French word

sœur

Pronunciation

IPA/sœʁ/

Meaning

  • feminine nounsister

Example

J'ai deux sœurs.

I have two sisters.

Illustration for sœur (sister)

More examples

Je vais aller voir ma sœur ce soir.

I am going to go see my sister this evening.

Core concept

A female family bond that can also name the sisterhood of women living in a convent.

Common phrases

  • aller voir ma sœur

    go see my sister

  • prendre soin de ma sœur

    take care of my sister

  • faire confiance à ma sœur

    trust my sister

Similar words

belle-sœur: A woman related as a sister-in-law through marriage.
demi-sœur: A sister who has one parent in common.
sœur aînée: An older female sibling.
sœur cadette: A younger female sibling.

Definition in French

Femme partageant un ou des parents avec une autre personne; appellation donnée aussi aux religieuses d'un couvent.

Word origin

French inherited sœur from Latin soror through the historical development of Old French, and religious communities preserved sister as a form of address.

Usage tips

  • Belle-sœur usually means sister-in-law, referring to a spouse's sister or a sibling's wife rather than a biological sister.

Other meanings

  • nunnoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word