You're sitting in a crowded bistro in the Marais, or maybe you're just trying to get through a Duolingo lesson without that owl judging your soul. You want to talk about your people. Your tribe. Your kin. But how to say family in French isn't just about swapping one word for another in a mental dictionary. Language is weirdly emotional. It’s messy.
If you just want the quick answer: it’s la famille.
Pronounce it la fa-mee. That "ll" isn’t a hard "l" sound; it’s a liquid "y" sound, almost like the "y" in "yes." If you say "fa-meel," people will know what you mean, but you'll sound like a textbook from 1985. We don't want that. We want you sounding like you actually live in the 21st century.
The Core Basics You Can't Skip
Most of us learn la famille on day one. It’s a feminine noun. Even if your family is a bunch of rowdy brothers, the word itself stays feminine. Ma famille est grande (My family is big). Notice the "e" on the end of grande? That’s French grammar playing its favorite game of matching everything together.
But here is where it gets interesting. French people don't always use the formal word. If you’re hanging out with friends, you might hear someone talk about their mif or mifff. This is verlan—a type of French slang where syllables are inverted. Famille becomes mif-fa, which then gets shortened to mif. It’s very street, very casual, and honestly, if you use it correctly, you'll gain instant cool points with anyone under the age of thirty in Paris.
The Immediate Circle
Let's look at the "nuclear" setup. You've got les parents. Careful here. This is a classic "false friend" (faux ami). In English, "parents" are just your mom and dad. In French, les parents can mean your mom and dad, but it can also refer to your relatives in general. If someone says "J'ai des parents en Bretagne," they might mean they have aunts, uncles, or cousins there, not just two sets of mothers and fathers.
- Le père (Father) / Papa (Dad)
- La mère (Mother) / Maman (Mom)
- Le frère (Brother)
- La sœur (Sister)
Don't forget the beaux-parents. This is a clever bit of linguistic efficiency. A beau-père is both a stepfather and a father-in-law. A belle-mère is both a stepmother and a mother-in-law. The French just add "beautiful" to the front of the word and call it a day. It’s way more poetic than the English "in-law," which sounds like you’re bringing a lawyer to Thanksgiving dinner.
Beyond the Basics: How to Say Family in French for Modern Times
The world has changed, and the French language has (mostly) tried to keep up. We aren't all living in 1950s sitcoms.
👉 See also: The Gospel of Matthew: What Most People Get Wrong About the First Book of the New Testament
If you’re part of a blended family, you’ll talk about une famille recomposée. It literally means a "recomposed" or "put back together" family. There’s something quite lovely about that phrasing. It feels intentional.
What about your "chosen family"? That group of friends who knows your darkest secrets and still likes you? You’d call them ma famille de cœur. Literally, your family of the heart. It’s a common phrase in the LGBTQ+ community in France, but it’s used by anyone who feels closer to their friends than their blood relatives.
Small Nuances That Matter
If you want to sound sophisticated, use the word les proches.
It translates to "those close to you."
It’s broader than family.
It’s elegant.
When you see a news report about a tragedy or a celebration, they won't just say "the family." They’ll say la famille et les proches. It covers the spouses, the best friends, and the long-term partners. It’s a warmer, more inclusive way to think about your circle.
The "Grand" Generation and the Little Ones
French people are generally very tight with their grandparents. Les grands-parents is the term, but nobody says that at home. It’s Papy and Mamie. There are variations—Pépé and Mémé—though those are starting to feel a bit "old country" and rural.
Then you have the siblings. Or rather, the lack of them. If you’re an only child, you are un fils unique (a unique son) or une fille unique (a unique daughter). It sounds much more special in French, doesn't it? Like you’re a rare Pokémon.
And cousins! Le cousin and la cousine. If they are your first cousins, you add germain or germaine. No, it has nothing to do with Germany. It comes from the Latin germanus, meaning "full" or "of the same stock."
✨ Don't miss: God Willing and the Creek Don't Rise: The True Story Behind the Phrase Most People Get Wrong
Common Idioms That Will Make You Sound Fluent
You can't just know the nouns. You need the flavor. French is packed with "family" idioms that make zero sense if you translate them literally.
Take "C’est de famille." It means "It runs in the family."
Simple.
Effective.
Then there’s the darker side. "Laver son linge sale en famille." Literally: To wash one's dirty laundry within the family.
Actually: To settle private disputes in private.
Don’t air your grievances in the middle of the street; keep that drama behind closed doors.
How about "Fils à papa"?
This is a "daddy's boy." It’s usually derogatory. It describes a young man who has everything handed to him because his father is rich or influential. If you see someone driving a Ferrari with a student permit, they’re probably a fils à papa.
Formal vs. Informal: A Cultural Tightrope
In France, family is a private sanctuary. While Americans might ask a stranger "So, do you have kids?" within five minutes of meeting, the French are a bit more guarded.
When asking someone about their family, it’s safer to use the possessive: "Comment va votre famille ?" (How is your family?). If you’re closer, you might ask, "Ça va, les enfants ?" (The kids are good?).
The word chez is also vital here. If you say "Je vais chez mes parents," you aren't just saying you're going to your parents' house. You’re saying you’re going to the "place of" your family. It implies a sense of belonging and home that goes beyond just a physical building.
🔗 Read more: Kiko Japanese Restaurant Plantation: Why This Local Spot Still Wins the Sushi Game
Real-World Example: The Sunday Lunch
If you are ever invited to a French family Sunday lunch (le déjeuner du dimanche), be prepared. It is a marathon, not a sprint. You will hear the word famille thrown around constantly. You'll hear about the beaux-frères (brothers-in-law) and the nièces (nieces).
The table is the heart of the French family. You don't just eat; you debate. You argue about politics, you complain about the price of bread, and you definitely talk about other family members who aren't there. That's the universal language of family, really.
The Evolution of "Family" in French Law and Society
It's worth noting that the definition of family in France has undergone massive shifts. The PACS (Pacte Civil de Solidarité), introduced in 1999, changed how people define their unions. Many "families" in France are based on this civil union rather than traditional marriage.
When you’re filling out forms, you’ll see état civil (marital status). You might be célibataire (single), marié(e) (married), or pacsé(e) (in a PACS). Even if you aren't married, your partner is often referred to as mon conjoint or ma conjointe in formal settings, or simply mon compagnon / ma compagne in casual ones.
The term mon petit ami (my boyfriend) or ma petite amie (my girlfriend) usually dies out once you hit your late twenties. After that, it feels a bit "high school." Most adults use mon mec (my guy) or ma meuf (my girl/woman—again, verlan for femme), or they go straight to the more serious mon mari / ma femme.
Practical Steps to Master French Family Vocabulary
Learning the words is only half the battle. You have to use them without tripping over your tongue. French vowels are tricky, and the rhythm of the sentence is everything.
- Watch "Dix pour cent" (Call My Agent) on Netflix. It’s a masterclass in modern French. You’ll hear how agents talk about their "work family" versus their actual families. Listen for the slang. Listen for the speed.
- Draw your own tree but label it in French. Seriously. Don't just look at a chart. Write "Ma mère: [Name]" and "Mon oncle: [Name]." Attaching the French word to a person you actually know creates a neural pathway that a textbook can’t touch.
- Practice the "y" sound. Say famille over and over. Avoid the "L." If it helps, think of the word "fee" followed by a very short "ye." Fa-mee-yuh.
- Use "Chez" more often. Stop saying "la maison de ma tante." Say "chez ma tante." It sounds a thousand times more natural and fluid.
- Listen to French podcasts about daily life. "InnerFrench" is a goldmine for this. Hugo (the host) talks a lot about French sociology, including how the concept of family is changing in the hexagon.
The most important thing to remember is that French people value the concept of family highly, even if they aren't always "lovey-dovey" about it in public. Whether you're talking about your arrière-grand-mère (great-grandmother) or your chien (the dog is definitely family), using these terms correctly shows a level of cultural respect that goes a long way.
Next time you’re in a conversation and someone asks about your weekend, don’t just say "I saw my family." Say, "J’ai passé du temps en famille." That little "en" makes you sound like a pro. It suggests a quality of time, a shared experience, and a deep-rooted tradition. Now, go find a French speaker and tell them all about your mif. Just maybe don't use that one with your boss.