What is Family Relationships Vocabulary?
Family relationships vocabulary includes all the words used to describe people in your family — from parents and siblings to grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. These words are essential for introducing family, telling stories, and understanding family structures.
Family relationships vocabulary is the set of words describing family members: mother, father, brother, sister, grandmother, grandfather, aunt, uncle, cousin, nephew, niece, and more.
- •grand-mère (grandmother)
- •grand-père (grandfather)
- •tante (aunt)
- •oncle (uncle)
- •mère (mother)
- •père (father)
- •frère (brother)
- •sœur (sister)
- •cousin (cousin)
- •enfant (child)
Step-by-step worked examples
Describe your family: one parent, one grandparent, one sibling.
My mother (mère) is a doctor. My grandfather (grand-père) is retired. My sister (sœur) is a student. In French: Ma mère est docteur. Mon grand-père est à la retraite. Ma sœur est étudiante.
List cousins and aunts.
I have three cousins (cousins): Michel, Marie, and Louis. My aunt (tante) is Sophie. In French: J'ai trois cousins: Michel, Marie et Louis. Ma tante s'appelle Sophie.
Talk about nieces and nephews.
My brother has a son (fils) and a daughter (fille). My nephew (neveu) is 8 years old. My niece (nièce) is 6 years old. In French: Mon frère a un fils et une fille. Mon neveu a 8 ans. Ma nièce a 6 ans.
Flashcards
Quick quiz
Q1.Your father's sister is called…
Q2.The children of your aunt and uncle are…
Q3.French for 'in-laws' (family by marriage)?
Q4.What is a 'neveu' in English?
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Common mistakes
Confusing 'cousin' with 'cousine' — forgetting that cousine is feminine. — Correct: Cousin (male or mixed group), cousine (female).
Mixing up 'grand-père' (grandfather) and 'père' (father). — Correct: Grand-père = grandfather; père = father.
Saying 'marâtre' for all stepmothers — it can sound archaic. — Correct: Use belle-mère (stepmother/mother-in-law) in modern French.
Confusing 'beau-frère' (brother-in-law) with 'frère' (brother). — Correct: Frère = brother; beau-frère = brother-in-law / step-brother.
FAQ
What is family relationships vocabulary?
It's the set of words naming family members: mother, father, brother, sister, cousin, aunt, uncle, grandparent, and others.
How do you say 'family relationships' in French?
'Relations familiales' or 'lien de parenté' (kinship ties).
What are the basic family members in French?
Mère (mother), père (father), frère (brother), sœur (sister), grand-mère (grandmother), grand-père (grandfather), tante (aunt), oncle (uncle), cousin(e) (cousin).
Is 'cousine' always used for female cousins?
Yes, or you can use 'cousine' as feminine. Use 'cousins' (plural) for a mixed group.