Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| petite sœur | /pə.tit sœʁ/ | feminine |
| sœur cadette | feminine |
Both petite sœur and sœur cadette are used to refer to a younger sister. While petite sœur is the most common way to express this in daily life, sœur cadette is used when one wants to be more precise about the specific birth order of siblings.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase petite sœur literally translates to 'little sister'.
Which one should you use?
petite sœur is the standard choice for everyday conversation. In contrast, sœur cadette is a more formal or literary term used specifically to denote a sister who is younger than another sibling.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Caribbean, the phrase ti sœur is used to mean 'little sister'.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because sœur is a feminine noun, the adjective petite must also be in its feminine form. The opposite of petite sœur is grande sœur, which means 'older sister'.
How do you pronounce it?
/pə.tit sœʁ/
Did you know?
- The word cadette shares its root with the English word 'cadet'. Both come from a term originally meaning 'younger son' or 'junior'.
- In French, petite sœur is often used as a term of endearment for a close female friend or a protégé, even if they are not biologically related.
- The word sœur is also used in French to refer to a nun, making the phrase petite sœur potentially ambiguous in a religious context.
Examples in context
- C'est ma petite sœur.This is my younger sister.This sentence is useful for identifying a person as your petite sœur.Tatoeba #6154374 by Aiji, translation #3378980 by boosure
- Ma petite sœur n'a pas dit bonjour.My younger sister didn't say "hello."This sentence shows a simple action involving a petite sœur.Tatoeba #5353305 by Aiji, translation #2852610 by CK
- J'ai un grand frère et une petite sœur.I have one older brother and one younger sister.This sentence illustrates how to mention having both a brother and a petite sœur.Tatoeba #6599 by sacredceltic, translation #467998 by CK
- Ma petite sœur aime chanter.My little sister loves to sing.
- J'adore ma p'tite sœur, elle est tellement drôle!I love my little sister, she's so funny!
- 15 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two siblings are talking about their family members at home.
- HugoOù est ta petite sœur ?Where is your younger sister?
- ChloéElle est dans sa chambre.She is in her room.
- HugoTa petite sœur veut jouer ?Does your younger sister want to play?
- ChloéOui, elle est ravie !Yes, she is delighted!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “younger sister” translations and entries petite sœur, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
