A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "Family comes first" in French
Expresses the priority of family in life and decisions.
La famille avant tout.
la fa-MEEY ah-VAHN TOOneutral
French TTS · 0:01
Use this when discussing life choices, career paths, or even holiday plans. It's a strong statement about where your loyalties lie.
Alternatives
- Ma famille est ma priorité.More direct and personal statement of priority.
- Les miens d'abord.Slightly more informal, referring to 'my people'.
Ways to get it wrong
Pronouncing 'famille'
The 'ille' sound is like the 'ee' in 'see', not like 'ill'.
Forgetting 'avant'
You need 'avant' to mean 'before' or 'first' in this context.
A small cultural note
While 'la famille avant tout' is widely understood, French society can also place a high value on individual achievement and personal freedom.
The same phrase in other languages
Frequently asked
How to say family comes first in French?
The most common way is 'La famille avant tout.' This phrase clearly states that family is the top priority.
Is 'La famille avant tout' formal?
It's generally neutral and can be used in most social settings. You wouldn't typically use it in a very formal written document, but it's fine for conversation.
What's another way to say family is important in French?
You could say 'Ma famille est ma priorité' which means 'My family is my priority.' Another option is the more informal 'Les miens d'abord,' meaning 'My people first.'
