1.12: Famille

In French, “les parents” means both parents and relatives.

☞ J’ai des parents à Marseille. I have relatives in Marseille.

Un membre de la famille is a family member in French.

Un arbre généalogique is the French equivalent of the English family tree.

Special family terms

• Un aîné / une aînée can refer to an older brother/sister, the oldest brother/sister, or the first-born son/daughter.
• Un cadet / une cadette can refer to a younger brother/sister or the second-born son/daughter in a family.
• Le benjamin / la benjamine is the youngest child in a family.

Famille par alliance Family by marriage

In French, there’s no distinction between step-family and family-in-law: they are both equivalent to beau- or belle-plus that family member.

☞ Voici mon beau-frère. Here is my step-brother / brother in law.

Godparents and Godchildren

Practice