - "I have a big family.". J'aime ma famille - "I love my family.". La famille d'abord - "family comes first". La famille pour toujours - "family forever". Ma famille Ma famille. Learn the vocabulary needed to describe, "Ma famille", you will find a reading of family members in French with their corresponding translation in English. Here you will learn how to say brother and sister, friends, etc, in French. Enjoy the reading about : Ma famille. Ma famille Level 1 French reading with English subtitles ... Brother in French Translation of "Brother" into French. Le Retour du frère prodigue, frère, frère are the top translations of "Brother" into French. Sample translated sentence: Virtues should be sisters, the same way vices are brothers. ↔ Les vertus devraient être sœurs ainsi que les vices sont frères. Brother noun grammar. Title of respect for an adult ... Google Translate Google's service, offered free of charge, instantly translates words, phrases, and web pages between English and over 100 other languages. How to Say My brother in French Cela appartient à mon frère. That belongs to my brother. Source. Mon frère a une bonne mémoire. My brother has a good memory. Source. Je partage un appartement avec mon frère. I share an apartment with my brother. Source. French translation of 'brother' French Translation of "BROTHER" | The official Collins English-French Dictionary online. Over 100,000 French translations of English words and phrases. How to say "my brother" in French How to say my brother in French. my brother. French Translation. mon frère. Find more words! my brother Mes parents sont alcooliques et mon frère est en prison. If my brother offers you chocolate, politely refuse. Si mon frère vous offre du chocolat, refusez poliment. They released my brother 15 days after his capture. Ils ont libéré mon frère 15 jours après sa capture. Fax intercept my brother, this is sometimes pleasing. How to describe my father 10 lines in French Father in French is pere. You could begin with his name, profession, hobbies, physical appearance etc. The composition is as follows : Mon pere. Mon pere s,appel Daniel. Il a 56 ans. Il est Medicin. Il parle Anglais et Francaise. Il est tres Jolie. Il est grande. Il aime beaucoup les oranges et les bananes. Il a une voiture. Il aime beaucoup le ... Essay on my brother in french Find an answer to your question essay on my brother in french. galadhara10 galadhara10 11.06.2020 French Secondary School answered Essay on my brother in french See answers Advertisement As a Teenager in Europe, I Went to Nudist Beaches All the Time. 30 In my memory, the Roman nudist beaches often equated to encounters with promiscuous strangers behind the dunes. I didn't want to expose the kids, so, being that I am now a wise adult, I went ... assignment essay homework paper phd report resume review speech thesis