la belle-mère
the mother-in-law / stepmother
Beginner Noun Feminine
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Pronunciation
/la bɛl mɛʁ/
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Cultural Note
The belle-mère is the most feared character in French comedy. Literally 'beautiful mother,' the irony is not lost on anyone. French culture has an entire genre of belle-mère jokes, and every family gathering involves navigating her opinions on your cooking, your career, and why you haven't had children yet. The phrase 'ma belle-mère débarque' (my mother-in-law is landing) is spoken with the urgency of an air raid warning.
📝 Example Sentences
Ma belle-mère arrive dimanche — il faut ranger la maison.
My mother-in-law is coming Sunday — we need to clean the house.
Les blagues sur la belle-mère, c'est un classique français.
Mother-in-law jokes are a French classic.