French Words Starting With A, B and C

Improve your French vocabulary with this audio dictionary

Updated on February 26, 2020

Build your French vocabulary by studying common French words starting with letters A, B and C. Listen to the pronunciation of these words and practice using them in context.

French Words That Start With A

A	the letter A
abaisser	to pull/push down, to lower
abandonné	(adj) - abandoned, disused; relaxed
abattre	to pull down; to slaughter; to weaken
un abcès	abscess
À bientôt	See you soon
s'abonner à	to subscribe, to buy a season ticket
aborder	to reach; approach; start-up, take on
aboutir	to succeed; to end up
abracadabrant	(adj) - incredible, preposterous
un abri	shelter, refuge
abrutir	to exhaust, to deaden one's mind
absent	(adj) - absent, lacking, missing
Acadie	Acadia
accablant	(adj) - exhausting, oppressive, overwhelming
un accélérateur	gas pedal
les accessoires (m)	accessories
accro	(inf adj) - hooked, addicted
une accroche	lead-in, catchphrase, headline
l'acharnement (m)	fierceness, fury, determination
les achats (m)	shopping
à côté de	next to
un acteur	actor
actif	(adj) - active
l'actif (m)	assets, credits
une actrice	actress
actualité (f)	current events, news
l'addition (f)	check/bill
Adélaïde	Adelaide
Adèle	Adela
À demain	See you tomorrow
Adieu	Farewell
un(e) ado	(inf) - teenager
Adrien	Adrian
Adrienne	Adriana
à droite	right
un aeroport (m)	airport
affadir	to make tasteless, dull, uninteresting, colorless
une affiche	poster
afficher	to post, display, flaunt
affubler	to wear something bizarre (as if to disguise)
Africain(e)	African
Agathe	Agatha
Agnès	Agnes
à gauche	left
l'agneau (m)	lamb
une agrafe	staple
une agrafeuse	stapler
agréable	nice, pleasant, pleasing
agréger	to aggregate, incorporate
ah bon	(interj) - oh really? (not "oh good")
Aidez-moi !	Help!
Aimé	(loved)
Aimée	Amy, (loved)
à la carte	side order (not part of le menu)
Alain	Alan, Allen
alambiqué	(adj) - convoluted, involved, obsure
À la prochaine	Until next time
à la rigueur	(adv) - or even, if need be
Alexandre	Alexander
Alexandrie	Alexandria
Alexis
Alfred	Alfred
Algérien(ne)	Algerian
Alice	Alice
Alix	Alex
alléchant	(adj) - mouth-watering, tempting, enticing
allergique à ...	allergic to...
une alliance	wedding ring
Allô ?	Hello?
alourdir	to weigh/load down, to make heavy
Alphonse	Alfonso
un amant	lover
une amante	lover
un amateur	amateur, lover of
Amaury
Amélie	Amelia
améliorer	to improve
Américain(e)	American
un(e) ami(e)	friend
amical	(adj) - friendly
les amis	the friends
amitié (f)	friendship, liking, kindness
l'amour	love
une ampleur	fullness, liberalness, opulence; scale, extent
Anaïs
un ananas	pineapple
Anastasie	Anastasia
les anchois	anchovies
les anciens élèves	former students
André	Andrew
Andrée	Andrea
anéantir	to annihilate, destroy; to overwhelm, overcome
une anesthésie locale	local anesthesia
Anglais(e), l'anglais	English
anglo-saxon	(adj) - of or relating to British civilization
une anicroche	(inf) - hitch, snag, problem
animer	to lead, conduct; drive, encourage; liven up
animé	(adj) - busy, lively, animated
Anne	Ann
l'anniversaire de mariage	wedding anniversary
un annuaire	phone book
anonymat (m)	anonymity
un anorak	ski jacket
Anouk
Antoine	Anthony
Antoinette	Antoinette
Anton
août	August
à peine	(adv) - hardly, barely
un apéritif	cocktail
à point	medium-rare
un appart	(fam) - apartment, flat
un appel en P.C.V.	collect call
appeler	to call
apprivoiser	to tame, domesticate, make more sociable
appui (m)	support
après être venu	after having come
l'arabe	Arabic
l'argenterie (f)	silverware
une armoire	closet
arnaquer	(fam) - to swindle, rip off; to nab, arrest
Arnaud
Arnaude
arracher	to lift, tear out/off, pull up/out; to snatch
un arrêt	stop
arrière (m)	back, stern
en arrière	behind, backward
les arrivées	Arrivals
un arrondissement	district; rounding, swelling
arroser	to water, spray, (inf) - to drink to
Arthur	Arthur
un artichaut	artichoke
un(e) artiste	artist
Asiatique	Asian
les asperges (f)	asparagus
assez	fairly
assez utile	fairly useful
une assiette	plate
assoupir	to make drowsy
s'assoupir	to doze off
assuré	(adj) - confident
astreindre	to compel, force
Astrid
à ta santé	cheers
atavique	(adj) - atavistic, hereditary
à temps partiel	(adv, adj) - part-time
à tes souhaits	bless you (after a sneeze)
un atout	asset, trump card
À tout à l'heure	See you soon
un attentat	murder attempt, attack
attention !	(interj) - Warning! Watch out!
une aubergine	eggplant
Audrey	Audrey
au fait	by the way; informed of; Get to the point!
Auguste	Augustus
Augustin	Augustus
auparavant	(adv) - beforehand, previously
au pif	as a rough guess, at random
Aurélie
Aurore	(dawn)
autant	(adv) - as much/many, so much/many
une auto	car
une autoroute	highway
l'auto-stop (m)	hitchhiking
auprès de	(prep) - next to, compared with, in the view of
Au revoir	Good-bye
Au secours !	Help!
au téléphone	on the phone
Australien(ne)	Australian
l'autobus	bus
automne	autumn
avant hier	the day before yesterday
avec elle	with her
avenant	(adj) - pleasant, welcoming
un aventurier	adventurer
avéré	(adj) - known, recognized
s'avérer	to turn out (that)
l'avion	plane
un avocat, une avocate	lawyer (barrister)
avoir	to have
avoir faim	to be hungry
avoir soif	to be thirsty
à vos souhaits	bless you (after a sneeze)
à votre santé	cheers
avouer	to avow, confess, admit
avril	April

French Words That Start With B

B	letter B
un baba cool	(inf) - hippy
le babeurre	buttermilk
le bac	le baccalauréat; ferry, tub, trough, vat
bâcler	to botch, scamp, throw together
badiner	to banter, jest
des bagages	luggage
la bagarre	fight, brawl
bagarrer	(inf) - to fight, clash, argue
bagatelle	trinket
une bagnole	(inf) - car
une bague	ring
une bague de fiançailles	engagement ring
une baguette	French bread, baton, chopstick
un bahut	sideboard; (inf) - school, taxi, truck
une baignoire	bathtub
un bain	bathtub
le bain moussant	bubble bath
baiser	to kiss; (vulgar slang) - to outdo, to be had; to have sex
balader	(inf) - to trail around, to take for a walk
un balai	broom, brush
balbutier	to stammer, babble
le balcon	balcony
balèze	brawny, strapping
une balise	beacon, buoy, sign
les balivernes (f)	nonsense
une balle	bullet, ball, shot
une banane	banana
un banc	a bench, seat; shoal/school (of fish)
bancaire	(adj) bank
bandant	(fam adj) - sexy, interesting
une bande	band, strip, bandage, line, group; (inf) - a bunch of, pack of
la banlieue	suburbs, outskirts
la banque	bank
la baraque	shed, hut, stand, stall; (inf) - a shack, digs, dump
le baratin	(inf) - sweet talk, chatter
une barbiche	goatee
barrer	to bar, block, close, cross out
une barrette	barrette
des bas (m)	stockings
la base (demaquillage)	foundation
le basket	basketball
le baume démêlant	conditioner
bavarder	to chat, chatter; (inf) - to blab
baver	to dribble, to leak; (fam) - to have a hard time
baveux	(adj) - dribbly, slobbery, runny, blurry
une bavure	smudge, smear, hitch, flaw
béant	(adj) gaping, wide-open
beau	(adj) - handsome
beau	(adj) - nice out
beaucoup	very much, many, a lot
un beauf	(fam) - brother-in-law; a small-minded person
Beaujolais nouveau
bec	beak, bill, nib
bée	(in bouche bée) open-mouthed
bégayer	to stammer, stutter
un béguin	(inf) - crush, fancy, also a bonnet
Belge	Belgian
belle	(adj) - pretty
bénévole	(adj) - volunteer, unpaid
un bénévole	volunteer
bénir	to bless, to thank God for
Benjamin	Benjamin
le benjamin	the youngest child, youngest son
Benoît	Benedict
une béquille	crutch, kick-stand, (nautical) prop, shore
bercer	to rock, cradle
la berezina	disaster
berk	(inf exclamation) - yuck!
Bernadette
Bernard	Bernard
berner	to fool, hoax, dupe
Bertrand	Bertrand, Bertram
la besogne	work, task, job
(avoir) besoin de	to need
une bestiole	bug, creepy crawler
bête	(adj) - stupid, silly, foolish
une bête	animal, insect, creature
une bêtise	stupidity, mistake, blunder, silly thing, nonsense
le béton	concrete
le beurre	butter
une bévue	blunder
un bibelot	trinket, knick-knack, curio
un biberon	baby bottle
bicher	(inf) - to be pleased with oneself
bichonner	to pamper
une bicyclette	bicycle
bidon	can, tin, flask
bidonner	(fam) to split one's sides laughing
bidule	(inf) contraption, whatsit; what's-his-name
bien	good, moral, right, healthy
bien cuit	well done
bien étrange	quite strange
la bière	beer
le bifteck	steak
les bijoux (m)	jewelry
un bikini	bikini
le bilan	assessment, results, balance sheet
un billet	ticket; bill, note (money)
un billet aller-retour	round trip ticket
un billet simple	one-way ticket
biologique	(adj) - biological, organic
bis	grayish-brown; (music) repeat; (address) ½, a
le biscuit	cookie
(année) bissextile	leap (year)
le bizutage	(school slang) hazing, ragging
blafard	pale, pallid, wan
une blague	a joke, trick, blunder
blanc	white
la blanchisserie	laundromat
un blason	coat of arms, heraldry
un bled	(inf, even slang) - village, dump, godforsaken place
blesser	to wound, hurt, injure; to offend
bleu	blue, rare
bleu clair	light blue
bleu foncé	dark blue
bloc	block, unit, group, pad (of paper)
blond	(adj) - blond
un blouson	jacket
bluffer	(inf) - to bluff, try it on, fool
un bobo	(inf, baby language) - boo boo, owie, wound
une bobonne	(inf and somewhat archaic) - missus, dearie
boire	to drink
le bois	wood
une boisson	drink
une boîte	box, can; (inf) - nightclub; job, office; school
boiter	to limp, to wobble, to be shaky
un bol	bowl
bon	good
ah bon	(interj) - oh really? (not "oh good")
bon appétit !	enjoy your meal
les bonbons (m)	candy
Bonjour	Hello
Bonne nuit	Goodnight
Bonsoir	Good evening
Bordeaux
un bordel	(fam) - mess, chaos; (literal) - brothel
borné	(adj) - narrow-minded, limited
bosser	(inf) - to work, slog, to perform hard labor
des bottes (f)	boots
le bottin	directory, phonebook, Yellow Pages
bouc	billy goat, goatee
la bouche	mouth
une bouchée	mouthful
boucher	to cork, plug, block
un boucher	butcher
la boucherie	butcher shop
bouchon	cork, stopper, plug, cap; traffic jam
bouclé	(adj) - curly
une boucle d'oreille	earring
un bouclier	shield
bouder	to sulk, keep away from
boudiné	(adj) - bursting out of
la boue	mud
bouffer	to be full, have volume, (fam) - to wolf-down, gobble
bougrement	(inf) terribly, really, very
bouillant	(adj) boiling, scalding, fiery, hotheaded
un boulanger une boulangère	baker
la boulangerie	bakery
boulot	(adj) - chubby, tubby
le boulot	(informal) - work, the daily grind
boum	(interj) - Boom!, Bang!
un boum	bang, tremendous success
une boum	party
un bouquin	(inf) - book
bourré	(adj) - stuffed, packed; (fam) - drunk, plastered
un bourreau	torturer
une bourrique	donkey; (inf) - blockhead, pigheaded person
la bourse	scholarship, grant; second-hand sale
bousculer	to jostle, bump into; to hurry, pressure; to liven up
la boustifaille	(fam) - grub, nosh, chow
une bouteille	bottle
une boutique hors taxes	duty-free
un bouton de manchette	cufflink
un boxer-short	boxer shorts
un bracelet	bracelet
un bracelet à breloques	charm bracelet
brancher	to plugin, connect, link up
branler	to shake, waggle; to be shaky, loose, unsteady
braquer	to point, aim, turn the steering wheel
le bras	arm
brasser	to stir, mix, knead, shuffle; to brew
bravitude	fullness of bravery
brebis	ewe
bref	(adv) - in short, to make a long story short
Brésilien(ne)	Brazilian
un brevet	diploma, certificate, patent
le bricolage	home improvement, tinkering, DIY; rush/makeshift job
Brigitte	Bridget
un brin	blade, sprig, yarn, a bit
briser	to break, smash; ruin, wreck; tire out
une broche	brooch
bronzé	(adj) - tan
la brosse à cheveux	hairbrush
la brosse à dents	toothbrush
se brosser	to brush
se brosser les cheveux	to brush one's hair
se brosser les dents	to brush one's teeth
brouter	to graze, to nibble; (slang) to be annoying
bruiner	to drizzle
brûlures	burn, burning sensation
brun	(adj) - brown (hair, eyes)
Bruno
brut	(adj) - uncut, rough, crude, raw
bu	drank
la bûche	log
bûcher	to slog away at, to swot up; (Canada) to fell, cut down
le bureau	office, study
le bureau de change	money exchange
buriner	to engrave, chisel
un but	goal, aim, purpose, destination
buter	to stumble; (fam) - to bump off, kill

French Words That Start With C

C	the letter C
ça	(indefinite demonstrative pronoun) that, it
Cabernet
une cabine téléphonique	phone booth
Ça bouge ?	How's it going?
le caca	poo poo, feces
une cacahouète	peanut, monkey nut
un cache-nez	muffler
un cachet	tablet, pill; stamp, seal, postmark; style, character
un cadeau	present
le cadet	youngest child, youngest son
cadre	frame, container, box, setting, framework, manager
le café	coffee
un cahier	notebook
un caissier, unecaissière	cashier
une calculatrice	calculator
un caleçon	underwear
le calendrier	calendar
caler	to wedge, lock; to prop up; (inf) - to fill up (with food); to give in/up
se caler	to plant/settle oneself
calfeutrer	to fill, to stop up, to stop drafts
se calfeutrer	to shut oneself away, to make oneself snug
un calque	tracing, carbon copy, spitting image, loan translation
Camille
Canadien(ne)	Canadian
le canal dentaire	root canal
un canapé	couch
cancaner	to gossip, to quack
la canicule	scorching heat, heatwave
la canine	canine tooth
cantonner	to station, quarter, confine
un cap	(geography) - cape, point, headland
Capucine	(nasturtium)
carburer	(fam) - to go, to be
une carie	cavity
un carnet de chèques	checkbook
Caroline	Caroline
la carotte	carrot
Ça roule ?	How's it going?
un carrefour	crossroads, junction, intersection, forum (lit and fig)
la carte	map, menu
la carte d'embarquement
un carton	box
cartonner	(inf) - to smash into, to do really well/poorly
se casser	to break; (inf) - to work at; (fam) - to split, take off
casseur	rioter; (fam) burglar; scrap dealer
Catherine	Catherine, Katherine
un cauchemar	nightmare
causer	to cause, (inf) to chat
Ça va	Fine
Ça va ?	How are you?
Ça va bien	I'm doing well
Ça va mal	Not well
Cécile	Cecilia
une ceinture	belt, cummerbund
le céleri	celery
Célina
Céline
censé	(adj) - supposed to
cent	100
une cerise	cherry
certes	(formal adv) - certainly, admittedly, of course
cesser	to cease, stop, bring to an end
C'est	It is
c'est-à-dire	that is
C'est à votre goût ?	Is everything ok?
C'est ... à l'appareil.	... is calling.
C'est de la part de ....	... is calling.
C'est de la part de qui ?	Who is calling?
C'est formidable !	It's great!
C'est incroyable !	It's incredible!
C'est quoi
C'est terminé
C'était magnifique !	It was wonderful!
cette phrase
Chablis
une chaîne stéréo	stereo
une chaise	chair
un châle	shawl
chaleureux	(adj) - warm, hearty
la chambre	bedroom
un champ	field, area (literally and figuratively)
Champagne
le champignon	mushroom
change
changer
Chantal
le chantier	building site, job site, depot; (inf) - shambles, mess
Chapeau !	(interj) - Well done! Congrats!
un chapeau	hat, introductory paragraph
le charabia	(inf) - gibberish, gobbledygook
la charcuterie	pork butcher
charger	to load, overload; to put in charge of
chariot
Charles	Charles
Charlot	Charlie
Charlotte	Charlotte
charnière	(adj) - turning (point), transitional, linking
charnu
un charpentier	carpenter
charrier	to cart along, carry; (inf) - to kid; (fam) - to go too far
la chasse	hunting
châtain	(adj) - brown (hair)
Chateua neuf du pape
châtier	to refine, perfect; (religion) - to chasten, mortify; (literary) - to punish
chatouiller	to tickle
chaud	(adj) - hot
chaud froid
chausser	to put shoes on, to fit
des chaussettes (f)	socks
des chaussures (f)	shoes
des chaussures à hauts talons (f)	high-heeled shoes
un(e) chef	cook
une chemise	shirt; file folder
une chemise de nuit	nightgown
un chemisier	blouse
Chenin
chèque
chéri(e)	dear, sweetheart
le chevet	head of the bed, bedside
les cheveux	hair
une cheville	ankle; dowel, peg, hook
chevronné	(adj) - seasoned, experienced
chez	(prep) - at the home/office of; in the work/mind of; among
chez elle	at her house
chez moi	at my house
une chiffe	spineless or weak person; (archaic) - rag, old cloth
Chinois(e), le chinois	Chinese
un chiot	puppy
le chocolat	chocolate
le chocolat chaud	hot chocolate
le chômage	unemployment
choper	(fam) - to pinch, nick, steal; to catch
choquer	to shock, appall, offend; to shake-up
le chou	cabbage, also a term of endearment
chouette	(inf adj) - cute, smashing, nice
une chouette	owl
le chou-fleur	cauliflower
chouïa	(informal) tiny bit, smidgin
Christelle
Christian
Christiane
Christine	Christine
Christophe	Christopher
chuchoter	to whisper, murmur
chute	fall, waterfall, collapse/downfall, loss
une cible	target, goal, purpose
ci-joint	(adv in correspondence) - enclosed, attached
le cinéma	movie theater
le cinoche	(inf) - the pictures, movies
cinq	5
cinquante	50
circuler	to go, move
citer	to quote, cite; to use as an example; summon (law)
un citron	lemon
le citron pressé	lemonade
un citron vert	lime
Claire	Claire, Clara
classe
classe touriste
un classeur	binder, filing cabinet
Claude	Claude, Claudia
Claudine	Claudia
un clébard	(inf, pejorative) - mutt, hound, dog
la clef (or clé)	key; spanner, wrench; (music) - peg, clef
Clémence	(clemency)
le clignotant	turn signal
clocher	to be defective, to have something wrong
un clocher	steeple
clou	nail, stud, boil, highlight/star attraction
club
Cognac
coiffer	to do someone's hair
se coiffer	to do one's own hair, to put something on one's head
coincé	(adj) - stuck; (inf) - unable to act; hung up, inhibited
la colère	(fit of) anger, rage
Colette
un colis	parcel, package
un collant	pantyhose, tights
colle
un collège	high school
coller	to stick, glue; (inf) - to shove; (pej) - to give; to fail, catch out
un collier	necklace
collision
coltiner	to carry, lug around
Combien coûte ... ?	How much does ... cost?
une combinaison	slip
comble	(adj) - full, packed
le comble	height (figurative); last straw; roof trussing/timbers
commander	to order
comme ci, comme ça	So-so
comment	how
Comment ?	What?
Comment allez-vous ?	How are you?
Comment cela s'écrit	How do you spell that?
Comment ça va ?	How are you?
Comment dit-on ... en français ?	How do you say ___ in French?
Comment est-il ?	What's he like?
Comment t'appelles-tu ?	What's your name?
Comment vas-tu ?	How are you?
Comment vous appelez-vous ?	What's your name?
le commissariat	police station
une commode	dresser
compagnie
complet	no vacancy
composer un numéro	to dial a number
un comprimé	(medicine) pill, tablet
un compte	count, amount; account
un compte-chèques	checking account / cheque account
compter
concept
le concombre	cucumber
un conducteur	driver
conduire	to drive
la confiserie	candy store
la confiture	jam
confondre	to confuse, mix up; astound
conformément	(adv) in accordance (with), according (to), in order to conform with/match
confortable	(adj) - comfortable *But not for people, use à l'aisé
confus	(adj) - embarrassed, ashamed
le congé	holiday, vacation, leave; (job) notice
conjoint	(adj) - joint, linked, related
un/e conjoint/e	spouse
connaître la musique
un connard	(familiar) - idiot, jerk, schmuck
consacrer	to devote, dedicate; establish, sanction
Constance	Constance
constater	to note, notice, record, certify
une contrepartie	compensation, exchange
contrôle de sécurité
convoiter	to covet, lust after
cool	(inf) - cool
un copain	(inf) - mate, buddy, boyfriend
une copine	girlfriend
coq
une coqueluche	(figurative) darling, sweetheart, idol
une coquille	shell (literally and figuratively)
coquin	(adj) - mischievous, malicious; risqué, racy
un(e) coquin	a mischievous or malicious child
Corinne
le corps	body
une corvée	chore, drudgery; military duty; (in Canada) - volunteer work
cossu	(adj) well-off, opulent
un costard	(inf) - man's suit
costaud	(inf adj) - sturdy, strong
un costaud	strong man, something strong (e.g., alcohol, house)
un costume	suit
côtoyer	to be next to, rub shoulders with; to move alongside; (fig) - to be close to
le cou	neck
le coude	elbow
couler	to flow, run
les couleurs	colors
le couloir	hall
coup de feu
courageux	(adj) - brave
couronne
le courriel	email
courrier
le courrier arrivé	inbox
le courrier départ	outbox
un cours	course
court	(adj) - short
un cousin	male cousin
une cousine	female cousin
un couteau	knife
une craie	chalk
un crapaud	toad; flaw (in a gem); (inf) - brat, child
crapoter	(inf) - to smoke without inhaling, ~ to puff
une cravate	tie
un crayon	pencil
crédit
la crème	cream
la crème à raser	shaving cream
la crème brûlée	custard
la crème caramel	flan
la crème fraîche	very thick cream
la crème hydratante	moisturizer
un créneau	parallel parking space; gap, niche, slot
un creux	hollow, hole; slack period
crevé	(adj) - punctured, burst; (fam) - exhausted
criant	(adj) - blatant, striking, shocking
crise cardiaque
crisper	to tense, to get on someone's nerves
le croissant	croissant
une cuillère	spoon
une cuillère à soupe	tablespoon
une cuillère à thé	teaspoon
la cuisine	kitchen, cooking
une cuisinière	stove
culotté	(inf adj) - cheeky, sassy
la cupidité	greed
une cuve	vat, tank
le cyclisme	biking

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Your Citation

Team, ThoughtCo. "French Words Starting With A, B and C." ThoughtCo, Dec. 6, 2021, thoughtco.com/audio-dictionary-a-b-and-c-4085195. Team, ThoughtCo. (2021, December 6). French Words Starting With A, B and C. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/audio-dictionary-a-b-and-c-4085195 Team, ThoughtCo. "French Words Starting With A, B and C." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/audio-dictionary-a-b-and-c-4085195 (accessed March 24, 2023).