belle-mère
mother-in-law; stepmother
Intermediate Noun Feminine
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Pronunciation
/bɛl.mɛʁ/
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Cultural Note
Belle-mère means both 'mother-in-law' and 'stepmother' in French, which can cause confusion. Context usually clarifies the meaning. The prefix belle-/beau- (literally 'beautiful') is used for all in-law and step-relations. French mother-in-law jokes (blagues sur la belle-mère) are a staple of French humor.
📝 Example Sentences
Ma belle-mère est très gentille.
My mother-in-law is very kind.
Elle s'entend bien avec sa belle-mère.
She gets along well with her mother-in-law.