A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "My father-in-law" in French
French for 'my father-in-law', used when referring to your spouse's father.
Mon beau-père
moh(n) boh-PAIRneutral
French TTS · 0:01
Use this when talking about your spouse's father, for example, when making plans. 'Mon beau-père vient dîner ce soir.' (My father-in-law is coming for dinner tonight.)
Alternatives
- Le père de mon mariMore descriptive, used if you want to be very clear.
- Le père de ma femmeMore descriptive, used if you want to be very clear.
Ways to get it wrong
Pronouncing 'beau'
The 'eau' sound is like the 'o' in 'go', not 'ow'.
Silent 'p' in 'père'
The 'p' in 'père' is pronounced, unlike in many English words.
A small cultural note
In France, the term 'beau-père' is also used for 'stepfather', so context is key to avoid confusion.
The same phrase in other languages
Frequently asked
How do I say my mother-in-law in French?
You would say 'Ma belle-mère'. It follows the same pattern as 'beau-père'.
Is 'beau-père' formal?
It's a neutral term and perfectly fine in most conversations, whether casual or slightly more formal.
What if I want to say 'father-in-law' generally?
You would use 'beau-père' in the singular, or 'beaux-pères' for multiple fathers-in-law.
