French · People & Family
"Mother" in French: mère
la mère
Mother in French is la mère, said mehr. Ma mère means my mother. Maman is the warm, casual word like mom. Use mère in more formal or written talk.
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How to pronounce mère
Say it
mehr
/mɛʁ/
Mère sounds like mehr, with a soft French r. It rhymes with père and frère. The accent è keeps an open eh vowel.
"Mother" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| la mère | mother Neutral noun for mother. | Neutral noun for mother. |
| ma mère | my mother The usual way to talk about your own mum. | The usual way to talk about your own mum. |
| maman | mom / mummy Affectionate, used when speaking to or about her casually. | Affectionate, used when speaking to or about her casually. |
| belle-mère | mother-in-law / stepmother Context decides which meaning. | Context decides which meaning. |
How to use mère in real life
- 1Phone call
J'appelle ma mère ce soir.
I'm calling my mother tonight.
Ma mère is the default phrase.
- 2Family story
Ma mère cuisine très bien.
My mother cooks very well.
Simple present for habits.
- 3School form
Nom de la mère : Martin.
Mother's name: Martin.
Forms prefer mère over maman.
Mistakes English speakers make with mère
Incorrect: Mon mère travaille ici.
Correct: Ma mère travaille ici.
Mère is feminine, so use ma, not mon.
Incorrect: Je dis hello à mother.
Correct: Je dis bonjour à ma mère. / Salut maman !
Use mère or maman, not the English word.
Good to know
French adults often still say maman when talking to their mother, while ma mère is common when talking about her to others. Fête des mères (Mother's Day) is widely celebrated in late spring.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Planning a birthday gift with a sibling
ChatPal
Qu'est-ce qu'on offre à notre mère cette année ?
What are we giving our mother this year?
You
Je pense que ma mère aimerait un bon livre.
I think my mother would like a good book.
ChatPal
Oui, et des fleurs. Elle est une mère difficile à surprendre.
Yes, and flowers. She's a hard mother to surprise.
You
Oui, et ma mère adore les romans policiers.
Yes, and my mother loves crime novels.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Mother" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Mother" in French
What is the difference between mère and maman?
Mère is the standard noun. Maman is affectionate, like mom.
Why ma mère and not mon mère?
Mère is feminine, so the possessive is ma.
How do you pronounce mère?
Mehr, with an open è and a soft French r.
What is belle-mère?
Mother-in-law or stepmother, depending on 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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