French · People & Family
"Woman" in French: femme
la femme
Woman in French is la femme, feminine : une femme, des femmes. Madame is a polite title, not the noun itself. Femme also means wife in mon mari / ma femme pairs.
Describing a photo
La femme à gauche est ma sœur.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce femme
Say it
lah fam
/fam/
Fam. The e is silent; mm keeps a short vowel. Une femme: ün fam.
"Woman" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| la femme | the woman Neutral noun. | Neutral noun. |
| une femme | a woman Indefinite. | Indefinite. |
| des femmes | women Plural. | Plural. |
| ma femme | my wife Also spouse meaning. | Also spouse meaning. |
How to use femme in real life
- 1Describing a photo
La femme à gauche est ma sœur.
The woman on the left is my sister.
La femme + location.
- 2News summary
Une femme a trouvé le portefeuille.
A woman found the wallet.
Une femme as subject.
- 3Introducing spouses
Je te présente ma femme, Claire.
Meet my wife, Claire.
Ma femme as wife.
Mistakes English speakers make with femme
Incorrect: Le femme est médecin.
Correct: La femme est médecin.
Femme is feminine: la femme.
Incorrect: Bonjour, femme.
Correct: Bonjour, madame.
Address someone with madame, not femme.
Good to know
On forms you still see homme/femme. In conversation, calling someone ma femme means spouse ; une femme alone usually means a woman.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Spotting someone at a reunion
ChatPal
La femme en vert, c'est ta voisine ?
The woman in green—is that your neighbor?
You
Oui. C'est une femme adorable.
Yes. She's a lovely woman.
ChatPal
Je vais dire bonjour à cette femme alors.
I'll say hello to that woman then.
You
Vas-y, elle est sympa.
Go ahead; she's nice.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Woman" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Woman" in French
Does femme mean wife?
It can: ma femme means my wife. Context decides.
How do I address a woman politely?
Madame, not femme.
What is the plural?
Les femmes.
How do you pronounce femme?
Fam.
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
Keep reading
- Ordering Food in French: Essential Phrases for 2026Ordering food in french - Learn how to confidently order food in French with real-life phrases and tips for 2026 travelers
- 10 Best French Speaking Practice Apps for 2026Find the best French speaking practice app to build fluency. We review 10 top tools like ChatPal for conversation, travel prep, and building confidence in 2026.
