French · People & Family
"Relative" in French: membre de la famille
le membre de la famille
Note: also: le parent
Relative in French is often un membre de la famille. Keep the whole phrase together. Un parent can mean a relative in wider French, not only a parent.
Wedding list
Chaque membre de la famille reçoit une invitation.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce membre de la famille
Say it
MAHM-bruh duh la fa-MEE
/mɑ̃bʁ də la fa.mij/
Membre: MAHM-bruh. Famille: fa-MEE. Phrase: MAHM-bruh duh la fa-MEE.
"Relative" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| un membre de la famille | a relative / family member Clear full phrase. | Clear full phrase. |
| les membres de la famille | relatives / family members Plural. | Plural. |
| un parent | a relative / a parent Broader or "parent". | Broader or "parent". |
| la famille élargie | extended family Wider circle. | Wider circle. |
How to use membre de la famille in real life
- 1Wedding list
Chaque membre de la famille reçoit une invitation.
Every relative gets an invitation.
Full phrase.
- 2Emergency contact
Indique un membre de la famille à prévenir.
List a relative to contact.
Forms.
- 3Holidays
Un membre de la famille arrive vendredi.
A relative is arriving Friday.
Keep all words.
Mistakes English speakers make with membre de la famille
Incorrect: Un relative.
Correct: Un membre de la famille.
Use the French phrase.
Incorrect: Un membre de famille (dropping la).
Correct: Un membre de la famille.
Keep de la famille.
Good to know
Forms may say personne à contacter or parent/proche. In conversation, people often name the exact tie—cousin, tante—more than the generic membre de la famille.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Filling a hospital form
ChatPal
Tu mets quel membre de la famille ici ?
Which relative are you putting here?
You
Mon frère. C'est le membre de la famille le plus proche.
My brother. He's the closest relative.
ChatPal
Parfait. Son numéro aussi.
Perfect. His number too.
You
Oui, je l'ajoute.
Yes, I'm adding it.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Relative" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Relative" in French
Exact phrase?
Un membre de la famille.
Can I say un parent?
Yes; it can mean relative, or specifically a parent.
Plural?
Des membres de la famille.
Pronunciation?
MAHM-bruh duh la fa-MEE.
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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