French · People & Family
"Family" in French: famille
la famille
Family in French is la famille, feminine, said fah-MEE. Say ma famille for my family. En famille means with the family or in a family setting.
Introducing yourself
Ma famille habite près de Nantes.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce famille
Say it
fah-MEE
/fa.mij/
Fah-MEE, stress on the last syllable. The ll is a simple y-like sound in many accents, or a clear l depending on the speaker. Final e is silent.
"Family" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| la famille | family The family unit or relatives as a group. | The family unit or relatives as a group. |
| ma / ta / sa famille | my / your / his-her family Possessives agree with famille (feminine). | Possessives agree with famille (feminine). |
| en famille | with family / as a family Weekend en famille, dîner en famille. | Weekend en famille, dîner en famille. |
| la belle-famille | in-laws Your partner's family. | Your partner's family. |
How to use famille in real life
- 1Introducing yourself
Ma famille habite près de Nantes.
My family lives near Nantes.
Ma matches feminine famille.
- 2Weekend plans
On passe le dimanche en famille.
We're spending Sunday with family.
En famille is a fixed, very common phrase.
- 3Photo chat
Voici toute ma famille sur la photo.
Here's my whole family in the photo.
Toute agrees with feminine famille.
Mistakes English speakers make with famille
Incorrect: Mon famille est grande.
Correct: Ma famille est grande.
Famille is feminine, so use ma, ta, sa—not mon.
Incorrect: Les family viennent demain.
Correct: La famille vient demain.
Use famille. It is usually singular when you mean the household group.
Good to know
Sunday lunch en famille remains a strong habit for many households, even when relatives live apart during the week. Belle-famille (in-laws) appears often in conversation about holidays and visits.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Showing holiday photos to a colleague
ChatPal
C'est ta famille sur cette photo ?
Is that your family in this photo?
You
Oui, toute ma famille était à la mer.
Yes, my whole family was at the seaside.
ChatPal
Vous avez l'air proches en famille.
You look close as a family.
You
On se voit souvent, surtout ma famille du Sud.
We see each other often, especially my family from the South.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Family" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Family" in French
Is famille masculine or feminine?
Feminine: la famille, ma famille, une grande famille.
What does en famille mean?
With the family, or in a family way: un restaurant adapté aux repas en famille.
How do I say in-laws?
La belle-famille for the group; belle-mère and beau-père for mother- and father-in-law.
Can famille mean relatives beyond parents?
Yes. It covers parents, siblings, and often wider relatives in context.
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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