nom de famille
/nɔ̃ d(ə) fa.mij/
The English phrase "last name" is translated into French as nom de famille.
The phrase nom de famille refers to the name shared by members of a family, used after a person's given name.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase nom de famille literally translates to "name of family".
Which one should you use?
While nom can mean "name" in general, nom de famille is used specifically to distinguish the surname from the given name, which is prénom.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly say dernier nom by translating "last" literally. However, dernier means "final" in a sequence rather than referring to a surname.
Did you know?
- In French administrative forms, you will often see the nom de famille written in all capital letters. This is a common convention used to clearly distinguish the surname from the prénom.
- While nom de famille is the standard term, you may encounter the word patronyme in legal contexts. This term specifically refers to the name inherited from the father.
- The word nom is used in French to describe not just a person's name, but also the 'noun' in grammar. This is why a noun is called un nom in French linguistics.
Examples in context
- Mon nom de famille est Jones.My last name is Jones.This sentence is useful for stating your own nom de famille.Tatoeba #584628 by qdii, translation #456431 by lukaszpp
- Quel est ton nom de famille ?What's your last name?This sentence is useful for asking someone else for their nom de famille.Tatoeba #2379701 by Amastan, translation #2072325 by CK
- Quel est son nom de famille ?What's his last name?This sentence is useful for asking for someone else's nom de famille.Tatoeba #8686150 by Julien_PDC, translation #10071287 by ddnktr
- 43 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At an administrative desk at the town hall.
- ManonQuel est votre nom de famille, Monsieur ?What is your last name, sir?
- GabrielC'est Martin.It is Martin.
- ManonEt votre prénom est Gabriel ?And your first name is Gabriel?
- GabrielOui, c'est ça.Yes, that's right.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry nom de famille, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
