ta mère
/ta mɛʁ/
The phrase "your mother" in French is ta mère.
When used as a standalone exclamation in an aggressive or heated context, Ta mère ! functions as a vulgar insult similar to "Your mother!" in English.
Meaning: insult (intj)
Which one should you use?
Use ta mère when addressing someone you know well or someone younger than you, whereas votre mère is used for formal or plural contexts. Use votre mère when addressing a stranger, a superior or a group of people to be polite or formal.
How do you pronounce it?
/ta mɛʁ/
Did you know?
- The insult ta mère is actually a shortened version of the phrase nique ta mère, which literally means 'fuck your mother'.
- If you were to use the formal votre mère while trying to insult someone, the insult would likely lose its punch and sound strangely polite or even confused.
- The phrase ta mère is part of a category of 'clipping' in French, where long, vulgar phrases are shortened into quick, sharp sounds for efficiency in arguments.
Examples in context
- C'est ta mère ?Is that your mother?This sentence shows how to ask if someone is your mother using ta mère.Tatoeba #7372259 by tras, translation #1869241 by CM
- Écoute ta mère !Listen to your mother!This sentence shows a command to listen to ta mère.Tatoeba #1778561 by sacredceltic, translation #1765792 by sundown
- Où est ta mère ?Where's your mother?This sentence shows how to ask for the location of ta mère.Tatoeba #3628063 by fleur74, translation #2254688 by CK
- Pourriez-vous transmettre mes salutations à votre mère?Could you please convey my regards to your mother?
- 153 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two teenagers are arguing after a video game match.
- LéaTu as perdu, Hugo !You lost, Hugo!
- HugoTais-toi, Léa.Shut up, Léa.
- LéaTa mère !Your mother!
- HugoT'es vraiment nulle.You're really bad.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “your mother” translations and entries ta mère, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mère, ta, ta mère, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
