French word

petits-enfants

Pronunciation

IPA/pətizɑ̃fɑ̃/

Meaning

  • masculine noungrandchildren

Example

Je garde mes petits-enfants ce week-end.

I'm looking after my grandchildren this weekend.

Illustration for petits-enfants (grandchildren)

More examples

Mes petits-enfants viennent souvent chez nous.

My grandchildren often come to our house.

Core concept

Several children forming the next generation of a family through a person's sons or daughters.

Common phrases

  • mes petits-enfants

    my grandchildren

  • garder mes petits-enfants

    look after my grandchildren

  • chez mes petits-enfants

    at my grandchildren's house

Similar words

petit-fils: A male child of one's child.
petite-fille: A female child of one's child.
petit-enfant: A child of one's child.
enfant: A child of a parent.

Definition in French

Forme plurielle de « petit-enfant », désignant les enfants des fils ou des filles d'une personne.

Word origin

The compound petit-enfant joins petit and enfant, with petit marking a younger generation rather than physical size.

Usage tips

  • The plural petits-enfants can include grandsons and granddaughters together; the specific forms are petit-fils and petite-fille.

Opposites

Related words

  • enfancechildhoodnoun
  • petitessesmallnessnoun

Word lists with this word