French · People & Family
"Mother-in-law" in French: belle-mère
la belle-mère
Mother-in-law in French is la belle-mère, feminine. Ma belle-mère is my mother-in-law. Beau-père is father-in-law; together they are mes beaux-parents.
Sunday lunch
Ma belle-mère prépare un rôti.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce belle-mère
Say it
bell-MAIR
/bɛl.mɛʁ/
bell-MAIR. Belle like "bell". Mère is MAIR with open ê.
"Mother-in-law" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| la belle-mère | mother-in-law / stepmother In-law by default in marriage talk. | In-law by default in marriage talk. |
| ma belle-mère | my mother-in-law Possessive. | Possessive. |
| les beaux-parents | parents-in-law Both together. | Both together. |
| chez ma belle-mère | at my mother-in-law's Visiting. | Visiting. |
How to use belle-mère in real life
- 1Sunday lunch
Ma belle-mère prépare un rôti.
My mother-in-law is making a roast.
Ma with feminine belle-mère.
- 2Gift idea
Qu'est-ce que je peux offrir à ma belle-mère ?
What can I give my mother-in-law?
À ma belle-mère.
- 3Travel
On dort chez ma belle-mère ce week-end.
We're staying at my mother-in-law's this weekend.
Chez + person.
Mistakes English speakers make with belle-mère
Incorrect: Mon belle-mère appelle.
Correct: Ma belle-mère appelle.
Belle-mère is feminine: ma.
Incorrect: Ma mother-in-law vient.
Correct: Ma belle-mère vient.
Use belle-mère.
Good to know
Belle-mère can mean mother-in-law or stepmother. French comedy loves the belle-mère stereotype, but real families vary. Many couples still use vous with older in-laws at first.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Cooking for family
ChatPal
Ta belle-mère aime le poisson ?
Does your mother-in-law like fish?
You
Oui, ma belle-mère en raffole.
Yes, my mother-in-law loves it.
ChatPal
Alors je cuisine ça pour ta belle-mère.
Then I'll cook that for your mother-in-law.
You
Elle sera contente, merci.
She'll be happy, thanks.
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-law" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Mother-in-law" in French
How do I say my mother-in-law?
Ma belle-mère.
What is beau-père?
Father-in-law (or stepfather).
How do I say parents-in-law?
Les beaux-parents.
Can belle-mère mean stepmother?
Yes; context decides.
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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