French Family Vocabulary List – La Famille
Family is at the heart of so many conversations, whether you’re introducing your sister, talking about your kids, or explaining who you’re visiting in France. But with all the different terms for parents, grandparents, in-laws, and step-siblings, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.
This list breaks it all down for you, from the basics like le père and la mère to more nuanced terms like la belle-fille, les jumeaux, and la famille recomposée. You’ll also find affectionate nicknames like mamie and papy, plus vocabulary for modern and blended families.
You can download a free PDF of this vocabulary list in my private French Grammar Library.
| les parents | parents |
| le père | father |
| le papa | dad |
| la mère | mother |
| la maman | mom |
| la soeur | sister |
| le frère | brother |
| le fils | son |
| la fille | daughter |
| la femme | wife |
| le mari | husband |
| une épouse | female spouse |
| un époux | male spouse |
| la tante | aunt |
| l’oncle | uncle |
| le cousin | male cousin |
| la cousine | female cousin |
| le neveu | nephew |
| la nièce | niece |
| le grands-parents | grandparents |
| la grand-mère | grandmother |
| mamie | grandma |
| le grand-père | grandfather |
| papy | grandpa |
| les petits-enfants | grandchildren |
| le petit-fils | grandson |
| la petite-fille | granddaughter |
| l’arrière-grand-père | great-grandfather |
| l’arrière-grand-mère | great-grandmother |
| l’arrière-petit-fils | great-grandson |
| l’arrière-petite-fille | great-granddaughter |
| la marraine | godmother |
| le parrain | godfather |
| le filleul | godson |
| la filleule | goddaughter |
| le petit ami / le copain | boyfriend |
| la petite amie / la copine | girlfriend |
| le beau-frère | brother-in-law |
| la belle-soeur | sister-in-law |
| la belle-mère | mother-in-law or stepmother |
| le beau-père | father-in-law or stepfather |
| les beaux-parents | in-laws |
| le beau-fils | son-in-law or stepson |
| la belle-fille | daughter-in-law or stepdaughter |
| le demi-frère | half-brother |
| la demi-soeur | half-sister |
| l’aîné(e) | older or eldest child |
| le cadet | younger brother |
| la cadette | younger sister |
| le benjamin | male baby of the family |
| la benjamine | female baby of the family |
| le jumeau | male twin |
| la jumelle | female twin |
| les jumeaux | male or mixed twins |
| les jumelles | female twins |
| adopté(e) | adopted |
| le père biologique | biological father |
| la mère biologique | biological mother |
| le père adoptif | adoptive father |
| la mère adoptive | adoptive mother |
| le fils adoptif | adoptive son |
| la fille adoptive | adoptive daughter |
| l’orphelin | male orphan |
| l’orpheline | female orphan |
| l’ami | male friend |
| l’amie | female friend |
| la famille élargie | extended family |
| la famille recomposée | blended family |
| la génération | generation |
| les ancêtres | ancestors |
| les descendants | descendants |
