How To Say Brother In French

Learning how to say “brother” in another language is a great way to explore and connect with new cultures. In French, there are specific words and expressions used to address or talk about a brother. Whether you’re speaking to your brother, describing him to someone, or even discussing a sibling relationship, French has the perfect terms for each situation.

This article will help you discover how to say “brother” in French. We’ll explore the main word, look at some variations, learn other ways to refer to a brother, and even practice with exercises. By the end, you’ll be ready to confidently use these terms in real conversations.

Ways to Say Brother in French

In French, the word for “brother” is not just a simple translation; it can take on different forms depending on the context. You might use a standard term to refer to your sibling, a casual expression among friends, or even a formal term for special situations. Here are the most common ways to say “brother” in French, along with their meanings and examples.

1. Frère

Pronunciation: frehr
Meaning: Brother (general term).
In a Sentence:

Mon frère s’appelle Lucas. (My brother’s name is Lucas.)
J’aime passer du temps avec mon frère. (I love spending time with my brother.)

2. Frérot

Pronunciation: freh-roh
Meaning: Little brother or affectionate term for brother.
In a Sentence:

Salut, frérot! Comment ça va? (Hi, little brother! How are you?)
Mon frérot adore jouer au football. (My little brother loves playing soccer.)

3. Grand frère

Pronunciation: grahn frehr
Meaning: Older brother.
In a Sentence:

Mon grand frère est à l’université. (My older brother is in college.)
J’ai toujours admiré mon grand frère. (I’ve always admired my older brother.)

4. Petit frère

Pronunciation: puh-tee frehr
Meaning: Younger brother.
In a Sentence:

Mon petit frère est encore à l’école primaire. (My younger brother is still in elementary school.)
J’aide souvent mon petit frère avec ses devoirs. (I often help my younger brother with his homework.)

5. Demi-frère

Pronunciation: duh-mee frehr
Meaning: Half-brother.
In a Sentence:

Mon demi-frère vit dans une autre ville. (My half-brother lives in another city.)
Nous avons le même père mais pas la même mère, donc il est mon demi-frère. (We have the same father but not the same mother, so he is my half-brother.)

6. Beau-frère

Pronunciation: boh frehr
Meaning: Brother-in-law.
In a Sentence:

Mon beau-frère est très gentil. (My brother-in-law is very kind.)
Je vois souvent mon beau-frère lors des réunions familiales. (I often see my brother-in-law at family gatherings.)

7. Frère aîné

Pronunciation: frehr ay-nay
Meaning: Eldest brother.
In a Sentence:

Mon frère aîné travaille à Paris. (My eldest brother works in Paris.)
J’ai deux frères, et l’aîné est professeur. (I have two brothers, and the eldest is a teacher.)

8. Frère cadet

Pronunciation: frehr ka-day
Meaning: Younger brother (used in formal settings).
In a Sentence:

Mon frère cadet aime beaucoup lire. (My younger brother loves to read.)
Le frère cadet de mon ami est musicien. (My friend’s younger brother is a musician.)

9. Mon pote

Pronunciation: mohn poht
Meaning: Bro (informal term among friends).
In a Sentence:

Salut, mon pote! Comment ça va? (Hi, bro! How are you?)
Je vais au cinéma avec mon pote ce soir. (I’m going to the movies with my bro tonight.)

10. Fraternel

Pronunciation: frah-tehr-nel
Meaning: Brotherly (used figuratively).
In a Sentence:

Nous partageons une amitié fraternelle. (We share a brotherly friendship.)
Leur relation est remplie d’amour fraternel. (Their relationship is full of brotherly love.)

11. Mon frangin

Pronunciation: mohn frahn-zhan
Meaning: Bro or buddy (slang).
In a Sentence:

Mon frangin est toujours là pour moi. (My bro is always there for me.)
Hier, j’ai vu mon frangin au café. (Yesterday, I saw my bro at the café.)

12. Frères et sœurs

Pronunciation: frehr ay suhr
Meaning: Siblings (brothers and sisters).
In a Sentence:

J’ai deux frères et sœurs. (I have two siblings.)
Mes frères et sœurs habitent loin de moi. (My siblings live far from me.)

13. Un complice

Pronunciation: uhN kohm-pleess
Meaning: Partner in crime (metaphorical for a close brother).
In a Sentence:

Mon frère est mon complice dans toutes mes aventures. (My brother is my partner in all my adventures.)
Nous étions des complices pendant notre enfance. (We were partners in crime during our childhood.)

14. Frère de cœur

Pronunciation: frehr duh kuhr
Meaning: Brother by heart (not biological).
In a Sentence:

C’est mon frère de cœur, pas mon vrai frère. (He’s my brother by heart, not my real brother.)
Mon frère de cœur m’a aidé dans les moments difficiles. (My brother by heart helped me in tough times.)

15. Mon gars

Pronunciation: mohn gah
Meaning: My guy (informal, close friend).
In a Sentence:

Merci pour ton aide, mon gars. (Thanks for your help, my guy.)
Mon gars et moi, on joue au basket tous les dimanches. (My guy and I play basketball every Sunday.)

16. Frère spirituel

Pronunciation: frehr spee-ree-twel
Meaning: Spiritual brother.
In a Sentence:

Nous sommes frères spirituels dans notre communauté. (We are spiritual brothers in our community.)
Il est comme un frère spirituel pour moi. (He’s like a spiritual brother to me.)

17. Frère jumeau

Pronunciation: frehr zhoo-moh
Meaning: Twin brother.
In a Sentence:

Mon frère jumeau et moi avons beaucoup de points communs. (My twin brother and I have a lot in common.)
Ils sont frères jumeaux mais très différents. (They are twin brothers but very different.)

18. Frère de sang

Pronunciation: frehr duh sahN
Meaning: Blood brother (biological or symbolic).
In a Sentence:

Nous sommes frères de sang, rien ne peut nous séparer. (We are blood brothers; nothing can separate us.)
Mon frère de sang habite à l’étranger. (My blood brother lives abroad.)

19. Frère adoptif

Pronunciation: frehr ah-dop-teef
Meaning: Adopted brother.
In a Sentence:

Mon frère adoptif est arrivé quand j’avais 10 ans. (My adopted brother came when I was 10 years old.)
J’adore passer du temps avec mon frère adoptif. (I love spending time with my adopted brother.)

20. Frère en Christ

Pronunciation: frehr ahN kree-st
Meaning: Brother in Christ (religious term).
In a Sentence:

Mon frère en Christ est toujours là pour prier avec moi. (My brother in Christ is always there to pray with me.)
Nous sommes frères en Christ dans notre église. (We are brothers in Christ in our church.)

21. Un associé

Pronunciation: uhN ah-so-see-ay
Meaning: Associate or close ally (figurative).
In a Sentence:

Mon frère est aussi mon associé au travail. (My brother is also my associate at work.)
J’ai trouvé un associé fidèle en mon frère. (I found a faithful associate in my brother.)

22. Compagnon

Pronunciation: kohN-pah-nyohN
Meaning: Companion (figurative, for a close brother-like friend).
In a Sentence:

Mon frère est mon compagnon de voyage. (My brother is my travel companion.)
Nous étions des compagnons inséparables pendant notre jeunesse. (We were inseparable companions during our youth.)

23. Frères d’armes

Pronunciation: frehr dahrm
Meaning: Brothers-in-arms (military or symbolic).
In a Sentence:

Les soldats sont des frères d’armes sur le champ de bataille. (The soldiers are brothers-in-arms on the battlefield.)
Nous sommes des frères d’armes dans cette mission. (We are brothers-in-arms in this mission.)

24. Frangin préféré

Pronunciation: frahn-zhan pray-fay-ray
Meaning: Favorite brother (affectionate term).
In a Sentence:

Mon frangin préféré m’a offert un super cadeau. (My favorite brother gave me a great gift.)
Je sors toujours avec mon frangin préféré. (I always hang out with my favorite brother.)

25. Tonton

Pronunciation: tohN-tohN
Meaning: Uncle (used affectionately for an older brother).
In a Sentence:

Mes enfants adorent leur tonton. (My kids love their uncle.)
Tonton est venu nous rendre visite ce week-end. (Uncle came to visit us this weekend.)

Other Ways to Say Brother in French

Below is a table showcasing alternative ways to refer to “brother” in French, along with their pronunciations, meanings, and example sentences. These provide additional options for various contexts.

Responses to “Brother” in French

When someone talks about their brother or mentions “brother” in a conversation, you might want to respond thoughtfully. These responses help you acknowledge, show interest, or express your own feelings about brothers. Here are various ways to respond to discussions about “brother” in French.

1. Moi aussi, j’ai un frère

Pronunciation: mwah oh-see, zhay uhN frehr
Meaning: Me too, I have a brother.
In a Sentence:

Person 1: J’adore passer du temps avec mon frère. (I love spending time with my brother.)
Person 2: Moi aussi, j’ai un frère. (Me too, I have a brother.)

2. Ça doit être sympa d’avoir un frère

Pronunciation: sah dwah-t eh-truh sam-pah dah-vwahr uhN frehr
Meaning: It must be nice to have a brother.
In a Sentence:

Person 1: Mon frère est mon meilleur ami. (My brother is my best friend.)
Person 2: Ça doit être sympa d’avoir un frère. (It must be nice to have a brother.)

3. Je n’ai pas de frère

Pronunciation: zhuh nay pah duh frehr
Meaning: I don’t have a brother.
In a Sentence:

Person 1: Tu as un frère? (Do you have a brother?)
Person 2: Non, je n’ai pas de frère. (No, I don’t have a brother.)

4. Comment s’appelle ton frère?

Pronunciation: koh-mahn sah-pel tohN frehr
Meaning: What is your brother’s name?
In a Sentence:

Person 1: Mon frère adore jouer au tennis. (My brother loves playing tennis.)
Person 2: Comment s’appelle ton frère? (What is your brother’s name?)

5. Les frères, c’est important

Pronunciation: lay frehr, say ahN-pohr-tahN
Meaning: Brothers are important.
In a Sentence:

Person 1: Mon frère m’aide toujours. (My brother always helps me.)
Person 2: Oui, les frères, c’est important. (Yes, brothers are important.)

6. Tu t’entends bien avec ton frère?

Pronunciation: too tahN-tahN byehN ah-vek tohN frehr
Meaning: Do you get along well with your brother?
In a Sentence:

Person 1: Mon frère et moi jouons souvent ensemble. (My brother and I often play together.)
Person 2: Tu t’entends bien avec ton frère? (Do you get along well with your brother?)

7. C’est bien d’avoir un frère aîné

Pronunciation: say byehN dah-vwahr uhN frehr ay-nay
Meaning: It’s nice to have an older brother.
In a Sentence:

Person 1: Mon grand frère m’aide toujours avec mes devoirs. (My older brother always helps me with my homework.)
Person 2: C’est bien d’avoir un frère aîné. (It’s nice to have an older brother.)

8. J’ai toujours voulu un frère

Pronunciation: zhay too-zhoor voo-loo uhN frehr
Meaning: I’ve always wanted a brother.
In a Sentence:

Person 1: J’adore jouer avec mon frère. (I love playing with my brother.)
Person 2: J’ai toujours voulu un frère. (I’ve always wanted a brother.)

9. Les frères peuvent être proches

Pronunciation: lay frehr puh-vuh eh-truh prohsh
Meaning: Brothers can be close.
In a Sentence:

Person 1: Mon frère et moi partageons tout. (My brother and I share everything.)
Person 2: Oui, les frères peuvent être proches. (Yes, brothers can be close.)

10. Ton frère te ressemble?

Pronunciation: tohN frehr tuh ruh-sahN-bluh
Meaning: Does your brother look like you?
In a Sentence:

Person 1: Mon frère est plus grand que moi. (My brother is taller than me.)
Person 2: Ton frère te ressemble? (Does your brother look like you?)

11. Les frères, c’est parfois compliqué

Pronunciation: lay frehr, say par-fwah kohm-plee-kay
Meaning: Brothers can be complicated.
In a Sentence:

Person 1: Mon frère et moi, nous nous disputons parfois. (My brother and I argue sometimes.)
Person 2: Les frères, c’est parfois compliqué. (Brothers can be complicated.)

12. Vous êtes très proches, non?

Pronunciation: voo zeht tray prohsh, nohN
Meaning: You’re very close, aren’t you?
In a Sentence:

Person 1: Mon frère et moi faisons tout ensemble. (My brother and I do everything together.)
Person 2: Vous êtes très proches, non? (You’re very close, aren’t you?)

13. Ton frère est plus jeune ou plus âgé?

Pronunciation: tohN frehr eh ploo zhuhN oo ploo zah-zhay
Meaning: Is your brother younger or older?
In a Sentence:

Person 1: J’ai un frère. (I have a brother.)
Person 2: Ton frère est plus jeune ou plus âgé? (Is your brother younger or older?)

14. Il est sympa, ton frère!

Pronunciation: eel eh sam-pah, tohN frehr
Meaning: Your brother is nice!
In a Sentence:

Person 1: Mon frère t’a apporté un cadeau. (My brother brought you a gift.)
Person 2: Il est sympa, ton frère! (Your brother is nice!)

15. Est-ce que vous êtes souvent ensemble?

Pronunciation: eh-skuh voo zeht soo-vahN ahN-sahN-bluh
Meaning: Are you often together?
In a Sentence:

Person 1: Mon frère et moi regardons des films le week-end. (My brother and I watch movies on weekends.)
Person 2: Est-ce que vous êtes souvent ensemble? (Are you often together?)

Exercise to Practice Success

Below is a list of 12 fill-in-the-blank exercises to help you practice using the different ways to say “brother” in French. Each sentence is written entirely in French, and meanings are provided afterward. Try to complete the blanks with the correct terms based on context.

Fill-in-the-Blanks

Mon ______ joue au basket avec ses amis.
J’ai un ______ qui est plus jeune que moi.
Mon ______ aîné m’aide souvent avec mes devoirs.
Est-ce que ton ______ habite près d’ici?
Mon petit ______ adore les voitures télécommandées.
Nous sommes des ______ d’armes dans notre mission.
Mon ______ spirituel partage ma foi.
Elle considère son cousin comme un ______ de cœur.
Mon ______ jumeau a les mêmes goûts que moi.
Nous avons grandi ensemble, il est comme un ______ symbolique.
Mon ______ adoptif a rejoint notre famille quand j’avais 8 ans.
Mon ______ cadet est encore au lycée.

Answers

frère – Mon frère joue au basket avec ses amis. (My brother plays basketball with his friends.)
frangin – J’ai un frangin qui est plus jeune que moi. (I have a bro who is younger than me.)
frère – Mon frère aîné m’aide souvent avec mes devoirs. (My older brother often helps me with my homework.)
frère – Est-ce que ton frère habite près d’ici? (Does your brother live near here?)
frère – Mon petit frère adore les voitures télécommandées. (My little brother loves remote-controlled cars.)
frères – Nous sommes des frères d’armes dans notre mission. (We are brothers-in-arms in our mission.)
frère – Mon frère spirituel partage ma foi. (My spiritual brother shares my faith.)
frère – Elle considère son cousin comme un frère de cœur. (She considers her cousin as a brother by heart.)
frère – Mon frère jumeau a les mêmes goûts que moi. (My twin brother has the same tastes as me.)
frère – Nous avons grandi ensemble, il est comme un frère symbolique. (We grew up together; he is like a symbolic brother.)
frère – Mon frère adoptif a rejoint notre famille quand j’avais 8 ans. (My adopted brother joined our family when I was 8 years old.)
frère – Mon frère cadet est encore au lycée. (My younger brother is still in high school.)

Conclusion

Learning how to say “brother” in French opens up opportunities to talk about family, build connections, and explore different cultural expressions. From the formal “frère” to the affectionate “frangin” or the symbolic “frère de cœur,” the French language offers a variety of terms to fit every situation.

With practice, these words and phrases will become natural to use in conversations about siblings, friends, or even meaningful relationships. Keep practicing the examples, responses, and exercises provided here, and soon, talking about “brothers” in French will feel effortless. Remember, each word you learn brings you closer to mastering the beauty of the language.

Other Ways to Say	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example Sentences
Cousin germain	koo-zahN zhehr-maN	First cousin (close male relative)	Mon cousin germain est comme un frère pour moi. (My first cousin is like a brother to me.)
Copain	koh-pahN	Pal or buddy	Mon copain et moi jouons au foot ensemble. (My buddy and I play soccer together.)
Frère symbolique	frehr saN-bo-leek	Symbolic brother	Nous sommes des frères symboliques. (We are symbolic brothers.)
Mon camarade	mohn kah-mah-rahd	Comrade or friend	Mon camarade et moi travaillons bien ensemble. (My comrade and I work well together.)
Frère d’âme	frehr dahm	Soul brother	Il est mon frère d’âme depuis notre enfance. (He’s been my soul brother since childhood.)
Complice proche	kohm-pleess prohsh	Close accomplice	Mon frère est mon complice proche. (My brother is my close accomplice.)
Ami fidèle	ah-mee fee-del	Loyal friend (brother-like)	Mon ami fidèle m’a aidé dans les moments difficiles. (My loyal friend helped me in tough times.)
Frère chéri	frehr sheh-ree	Beloved brother	Mon frère chéri est toujours là pour moi. (My beloved brother is always there for me.)
Frère voisin	frehr vwaz-ehN	Neighboring brother	Mon frère voisin m’aide souvent. (My neighboring brother often helps me.)
Partenaire	par-teh-nair	Partner (figurative for brother)	Mon frère est mon partenaire en affaires. (My brother is my business partner.)
Frère compagnon	frehr kohm-pah-nyohN	Companion brother	Nous sommes des frères compagnons dans cette aventure. (We are companion brothers in this adventure.)
Frère juré	frehr zhoo-ray	Sworn brother	Nous avons promis d’être des frères jurés pour toujours. (We vowed to be sworn brothers forever.)
Confident	kohN-fee-dahN	Confidant (trusted like a brother)	Mon frère est mon confident pour tout. (My brother is my confidant for everything.)
Frangin d’adoption	frahn-zhan dah-dope-see-yohN	Adopted bro (affectionate)	Mon frangin d’adoption est comme un vrai frère. (My adopted bro is like a real brother.)
Bro (English slang)	bro	Casual brother or buddy	Salut, bro! Comment ça va? (Hey, bro! How are you?)