French–English Dictionary
French Dictionary
Search 323+ French words with English translations, IPA pronunciation, example sentences and CEFR level ratings. Click any word to hear it spoken.
188 results
le bureau
/by.ʁo/A table or flat-topped piece of furniture used for studying or working, typically found in a classroom or office.
Posez vos affaires sur votre bureau.
Put your things on your desk.
💡 'Bureau' can mean both 'desk' and 'office' in French. Context makes the meaning clear.
le café
/ka.fe/A hot drink made from roasted beans
Un café, s'il vous plaît.
A coffee, please.
le cahier
/lə kaje/A small book of blank or lined pages used by students for writing.
Ouvre ton cahier à la page cinq, s'il te plaît.
Open your exercise book to page five, please.
💡 Very commonly used in French schools. Distinct from 'carnet' (small personal notebook).
le cahier
/ka.je/A booklet of blank or lined pages used by students for writing notes or completing exercises.
J'écris mes leçons dans mon cahier.
I write my lessons in my exercise book.
💡 Very common in French schools. Students typically have a separate cahier for each subject.
le cartable
/lə kaʁtabl/A bag carried by schoolchildren to transport their books and school supplies.
Il met ses livres et ses cahiers dans son cartable.
He puts his books and notebooks in his school bag.
💡 Typically refers to a structured satchel style bag associated with younger school children. Older students may use a 'sac à dos' (backpack).
le cartable
/kaʁ.tabl/A bag, often worn on the back, used by students to carry their school books and supplies.
Il range ses livres dans son cartable.
He puts his books in his school bag.
💡 A very typical word in French school culture. Children as young as primary school age use it daily.
le centre-ville
/sɑ̃tʁ.vil/The central area of a city
Le musée est au centre-ville.
The museum is in the city centre.
le crayon
/lə kʁɛjɔ̃/A thin writing instrument with a graphite core used for writing or drawing.
J'écris avec mon crayon dans mon cahier.
I write with my pencil in my notebook.
💡 Often specified as 'crayon à papier' to distinguish from 'crayon de couleur' (coloured pencil).
le crayon
/kʁɛ.jɔ̃/A writing or drawing instrument made of wood encasing a graphite core.
Elle dessine une maison avec son crayon.
She draws a house with her pencil.
💡 Not to be confused with 'crayon de couleur' (coloured pencil) or 'crayon gras' (wax crayon).
le dos
/lə do/The rear part of the human body, from the shoulders to the hips.
Mon père a mal au dos.
My father has a sore back.
💡 The final 's' is always silent. 'Avoir mal au dos' (to have back pain) is a very frequently used expression.
le fils
/fis/A male child
C'est le fils de mon ami.
He is my friend's son.
le frère
/fʁɛʁ/A male sibling
Mon frère a dix ans.
My brother is ten years old.
le fromage
/fʁɔ.maʒ/A dairy product
La France a des centaines de fromages.
France has hundreds of cheeses.
le lait
/lɛ/A white liquid produced by mammals
Je mets du lait dans mon café.
I put milk in my coffee.
le livre
/livʁ/A set of printed pages bound together, used for reading or study.
Ouvrez votre livre à la page dix.
Open your book to page ten.
💡 In a school context, you may hear 'livre scolaire' or 'manuel scolaire' to specifically mean a textbook.
le livre
/lə livʁ/A set of printed pages bound together, used for reading or study.
Ouvre ton livre de français à la page dix.
Open your French book to page ten.
💡 In school contexts often paired with the subject: 'livre de maths', 'livre d'histoire'. Also called 'manuel scolaire' for a textbook.
le mari
/ma.ʁi/A male spouse
Son mari est médecin.
Her husband is a doctor.
le nez
/lə ne/The part of the face used for breathing and smelling, located above the mouth.
Il a le nez rouge parce qu'il est enrhumé.
His nose is red because he has a cold.
💡 The final 'z' is silent. The word does not change in the plural: 'les nez'.
le pain
/pɛ̃/A staple food made from flour
J'achète du pain tous les matins.
I buy bread every morning.
le père
/pɛʁ/A male parent
Mon père travaille à Lyon.
My father works in Lyon.