French · People & Family
"Aunt" in French: tante
la tante
Aunt in French is la tante, feminine : ma tante, ma tante Marie. Tata is the affectionate kids' nickname, parallel to tonton for uncle.
Family news
Ma tante déménage à Bordeaux.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce tante
Say it
lah tahnt
/tɑ̃t/
Tahnt. Nasal an. Ma tante: mah tahnt.
"Aunt" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| la tante | the aunt Neutral. | Neutral. |
| ma tante | my aunt Possession. | Possession. |
| tata | auntie Kids' affectionate form. | Kids' affectionate form. |
| tante maternelle | maternal aunt Mother's side. | Mother's side. |
How to use tante in real life
- 1Family news
Ma tante déménage à Bordeaux.
My aunt is moving to Bordeaux.
Ma tante.
- 2Dinner invite
La tante de Léa apporte le dessert.
Léa's aunt is bringing dessert.
La tante.
- 3Kids calling
Tante Claire, viens jouer !
Aunt Claire, come play!
Tante as a direct address; kids may say tata instead.
Mistakes English speakers make with tante
Incorrect: Mon tante est gentille.
Correct: Ma tante est gentille.
Tante is feminine: ma tante.
Incorrect: Le tante arrive.
Correct: La tante arrive.
Use la tante.
Good to know
French extended families lean on tantes for holidays and childcare. Adults say ma tante ; little kids switch to tata without thinking.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Preparing a birthday gift
ChatPal
C'est l'anniversaire de ta tante demain ?
Is it your aunt's birthday tomorrow?
You
Oui. Ma tante adore les fleurs.
Yes. My aunt loves flowers.
ChatPal
Prenons des lys pour ta tante.
Let's get lilies for your aunt.
You
Parfait. Elle va être contente.
Perfect. She'll be happy.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Aunt" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Aunt" in French
How do I say my aunt?
Ma tante.
What is tata?
Affectionate kids' word for aunt.
Is tante feminine?
Yes: la tante.
How do you pronounce tante?
Tahnt.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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