How To Say Aunt In French

If you’re learning French, it’s important to know how to talk about family members. One common word you might want to use is “aunt.” Knowing how to say “aunt” in French will help you when talking about your family or when meeting others who speak French. This word is not just important for family gatherings but also for understanding conversations in French-speaking countries.

In this article, we will explore how to say “aunt” in French. We’ll look at different ways to say it, how to respond when someone mentions their aunt, and even give you a simple exercise to practice. By the end, you’ll feel more confident in using this word and other related phrases when speaking French!

Ways to Say “Aunt” in French

In French, there are several ways to refer to an aunt, depending on the region and the context. While the most common term is “tante,” there are some variations and other phrases that are used in different French-speaking areas. Below, you’ll find a list of the ways to say “aunt” in French along with their pronunciation, meanings, and examples of how they can be used in a sentence.

Tante

Pronunciation: /tɑ̃t/
Meaning: The standard word for “aunt” in French. It’s used to refer to your mother’s or father’s sister.
In a Sentence:

Ma tante est très gentille. (My aunt is very kind.)
J’ai deux tantes qui vivent en France. (I have two aunts who live in France.)

Tante par alliance

Pronunciation: /tɑ̃t par a.li.ɑ̃s/
Meaning: This term refers to an aunt by marriage, someone who is married to your uncle.
In a Sentence:

Elle est ma tante par alliance, car elle est mariée à mon oncle. (She is my aunt by marriage because she is married to my uncle.)
J’adore ma tante par alliance, elle est toujours gentille. (I love my aunt by marriage, she is always kind.)

Tata

Pronunciation: /ta.ta/
Meaning: A more informal, affectionate term for “aunt,” often used by children.
In a Sentence:

Ma tata me raconte toujours des histoires amusantes. (My aunt always tells me funny stories.)
J’ai passé l’après-midi avec ma tata hier. (I spent the afternoon with my aunt yesterday.)

Tante maternelle

Pronunciation: /tɑ̃t ma.tɛʁ.nɛl/
Meaning: Refers specifically to your mother’s sister.
In a Sentence:

Ma tante maternelle habite dans le sud. (My maternal aunt lives in the south.)
La tante maternelle de Sophie a un chien. (Sophie’s maternal aunt has a dog.)

Tante paternelle

Pronunciation: /tɑ̃t pa.tɛʁ.nɛl/
Meaning: Refers specifically to your father’s sister.
In a Sentence:

Ma tante paternelle vit à Paris. (My paternal aunt lives in Paris.)
J’ai deux tantes paternelles, et elles sont très gentilles. (I have two paternal aunts, and they are very kind.)

Tante de cœur

Pronunciation: /tɑ̃t də kœʁ/
Meaning: This expression is used to refer to someone who is like an aunt to you, but not necessarily a biological relative.
In a Sentence:

Elle est ma tante de cœur, même si nous ne sommes pas liés par le sang. (She is like an aunt to me, even though we are not related by blood.)
Ma tante de cœur m’a toujours soutenue. (My aunt of the heart has always supported me.)

Tata chérie

Pronunciation: /ta.ta ʃe.ʁi/
Meaning: An affectionate way of saying “aunt,” often used with love or admiration, similar to calling someone “dear aunt.”
In a Sentence:

Tata chérie, je t’aime beaucoup ! (Dear aunt, I love you very much!)
Ma tata chérie m’emmène souvent au parc. (My dear aunt often takes me to the park.)

Ma tante adorée

Pronunciation: /ma tɑ̃t a.dɔ.ʁe/
Meaning: A phrase used to refer to a beloved or dearly loved aunt.
In a Sentence:

Ma tante adorée vient me rendre visite ce week-end. (My beloved aunt is coming to visit me this weekend.)
J’aime beaucoup ma tante adorée, elle est toujours gentille. (I love my dear aunt very much, she is always kind.)

Tante proche

Pronunciation: /tɑ̃t pʁɔʃ/
Meaning: Refers to an aunt who is very close to you, emotionally or physically.
In a Sentence:

Ma tante proche habite juste à côté de chez nous. (My close aunt lives right next door to us.)
Elle est ma tante proche, elle m’aide toujours quand j’ai besoin. (She is my close aunt, she always helps me when I need it.)

Tante bien-aimée

Pronunciation: /tɑ̃t bjɛ̃ e.me/
Meaning: A term of endearment that means “dear aunt.”
In a Sentence:

Ma tante bien-aimée m’a envoyé un cadeau pour mon anniversaire. (My dear aunt sent me a gift for my birthday.)
J’adore passer du temps avec ma tante bien-aimée. (I love spending time with my dear aunt.)

Tante bienveillante

Pronunciation: /tɑ̃t bjɛ̃.vɛ.jɑ̃t/
Meaning: An aunt who is caring or nurturing.
In a Sentence:

Ma tante bienveillante m’a toujours soutenue pendant mes études. (My caring aunt has always supported me during my studies.)
J’apprécie beaucoup ma tante bienveillante. (I really appreciate my nurturing aunt.)

Tante protectrice

Pronunciation: /tɑ̃t pʁɔ.tɛk.tʁis/
Meaning: An aunt who is protective.
In a Sentence:

Ma tante protectrice me conseille toujours sur ce que je devrais faire. (My protective aunt always advises me on what I should do.)
J’ai une tante protectrice qui veille toujours sur moi. (I have a protective aunt who always looks out for me.)

Tante aimante

Pronunciation: /tɑ̃t ɛ.mɑ̃t/
Meaning: An aunt who is loving.
In a Sentence:

Ma tante aimante me serre dans ses bras chaque fois que je la vois. (My loving aunt hugs me every time I see her.)
Elle est ma tante aimante et elle m’aime profondément. (She is my loving aunt and she loves me deeply.)

Tante drôle

Pronunciation: /tɑ̃t dʁɔl/
Meaning: An aunt who is funny or humorous.
In a Sentence:

Ma tante drôle raconte toujours des blagues amusantes. (My funny aunt always tells funny jokes.)
J’adore passer du temps avec ma tante drôle. (I love spending time with my funny aunt.)

Tante généreuse

Pronunciation: /tɑ̃t ʒe.ne.ʁøz/
Meaning: An aunt who is generous.
In a Sentence:

Ma tante généreuse m’a offert un cadeau pour Noël. (My generous aunt gave me a gift for Christmas.)
Elle est toujours généreuse avec moi. (She is always generous with me.)

Tante spirituelle

Pronunciation: /tɑ̃t spi.ʁi.tyɛl/
Meaning: An aunt who is spiritual or philosophical.
In a Sentence:

Ma tante spirituelle me parle souvent de ses croyances. (My spiritual aunt often talks to me about her beliefs.)
J’admire la façon dont ma tante spirituelle vit sa vie. (I admire the way my spiritual aunt lives her life.)

Tante aimée

Pronunciation: /tɑ̃t ɛ.me/
Meaning: A term used for a loved aunt, emphasizing affection.
In a Sentence:

Ma tante aimée vit à la campagne. (My beloved aunt lives in the countryside.)
J’ai eu des nouvelles de ma tante aimée ce matin. (I heard from my beloved aunt this morning.)

Ma tante chérie

Pronunciation: /ma tɑ̃t ʃe.ʁi/
Meaning: A loving way to refer to your aunt, similar to “dear aunt.”
In a Sentence:

Ma tante chérie m’a préparé un gâteau d’anniversaire. (My dear aunt made me a birthday cake.)
J’aime passer du temps avec ma tante chérie. (I love spending time with my dear aunt.)

Tante douce

Pronunciation: /tɑ̃t dus/
Meaning: An aunt who is sweet or gentle.
In a Sentence:

Ma tante douce me raconte des histoires avant de dormir. (My sweet aunt tells me stories before bed.)
Elle est toujours douce et gentille avec moi. (She is always sweet and kind with me.)

Tante sage

Pronunciation: /tɑ̃t saʒ/
Meaning: An aunt who is wise or experienced.
In a Sentence:

Ma tante sage m’a donné des conseils sur ma carrière. (My wise aunt gave me advice on my career.)
J’écoute toujours ma tante sage quand elle parle. (I always listen to my wise aunt when she speaks.)

Tante joyeuse

Pronunciation: /tɑ̃t ʒwajøz/
Meaning: A joyful aunt who is always happy or cheerful.
In a Sentence:

Ma tante joyeuse nous fait rire à chaque réunion familiale. (My joyful aunt makes us laugh at every family gathering.)
Elle est ma tante joyeuse, toujours de bonne humeur. (She is my cheerful aunt, always in a good mood.)

Tante bienfaisante

Pronunciation: /tɑ̃t bjɛ̃.fe.zɑ̃t/
Meaning: A beneficial or helpful aunt who does good things for others.
In a Sentence:

Ma tante bienfaisante aide les enfants dans le besoin. (My helpful aunt aids children in need.)
Elle est toujours prête à faire du bien autour d’elle. (She is always ready to do good for others.)

Tante précieuse

Pronunciation: /tɑ̃t pʁe.sjøz/
Meaning: A precious or invaluable aunt.
In a Sentence:

Ma tante précieuse m’a donné un conseil qui a changé ma vie. (My precious aunt gave me advice that changed my life.)
Je garde les souvenirs de ma tante précieuse dans mon cœur. (I keep the memories of my precious aunt in my heart.)

Tante intelligente

Pronunciation: /tɑ̃t ɛ̃.te.li.ʒɑ̃t/
Meaning: A smart or intelligent aunt.
In a Sentence:

Ma tante intelligente m’a aidé à résoudre un problème de maths. (My intelligent aunt helped me solve a math problem.)
Elle est la tante la plus intelligente que je connaisse. (She is the smartest aunt I know.)

Tante exceptionnelle

Pronunciation: /tɑ̃t ɛk.sep.sjɔ.nɛl/
Meaning: An exceptional aunt who stands out for her greatness.
In a Sentence:

Ma tante exceptionnelle a fait un discours lors de notre mariage. (My exceptional aunt gave a speech at our wedding.)
J’ai une tante exceptionnelle qui a toujours des idées innovantes. (I have an exceptional aunt who always has innovative ideas.)

Other Ways to Say “Aunt” in French

Here’s a table with additional ways to say “aunt” in French. These terms vary depending on the context, affection level, or whether the aunt is by blood or marriage.

Other Ways to Say	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example Sentences
Tante de cœur	/tɑ̃t də kœʁ/	An aunt who is like a family member, but not biologically related.	Elle est ma tante de cœur, elle m’a toujours soutenue. (She is my aunt of the heart, she has always supported me.)
Tante chérie	/tɑ̃t ʃe.ʁi/	A term of affection, meaning “dear aunt.”	Ma tante chérie m’a acheté un livre. (My dear aunt bought me a book.)
Tante maternelle	/tɑ̃t ma.tɛʁ.nɛl/	Your mother’s sister (maternal aunt).	Ma tante maternelle m’a invités à Paris. (My maternal aunt invited me to Paris.)
Tante paternelle	/tɑ̃t pa.tɛʁ.nɛl/	Your father’s sister (paternal aunt).	Ma tante paternelle adore cuisiner. (My paternal aunt loves cooking.)
Tante plus âgée	/tɑ̃t ply.zaʒe/	An older aunt, used for someone older in age.	Ma tante plus âgée nous raconte toujours des histoires de famille. (My older aunt always tells us family stories.)
Tante cadette	/tɑ̃t ka.dɛt/	A younger aunt, the younger sister of your parent.	Ma tante cadette travaille à l’hôpital. (My younger aunt works at the hospital.)
Ma tata	/ma ta.ta/	An informal or affectionate way of saying “aunt.”	Ma tata adore voyager. (My aunt loves to travel.)
Tante bienveillante	/tɑ̃t bjɛ̃.vɛ.jɑ̃t/	A caring and nurturing aunt.	Ma tante bienveillante m’a aidée pendant ma maladie. (My caring aunt helped me during my illness.)
Tante fidèle	/tɑ̃t fi.dɛl/	A loyal aunt, who can be trusted.	Ma tante fidèle est toujours présente dans les moments importants. (My loyal aunt is always there for the important moments.)
Tante unique	/tɑ̃t y.nik/	Refers to a unique or one-of-a-kind aunt.	Ma tante unique m’a appris à jouer au piano. (My unique aunt taught me how to play the piano.)
Tante dynamique	/tɑ̃t di.na.mik/	A lively and energetic aunt.	Ma tante dynamique organise des activités chaque week-end. (My dynamic aunt organizes activities every weekend.)
Tante solidaire	/tɑ̃t so.li.dɛʁ/	A supportive and reliable aunt.	Ma tante solidaire a toujours été là pour moi. (My supportive aunt has always been there for me.)
Tante extravagante	/tɑ̃t ɛk.stʁa.va.ɡɑ̃t/	An aunt who is eccentric or unusual.	Ma tante extravagante adore les fêtes colorées. (My eccentric aunt loves colorful parties.)
Tante chaleureuse	/tɑ̃t ʃa.lœʁ.øz/	A warm, welcoming aunt.	Ma tante chaleureuse m’a offert un grand câlin. (My warm aunt gave me a big hug.)
Tante gentille	/tɑ̃t ʒɑ̃.tij/	A kind and gentle aunt.	Ma tante gentille a cuisiné pour toute la famille. (My kind aunt cooked for the whole family.)
Tante protectrice	/tɑ̃t pʁɔ.tɛk.tʁis/	A protective aunt who looks out for others.	Ma tante protectrice ne me laisse jamais partir sans un conseil. (My protective aunt never lets me leave without advice.)
Tante rigolote	/tɑ̃t ʁi.ɡɔ.lɔt/	A funny, silly aunt.	Ma tante rigolote fait toujours rire tout le monde. (My funny aunt always makes everyone laugh.)
Tante attentive	/tɑ̃t atɑ̃.tiv/	A thoughtful or attentive aunt.	Ma tante attentive m’a écoutée pendant des heures. (My thoughtful aunt listened to me for hours.)
Tante sportive	/tɑ̃t spɔʁ.tiv/	An active or athletic aunt.	Ma tante sportive adore faire du jogging tous les matins. (My athletic aunt loves jogging every morning.)
Tante joyeuse	/tɑ̃t ʒwajøz/	A cheerful and happy aunt.	Ma tante joyeuse fait sourire tout le monde avec son rire. (My joyful aunt makes everyone smile with her laugh.)

Response to “Aunt” in French

When someone mentions their “aunt” in French, there are different ways you can respond depending on the context of the conversation. Whether you’re expressing love, affection, or simply acknowledging the mention of an aunt, knowing the appropriate responses can help you communicate more naturally. Below are some common responses you might hear or use when someone talks about their “aunt” in French.

Comment va ta tante ?

Pronunciation: /kɔ.mɑ̃ va ta tɑ̃t/
Meaning: “How is your aunt?” This is a typical way to ask about someone’s aunt in French.
In a Sentence:

Comment va ta tante ? (How is your aunt?)
Ta tante va bien, merci de demander. (Your aunt is doing well, thank you for asking.)

J’espère qu’elle va bien.

Pronunciation: /ʒɛs.pɛʁ kɛl va bjɛ̃/
Meaning: “I hope she is doing well.” A thoughtful response when you’re concerned about someone’s well-being.
In a Sentence:

J’espère qu’elle va bien. (I hope she is doing well.)
Ta tante a eu un accident, j’espère qu’elle va bien. (Your aunt had an accident, I hope she is doing well.)

C’est super que ta tante soit là !

Pronunciation: /se sy.pɛʁ kə ta tɑ̃t swa la/
Meaning: “It’s great that your aunt is here!” This shows enthusiasm about someone’s aunt being present.
In a Sentence:

C’est super que ta tante soit là ! (It’s great that your aunt is here!)
Je suis content que ta tante soit venue à la fête. (I’m happy that your aunt came to the party.)

Elle est vraiment gentille, ta tante.

Pronunciation: /ɛl ɛ vʁɛ.mɑ̃ ʒɑ̃.tij, ta tɑ̃t/
Meaning: “Your aunt is really kind.” A compliment when you know the aunt or have heard good things about her.
In a Sentence:

Elle est vraiment gentille, ta tante. (Your aunt is really kind.)
J’ai rencontré ta tante, elle est vraiment gentille. (I met your aunt, she’s really kind.)

Oh, ta tante est super drôle !

Pronunciation: /o, ta tɑ̃t ɛ sy.pɛʁ dʁɔl/
Meaning: “Oh, your aunt is super funny!” A response when someone’s aunt is known for being humorous.
In a Sentence:

Oh, ta tante est super drôle ! (Oh, your aunt is super funny!)
J’ai adoré ta tante, elle est super drôle. (I loved your aunt, she’s super funny.)

J’aimerais bien rencontrer ta tante.

Pronunciation: /ʒɛmɛʁɛ bjɛ̃ ʁɑ̃.kɔ̃.tʁe ta tɑ̃t/
Meaning: “I’d love to meet your aunt.” A nice way to express interest in meeting someone’s aunt.
In a Sentence:

J’aimerais bien rencontrer ta tante. (I’d love to meet your aunt.)
Si ma tante venait ici, j’aimerais bien la rencontrer. (If my aunt came here, I’d love to meet her.)

Ta tante doit être fière de toi.

Pronunciation: /ta tɑ̃t dwa ɛtʁə fjɛʁ də twa/
Meaning: “Your aunt must be proud of you.” A positive remark when you know someone’s aunt is proud of their achievements.
In a Sentence:

Ta tante doit être fière de toi. (Your aunt must be proud of you.)
Elle doit être fière de toi, ta tante. (She must be proud of you, your aunt.)

Tu ressembles beaucoup à ta tante.

Pronunciation: /ty ʁə.sɑ̃.blə boku a ta tɑ̃t/
Meaning: “You look a lot like your aunt.” A common observation when someone looks similar to their aunt.
In a Sentence:

Tu ressembles beaucoup à ta tante. (You look a lot like your aunt.)
J’ai remarqué que tu ressembles beaucoup à ta tante. (I noticed you look a lot like your aunt.)

Elle est toujours là pour toi, ta tante.

Pronunciation: /ɛl ɛ tu.ʒuʁ la puʁ twa, ta tɑ̃t/
Meaning: “Your aunt is always there for you.” A supportive comment, showing admiration for a caring aunt.
In a Sentence:

Elle est toujours là pour toi, ta tante. (Your aunt is always there for you.)
Je sais que ta tante est toujours là quand tu as besoin. (I know your aunt is always there when you need her.)

Elle a toujours de bons conseils, ta tante.

Pronunciation: /ɛl a tu.ʒuʁ də bɔ̃ kɔ̃.sɛj, ta tɑ̃t/
Meaning: “Your aunt always has good advice.” Acknowledging the wisdom of someone’s aunt.
In a Sentence:

Elle a toujours de bons conseils, ta tante. (Your aunt always has good advice.)
Ma tante a de bons conseils, comme la tienne. (My aunt has good advice, just like yours.)

Ta tante doit être une personne formidable.

Pronunciation: /ta tɑ̃t dwa ɛtʁə yn pɛʁ.sɔ.nə fɔʁ.mi.dabl/
Meaning: “Your aunt must be an amazing person.” A compliment about someone’s aunt based on what you’ve heard.
In a Sentence:

Ta tante doit être une personne formidable. (Your aunt must be an amazing person.)
J’ai entendu beaucoup de bonnes choses sur ta tante, elle doit être formidable. (I’ve heard many good things about your aunt, she must be amazing.)

J’espère qu’elle est en bonne santé.

Pronunciation: /ʒɛs.pɛʁ kɛl ɛt ɑ̃ bɔn sɑ̃.te/
Meaning: “I hope she is in good health.” A polite and caring response when talking about someone’s health.
In a Sentence:

J’espère qu’elle est en bonne santé. (I hope she is in good health.)
Ta tante a eu un problème, j’espère qu’elle est en bonne santé. (Your aunt had an issue, I hope she is in good health.)

Exercise to Practice Saying “Aunt” in French

Here are 12 fill-in-the-blank sentences using the different ways to say “aunt” in French. Fill in the blanks with the correct word or phrase for “aunt” based on the context of each sentence. Afterward, you can check your answers below.

Fill-in-the-Blank Sentences (in French):

Ma _______ m’a acheté un joli cadeau d’anniversaire.
_______ est venue à la fête d’anniversaire de ma sœur.
J’ai passé l’après-midi avec ma _______ hier.
_______ vit à Paris et elle adore le théâtre.
Ma _______ est toujours là pour me soutenir.
_______ a organisé un grand dîner pour toute la famille.
_______ m’a conseillé de prendre des vacances.
Ma _______ me raconte toujours des histoires amusantes.
_______ est très gentille et me prête souvent ses livres.
Ta _______ a fait un excellent travail sur ce projet.
_______ est comme une deuxième mère pour moi.
Ma _______ habite en Italie et je lui écris souvent.

Answers:

tante (My aunt bought me a lovely birthday gift.)
Ma tante (My aunt came to my sister’s birthday party.)
tata (I spent the afternoon with my aunt yesterday.)
Tante paternelle (My paternal aunt lives in Paris and loves theater.)
Tante protectrice (My protective aunt is always there to support me.)
Tante bienveillante (My caring aunt organized a big dinner for the whole family.)
Tante sage (My wise aunt advised me to take a vacation.)
Tante rigolote (My funny aunt always tells me funny stories.)
Tante généreuse (My generous aunt is always lending me her books.)
Tante intelligente (Your aunt did an excellent job on that project.)
Tante de cœur (She is like a second mother to me.)
Tante maternelle (My maternal aunt lives in Italy, and I write to her often.)

Conclusion

Learning how to say “aunt” in French opens the door to better understanding family relationships in the French-speaking world. Whether you’re referring to your maternal or paternal aunt, or using a more affectionate term like “tata,” knowing these words will help you connect with others and express your thoughts clearly. French offers several ways to refer to an aunt, each with its own nuance, allowing you to be more specific or emotional when talking about family members.

By practicing the different expressions and responses in this article, you’ll be able to use the word “aunt” in many contexts, whether you’re talking about your own family or engaging in casual conversation. With regular practice, these terms will become a natural part of your French vocabulary. Don’t forget to use these expressions in your conversations to build your confidence and strengthen your language skills!