A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "She takes after her dad" in French
Say 'Elle tient de son père' to say someone resembles their father in personality or looks.
Elle tient de son père.
ell tee-EN duh sohn PAIRneutral
French TTS · 0:01
Use this when you notice a daughter exhibiting a trait, habit, or physical characteristic that strongly reminds you of her father. It's a common observation in family discussions.
Alternatives
- Elle ressemble à son père.More literal, focuses purely on physical resemblance.
- Elle a le caractère de son père.Specifically about personality traits, not looks.
Ways to get it wrong
Pronouncing 'tient'
The 't' is silent and 'ien' is a nasal vowel sound, not 'tee-en'.
Confusing 'de' and 'à'
'Elle tient de son père' means 'she takes after' (inherits from), while 'Elle ressemble à' means 'she resembles'.
A small cultural note
This expression is very common and used neutrally to comment on inherited traits, whether physical or behavioral.
The same phrase in other languages
Frequently asked
What does 'tenir de' mean in French?
'Tenir de' means to take after someone, to inherit traits from them. It's often used for physical resemblance or personality.
How to say she looks like her dad in French?
You can say 'Elle ressemble à son père' for a direct physical comparison. 'Elle tient de son père' is also common and can include personality.
Is 'Elle tient de son père' formal?
No, it's a common, neutral expression used in everyday conversation with family and friends.
