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A2 noun #7,000 más común 11 min de lectura

bru

The wife of one's son.

At the A1 level, you are just beginning to learn the names of family members like 'père' (father), 'mère' (mother), and 'fils' (son). The word 'bru' might seem a bit advanced because it is not as common as 'belle-fille'. However, it is a very short and useful word to know. Think of it as a special name for 'the wife of your son'. At this stage, you don't need to use it in complex sentences. You can simply remember it as part of a family tree. For example, if you have a son named Marc and he marries Sophie, Sophie is your 'bru'. It is a feminine word, so you always use 'la' or 'ma' with it. Even though most people at A1 will say 'belle-fille', knowing 'bru' is like having a secret vocabulary shortcut. It is much shorter to write! Just remember the 'u' sound is like the 'u' in 'salut'. Don't worry if you forget it; 'belle-fille' is also correct. But if you see it in a book or hear an old person say it, you will know exactly what they mean. It's a great word to add to your basic family vocabulary list. Keep it simple: ma bru, ta bru, sa bru. That's all you need for now!
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At the A2 level, you are expanding your vocabulary to describe family relationships more precisely. You might already know 'belle-fille', but now is the time to learn that 'bru' is the specific word for a son's wife. This is helpful because 'belle-fille' can be confusing—it also means 'step-daughter'. If you want to be very clear about who you are talking about, 'bru' is the perfect choice. You can use it in simple past and future tenses. For example: 'Ma bru est arrivée hier' (My daughter-in-law arrived yesterday) or 'Ma bru viendra demain' (My daughter-in-law will come tomorrow). You should also notice that 'bru' is a feminine noun. Even though it ends in 'u', which often looks masculine, it is always 'la bru'. At this level, you should be able to identify 'bru' in a short text about a family. You might see it in a story or a family description. It's a good word to use if you want to sound slightly more formal or if you want to avoid using the long word 'belle-fille' multiple times. Practice saying it with the correct French 'u' sound to improve your pronunciation at this stage.
At the B1 level, you are expected to understand the nuances between different words. You should know that 'bru' is the traditional and formal term for 'belle-fille' (in the sense of daughter-in-law). You should be able to use it comfortably in conversations about family dynamics or traditions. You might use it to explain a complex family situation: 'J'ai une belle-fille qui est la fille de mon mari, et une bru qui est la femme de mon fils.' This shows you can distinguish between step-family and in-laws. At B1, you will encounter 'bru' more often in written materials, such as news articles about famous families or in modern literature. You should also be aware of its masculine counterpart, 'gendre'. Using these two words together ('mon gendre et ma bru') sounds very natural and sophisticated. You can also start using adjectives to describe your 'bru', making sure they agree in the feminine form: 'ma bru dévouée', 'ma future bru'. You are now moving beyond basic communication and starting to use the language with more precision and stylistic awareness. Understanding the register of 'bru'—that it is more formal and traditional—is a key part of reaching the B1 level.
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At the B2 level, you should have a firm grasp of the stylistic differences between 'bru' and 'belle-fille'. You understand that 'bru' carries a certain historical and formal weight. You can use it in debates or discussions about social changes in France, such as the evolution of the family unit. You might notice that 'bru' is often used in legal or official contexts to avoid the polysemy of 'belle-fille'. At this level, you should be able to read complex texts, like 19th-century novels by Balzac or Zola, where 'bru' is the standard term used to describe the young women entering a family through marriage. You should also be able to use the word in more complex grammatical structures, such as the subjunctive or conditional: 'Il aurait fallu que sa bru soit plus attentive.' You understand that 'bru' is a word that connects modern French to its older roots. Your pronunciation should be perfect, and you should be able to explain the difference to lower-level learners. You are now using the word not just for its meaning, but for the specific tone it sets in your speech or writing.
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At the C1 level, you have a deep appreciation for the etymological and historical nuances of the word 'bru'. You know it comes from the Germanic root 'brūþ', which is related to the English word 'bride'. You can discuss how the French language has moved away from these specific Germanic terms towards the 'beau/belle' compound system, and why 'bru' and 'gendre' have survived as exceptions. You can use 'bru' in academic writing or high-level literary analysis. You understand the sociological implications of the word, such as the traditional role of the 'bru' in the rural French 'famille souche'. You can identify subtle connotations—sometimes 'bru' can sound a bit cold or distant compared to 'belle-fille', or conversely, it can sound very distinguished. You are able to use the word in any context, from a formal legal brief to a poetic description of family lineage. Your mastery of the word 'bru' is part of your overall command of the French 'patrimoine linguistique'. You can also recognize its use in regional dialects or archaic expressions that might still appear in certain parts of the Francophone world.
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At the C2 level, you possess a native-like or near-native understanding of 'bru'. You can play with the word's archaic or formal connotations for rhetorical effect. You might use it in a speech to evoke a sense of tradition or to create a specific atmosphere. You are fully aware of the word's presence in the 'Dictionnaire de l'Académie française' and its historical evolution since the Middle Ages. You can discuss the word's rarity in modern slang vs. its ubiquity in classical literature. You might even know obscure idioms or regional variations involving the word. For you, 'bru' is not just a vocabulary item; it is a piece of cultural history. You can switch effortlessly between 'bru' and 'belle-fille' depending on your audience, the desired level of precision, and the emotional tone you wish to convey. You understand the linguistic economy of the word—how its single syllable carries centuries of social meaning. At this level, you could write a dissertation on kinship terminology or translate a complex legal document where the distinction between a 'bru' and a 'belle-fille' is of paramount importance. Your understanding is both broad and incredibly deep.
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Ejemplos
The French word bru is a specific kinship term that refers to the wife of one's son. In English, this is translated directly as 'daughter-in-law'. While the term belle-fille is significantly more common in contemporary spoken French, bru remains a precise, formal, and sometimes traditional term used to clarify family relationships without the ambiguity that belle-fille might introduce. The word bru has deep historical roots and carries a certain gravity and respect within the family hierarchy. It is most frequently encountered in legal documents, genealogy, literature, and among older generations or in rural regions where traditional terminology is preserved. Understanding bru is essential for learners because it appears frequently in classic French novels and plays, where family dynamics and inheritance are central themes. When you use bru, you are explicitly identifying the woman who married your son, distinguishing her from a step-daughter, which belle-fille also means.
Grammatical Gender
Feminine noun (la bru, une bru, ma bru).
Register
Formal, literary, and traditional. It is less common in urban slang or casual youth conversation.
Plural Form
The plural is 'brus', though it is rarely used in the plural compared to the singular.

Ma bru est une excellente avocate qui rend mon fils très heureux.

Elle a présenté sa bru à tous les invités lors de la réception de mariage.

Le testament mentionne spécifiquement les droits de sa bru après le décès de son fils.

Depuis le mariage, elle considère sa bru comme sa propre fille.

C'est une vieille coutume d'offrir un bijou de famille à sa nouvelle bru.

The usage of bru also implies a certain traditional family structure. In historical contexts, the bru would often move into the family home of her husband, making her relationship with her mother-in-law (belle-mère) a central theme in French social history. This is why the word often carries connotations of domestic integration. In modern legal French, bru is used to avoid the ambiguity of belle-fille, which can refer to the daughter of a spouse from a previous marriage. Therefore, in a notary's office or when discussing inheritance, bru is the preferred technical term. Despite its age, the word is not obsolete; it is simply specialized. For a learner, mastering this word demonstrates a high level of vocabulary precision and an appreciation for the nuances of French kinship terms. It is a short, punchy word that contrasts sharply with the longer compound terms usually found in French family vocabulary.
Using the word bru correctly requires understanding its position within the family tree. Since it is a feminine noun, it is always preceded by feminine articles or possessive adjectives such as la, une, ma, ta, or sa. It is exclusively used by the parents of the son. A person cannot refer to their own wife as their bru; only the parents-in-law use this term.
Possessive Usage
'Ma bru' (My daughter-in-law), 'Sa bru' (His/Her daughter-in-law). Example: 'Ma bru cuisine très bien.'
In Descriptive Sentences
Used to identify someone's role. Example: 'Elle est la bru du maire.'
In Formal Announcements
Common in wedding or birth announcements. Example: 'M. et Mme Martin sont ravis d'accueillir leur nouvelle bru.'

Ma bru vient nous rendre visite chaque dimanche avec mes petits-enfants.

Le vieil homme a légué sa montre en or à sa bru préférée.

Il est rare de voir une telle complicité entre une belle-mère et sa bru.

La bru de la voisine travaille comme médecin à l'hôpital central.

Elle a toujours traité sa bru avec beaucoup de froideur, malheureusement.

When constructing sentences, remember that bru is a count noun. You can have plusieurs brus (several daughters-in-law) if you have multiple sons who are married. However, the word is never used for a son's girlfriend or fiancée; it strictly applies after the legal or formal union of marriage. In literature, you might see it used to emphasize a character's status as an 'outsider' who has entered the family unit. For example, in a Balzac novel, the arrival of a new bru might trigger complex discussions about dowries and social standing. In modern conversational French, if you use bru, people might find it slightly quaint or old-fashioned, but they will admire your precision. It is also useful in puzzles or crosswords where a short word for 'daughter-in-law' is required. Always ensure that the adjectives modifying bru agree in gender: ma nouvelle bru, ma chère bru, ma future bru. The word is short but carries a lot of cultural weight regarding the integration of a woman into her husband's family lineage. It is one of those rare French words that hasn't been completely replaced by a 'beau-' or 'belle-' prefix compound, standing as a testament to the ancient Germanic roots of the French language.
In the modern era, bru is heard less frequently in the bustling streets of Paris or Lyon than in the quiet villages of the French countryside. However, it is far from extinct. You will most likely encounter it in specific social and linguistic environments. First, in the world of Notaries and Law. When a notary reads a will or discusses property succession, they use bru to ensure there is no confusion between the son's wife and a step-daughter. Second, in Genealogy and History. If you are researching a French family tree, the records will almost exclusively use bru for daughters-in-law. Third, in Classical Theatre and Literature. If you attend a play by Molière or Racine at the Comédie-Française, you will hear the characters refer to their brus. It evokes a certain social order of the 17th and 18th centuries. Fourth, among the Upper Bourgeoisie and Aristocracy. Some traditional families prefer the older, more formal terms to distinguish themselves from more common parlance. Fifth, in Rural Dialects. In regions like Brittany, Normandy, or the Auvergne, older speakers often retain bru and gendre as their primary terms.
Legal Context
'L'acte de succession inclut une clause pour la bru du défunt.'
Literary Context
'Dans ce roman du XIXe siècle, la bru est souvent la victime de sa belle-mère acariâtre.'
Regional Usage
'À la campagne, on entend encore souvent : C'est la bru des voisins qui s'occupe de la ferme.'

Le notaire a précisé que la bru héritait des bijoux de la famille.

On peut lire le mot bru sur les vieilles pierres tombales dans les cimetières de village.

La grand-mère parlait toujours de sa bru avec une pointe d'admiration.

Dans les faire-part de décès très traditionnels, on liste souvent la bru parmi les proches.

La bru du roi était souvent une princesse étrangère venue sceller une alliance.

In summary, while you might not use bru every day, you will certainly see it in written French and hear it in formal or traditional contexts. It is a word that signals a certain level of education and linguistic awareness. If you are watching a period drama on French television, such as a series about the French Revolution or the 19th-century industrial era, pay close attention to how the characters address the women who have married into their families. The use of bru often underscores the formal distance or the integrated status of the woman within the patriarchal family unit. It is a linguistic fossil that remains functional and elegant in the right setting.
For English speakers learning French, the word bru presents several pitfalls, primarily due to its phonetics and its overlap with other terms. The most frequent mistake is confusing bru with belle-fille. While they can both mean daughter-in-law, belle-fille also means step-daughter. If you say 'C'est ma belle-fille,' your listener might not know if she is your son's wife or your husband's daughter from another marriage. Using bru removes this ambiguity. Another common error is pronunciation. The 'u' in bru is often mispronounced as an 'ou' /u/ sound (like in 'shoe'), which can make it sound like boue (mud) or bout (end). It must be the tight, rounded French /y/.
Confusion with 'Bruit'
Learners sometimes add a 't' sound at the end, making it sound like 'bruit' (noise). 'Bru' is silent at the end; it rhymes with 'tu' or 'vu'.
Confusion with 'Brut'
'Brut' (raw/gross) has a pronounced 't'. Don't confuse your daughter-in-law with raw champagne!
Gender Errors
Since it is a short word ending in 'u', some learners mistakenly think it is masculine. It is always feminine: 'la bru'.

Mistake: J'ai un nouveau bru. (Wrong gender)

Mistake: Elle est ma bruit. (Confusing with noise)

Mistake: Je parle à mon bru. (Wrong possessive and gender)

Mistake: Sa bru est très beau. (Adjective agreement error: should be 'belle')

Mistake: Les brues sont ici. (Incorrect plural spelling; it should be 'brus')

Furthermore, learners often forget that bru is a relative term. You only have a bru if you have a son who is married. You cannot call your daughter's husband a bru; he is your gendre. Some learners try to feminize gendre into gendresse or something similar, which is incorrect. The distinction between the son's wife (bru) and the daughter's husband (gendre) is very clear in French. Finally, avoid using bru in very casual, slangy contexts where it might sound out of place. It would be like using the word 'mother-in-law' in a rap song – possible, but stylistically jarring. Stick to neutral or formal registers when employing this word.
The landscape of French kinship terms is rich, and bru sits alongside several related words. The primary alternative is belle-fille. While bru is specific, belle-fille is broader. It covers both the daughter-in-law and the step-daughter. In modern French, belle-fille has largely won the popularity contest, but bru remains the 'surgical' term for precision. Another related term is gendre, which is the masculine counterpart to bru, meaning son-in-law. Interestingly, gendre has also seen some competition from beau-fils, following the same pattern as bru and belle-fille.
Bru vs. Belle-fille
'Bru' is only the son's wife. 'Belle-fille' is either the son's wife or the spouse's daughter. Use 'bru' to avoid step-family confusion.
Bru vs. Gendre
'Bru' is for a female in-law (son's wife); 'Gendre' is for a male in-law (daughter's husband).
La conjointe du fils
A more descriptive, modern, and neutral way to say 'the son's partner' without implying the formality of marriage.

Il a deux brus et un gendre.

Ma belle-fille (step-daughter) et ma bru (son's wife) s'entendent très bien.

Le terme bru est plus précis que le terme générique belle-fille.

Elle ne voulait pas dire 'belle-fille' car elle n'a pas de mari, donc elle a utilisé bru.

C'est sa bru, la femme de son fils aîné.

When comparing these words, it is helpful to look at the 'beau/belle' system as a whole. French uses 'beau-père' (father-in-law/step-father), 'belle-mère' (mother-in-law/step-mother), 'beau-frère' (brother-in-law/step-brother), and 'belle-sœur' (sister-in-law/step-sister). In this system, bru and gendre are the outliers. They are the only ones that don't follow the 'beau/belle' pattern. This uniqueness is why they are often used to show a higher level of linguistic mastery. If you can use bru correctly, you show that you understand the older, more specialized layers of the French language. It is also worth noting that in some legal contexts, you might see the term 'allié(e) au premier degré', but that is strictly for bureaucratic forms. For everyday life, choosing between bru and belle-fille is a matter of style and clarity.
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Ejemplos por nivel

1

C'est ma bru.

This is my daughter-in-law.

'Bru' is feminine, so we use 'ma'.

2

Ma bru s'appelle Julie.

My daughter-in-law's name is Julie.

Possessive adjective 'ma' agrees with 'bru'.

3

Voici la bru de Marie.

Here is Marie's daughter-in-law.

Using 'la' as a definite article.

4

Ma bru est très gentille.

My daughter-in-law is very kind.

Adjective 'gentille' is feminine singular.

5

Où est ta bru ?

Where is your daughter-in-law?

Question form with 'ta'.

6

Ma bru a un fils.

My daughter-in-law has a son.

Simple present tense with 'avoir'.

7

J'aime beaucoup ma bru.

I like my daughter-in-law a lot.

Direct object placement.

8

C'est une nouvelle bru.

She is a new daughter-in-law.

Indefinite article 'une'.

1

Ma bru travaille dans une banque.

My daughter-in-law works in a bank.

Present tense verb 'travaille'.

2

J'ai acheté un cadeau pour ma bru.

I bought a gift for my daughter-in-law.

Passé composé 'ai acheté'.

3

Ma bru est la femme de mon fils.

My daughter-in-law is my son's wife.

Defining the relationship.

4

Sa bru habite à Lyon.

His/Her daughter-in-law lives in Lyon.

Possessive 'sa' can be his or her.

5

Nous dînons avec notre bru ce soir.

We are having dinner with our daughter-in-law tonight.

Possessive adjective 'notre'.

6

Ma bru parle couramment anglais.

My daughter-in-law speaks English fluently.

Adverb 'couramment' modifying 'parle'.

7

Elle est devenue ma bru l'année dernière.

She became my daughter-in-law last year.

Verb 'devenir' in passé composé.

8

Ma bru est plus jeune que mon fils.

My daughter-in-law is younger than my son.

Comparative 'plus... que'.

1

Il est important de bien s'entendre avec sa bru.

It is important to get along well with one's daughter-in-law.

Infinitive construction 's'entendre'.

2

Ma bru m'a aidé à organiser cette fête.

My daughter-in-law helped me organize this party.

Object pronoun 'm'' before the verb.

3

Bien que ce soit ma bru, je la considère comme ma fille.

Although she is my daughter-in-law, I consider her my daughter.

Subjunctive 'soit' after 'bien que'.

4

Ma bru a toujours été très respectueuse envers moi.

My daughter-in-law has always been very respectful towards me.

Adjective 'respectueuse' in feminine form.

5

J'aimerais que ma bru soit heureuse dans son mariage.

I would like my daughter-in-law to be happy in her marriage.

Subjunctive 'soit' after 'aimerait que'.

6

C'est la première fois que je rencontre ma future bru.

It is the first time I am meeting my future daughter-in-law.

Adjective 'future' before the noun.

7

Ma bru est d'origine italienne.

My daughter-in-law is of Italian origin.

Prepositional phrase 'd'origine'.

8

Elle a offert un magnifique bouquet à sa bru.

She gave a magnificent bouquet to her daughter-in-law.

Indirect object 'à sa bru'.

1

La bru de la comtesse était connue pour son élégance.

The countess's daughter-in-law was known for her elegance.

Passive voice 'était connue'.

2

Si mon fils se marie, j'aurai enfin une bru.

If my son gets married, I will finally have a daughter-in-law.

Conditional 'si' clause with future tense.

3

Il est rare que la bru et la belle-mère ne se disputent jamais.

It is rare that the daughter-in-law and the mother-in-law never argue.

Subjunctive 'se disputent' after 'il est rare que'.

4

Ma bru s'est parfaitement intégrée à notre famille.

My daughter-in-law has perfectly integrated into our family.

Pronominal verb 's'est intégrée'.

5

La bru a hérité d'une partie des biens de ses beaux-parents.

The daughter-in-law inherited part of her parents-in-law's property.

Verb 'hériter de'.

6

Malgré les tensions, ma bru reste toujours polie.

Despite the tensions, my daughter-in-law always remains polite.

Preposition 'malgré'.

7

On utilise souvent le mot 'bru' dans les actes notariés.

The word 'bru' is often used in notarized acts.

Impersonal 'on' and passive sense.

8

Ma bru a fait preuve d'une grande patience avec nous.

My daughter-in-law showed great patience with us.

Expression 'faire preuve de'.

1

L'étymologie du mot 'bru' remonte aux racines germaniques.

The etymology of the word 'bru' goes back to Germanic roots.

Academic register.

2

La bru, dans la littérature classique, est souvent un personnage tragique.

The daughter-in-law, in classical literature, is often a tragic character.

Apposition with commas.

3

Il convient de distinguer la bru de la belle-fille pour éviter tout quiproquo.

One should distinguish the daughter-in-law from the step-daughter to avoid any misunderstanding.

Formal construction 'il convient de'.

4

Sa bru a su conquérir le cœur de toute la belle-famille.

His/Her daughter-in-law knew how to win the hearts of the whole in-law family.

Verb 'savoir' in passé composé meaning 'managed to'.

5

Le terme 'bru' est parfois perçu comme désuet dans le langage courant.

The term 'bru' is sometimes perceived as obsolete in everyday language.

Passive voice 'est perçu'.

6

Elle traite sa bru avec une condescendance à peine voilée.

She treats her daughter-in-law with barely veiled condescension.

Complex adverbial phrase.

7

La bru royale devait assurer la descendance de la dynastie.

The royal daughter-in-law had to ensure the dynasty's lineage.

Imperfect tense 'devait'.

8

Bien que bru par alliance, elle se sentait membre de plein droit.

Although a daughter-in-law by marriage, she felt like a full member.

Concession clause with 'bien que'.

1

L'usage du vocable 'bru' confère une certaine solennité au propos.

The use of the word 'bru' confers a certain solemnity to the discourse.

High-level vocabulary 'vocable', 'solennité'.

2

Dans les méandres de la généalogie, sa bru apparaît comme le pivot de l'alliance.

In the meanders of genealogy, his daughter-in-law appears as the pivot of the alliance.

Metaphorical language.

3

Nul n'aurait pu prédire que sa bru deviendrait la gardienne des secrets familiaux.

No one could have predicted that his daughter-in-law would become the guardian of family secrets.

Past conditional 'aurait pu prédire'.

4

La bru s'est muée en une véritable alliée politique pour son beau-père.

The daughter-in-law transformed into a true political ally for her father-in-law.

Reflexive verb 'se muer en'.

5

Il y a dans le mot 'bru' une résonance de l'ancien français que j'affectionne.

There is in the word 'bru' a resonance of Old French that I am fond of.

Relative clause 'que j'affectionne'.

6

Sa bru a su naviguer avec brio entre les exigences de sa propre famille et les nôtres.

His daughter-in-law knew how to navigate brilliantly between the demand

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