French Nouns

Basic nouns referring to people

The following are very generic words for people:

homme	ɔm	man
femme	fam	woman
garçon	gaʁsõ	boy, lad
fille	fij	girl
adulte	adylt	adult
enfant	ɑ̃fɑ̃	child
bébé	bebe	baby
tout petit	tupti	small child, todler
adolescent	adolɛsɑ̃	teenager
personne1	pɛʁsɔn	person
personne1 âgée	pɛʁsɔn aʒe	elderly per

Family members and relationships

ami	ami	friend (male)
amie	ami	friend (female)
père1	pɛʁ	father, dad
mère1	mɛʁ	mother, mum
fils	fis	son
fille	fij	daughter
frère	fʁɛʁ	brother
soeur	sœʁ	sister
mari	maʁi	husband
femme	fɛm	wife
partenaire	paʁtənɛʁ	partner
parent	paʁɑ̃	relative
parents	paʁɑ̃	parents
oncle	õkl	uncle
tante	tɑ̃t	aunt, auntie
grand-père	gʁɑ̃pɛʁ	grandfather
grand-papa	gʁɑ̃papa	grandpa, grandad
grand-mère	gʁɑ̃mɛʁ	grandmother
grand-maman	gʁɑ̃mamɑ̃	grandma
grands-parents	gʁɑ̃paʁɑ̃	grandparents
copain	kopæ̃	friend, mate (male); boyfriend
copine	kopin	friend, mate (female); girlfriend
copine normale (Informal)	kopin nɔʁmal	female friend (to distinguish from 'girlfriend')
cop (Informal)	kɔp	boyfriend
petit ami	pətitami	boyfriend
petite amie	pətitami	girlfriend
fiancé	fjɑ̃se	fiancé
fiancée	fjɑ̃se	fiancée
collègue	kɔlɛg	colleague

		Saying my... in French To say my... in French, you use the word mon before the word for a male person, or ma before the word for a female person. In the plural, the word is mes. However, if a singular French word begins with a vowel, then mon is always used, and the final -n is pronounced. Here are some examples: mon frère mõ fʁɛʁ my brother ma soeur ma sœʁ my sister mon père1 mõ pɛʁ my father, my dad ma mère1 ma mɛʁ my mother, my mum mes parents me paʁɑ̃ my parents mon cousin mõ kuzæ̃ my (male) cousin ma cousine ma kuzin my (female) cousin un ami æ̃ nami a (male) friend mon ami mõ nami my (male) friend une amie yn ami a (female) friend mon amie mõ nami my (female) friend mes amis me zami my friends

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