French Audio Dictionary: D, E & F Words

Give your French vocabulary a boost by reviewing words starting with letters D, E and F. Hear the pronunciation of these words and try using them in context.

Words Starting With D

Word	Definition	Category
D	the letter D	French alphabet
d'abord	(adv) - first, in the first place
d'accord	OK	Basic vocabulary
dada	(figurative) hobby-horse
d'ailleurs	(adv) - besides, moreover, for that matter
une dalle	paving stone, slab
Daniel	Daniel	French names
la danse	dancing	Hobbies
la date	date	Dates
David	David	French names
déballer	to unpack, display, let out
débarrasser	to clear, to rid (someone) of
débile	(adj) - weak, frail, sickly, poor; (inf) - stupid
débiter	to produce, to sell
déblayer	to clear away, remove, tidy up; to prepare (ground)
déboîter	to disconnect, dislodge, dislocate; (driving) to pull out
débordement	overflow(ing), boiling over, (out)burst
déborder	to overflow, to stick out; (fig) - to be bursting with
un débouché	opening, outlet, prospect
debout	(adj, adv) - standing, upright
débrouiller	to untangle, sort out, teach someone the basics
débutant	(adj) - beginning, novice
déca	decaf (informal)
le décalage horaire	time difference, jet lag
décembre	December	Calendar
déclencher	to release, set off, trigger, launch, work
décoiffer	to muss (one's hair), to take one's hat off
décontracté	(adj) relaxed, laid back, casual
en découdre	to fight, do battle
décréter	to order, declare, decree, ordain, decide
décrocher	to pick up (the phone)	On the phone
dédaigner	to despise, look down on, scorn, disdain, spurn
le dédommagement	compensation, something to make up for a problem
défense d'entrer	do not enter	Travel
défense de fumer	no smoking	Restaurant
un défi	challenge, defiance
un dégât	(often plural) - damage
déglinguer	(inf) - to bust, break
dégoiser	(inf) - to spout, rattle on
dégommer	(fam) - to demote, ire; to lay into, get told off
dégoter	(inf) - to dig up, find
dégringoler	to collapse, fall; to rush/fall down
déguerpir	(inf) - to clear off/out, scarper
dégueulasse	(fam adj) - lousy, rotten, filthy, disgusting
déguster	to taste, sample, savor; (inf) - to suffer, have a rough time
le déjeuner	lunch	Food
délaisser	to abandon, quit, give up, neglect
de l'après-midi	in the afternoon	Telling time
se délecter	to (take) delight in, to revel in
délester	(technical) to cut off power, relieve congestion / a burden; (transportation) to remove ballast
se demander	to wonder, to ask oneself
démanger	to itch (literally and fig)
le démaquillant	make-up remover	Toiletries
démarrer	to start up, to move off, to get moving
un démêlé	dispute, quarrel
se démener	to thrash about, struggle, exert oneself
démettre	to dislocate, dismiss
la demeure	residence, home (old-fashioned, literary)
demeurer	to stay/live somewhere, to remain
la démission	resignation, abdication
démodé	(adj) - old-fashioned, out-of-date
le déni	denial (law and psychology)
Denis	Dennis	French names
Denise	Denise	French names
la dent	tooth	Body
le dentifrice	toothpaste	Toiletries
le déodorant	deodorant	Toiletries
déposer	to lay/put/set down, dump, leave; to deposit; to file, register; to testify
dépoussiérer	to remove dust from (literally and fig)
depuis un an	for a year	Optional liaisons
déranger	to disturb, bother, trouble; to mix/mess up
déraper	to skid, slip, soar
derechef	(literary, archaic adv, used in jest) - once again, once more
de rien	you're welcome	Politeness
dériver	to divert, derive, stem from
dessaisir	(legal) - to remove
le dessert	dessert	Dessert
desservir	to clear (away), to do a disservice to, to harm; (transportation) - to serve
désuet	(adj) - outdated, old-fashioned, quaint
détaler	(inf) - to bolt, take off, clear out, skedaddle
détourner	to divert, hijack; turn away, avert; embezzle
se détraquer	to break down, to be upset
deux	2	Numbers
deux cent un	201	Numbers
deux cents	200	Numbers
deux enfants	two children	Liaisons
deux mille	2,000	Numbers
deux millions	2,000,000	Numbers
devancer	to get/be/arrive/do ahead of
devant	in front of
la déveine	(informal) rotten luck
deviner	to guess, solve, foresee; to make out
dévoiler	to unveil, disclose, reveal
des devoirs (m)	homework	School
Diane	Diane	French names
un diapason	(music) range, tuning fork, pitch pipe
un dico	(inf) - dictionary (short for dictionnaire)
un dictionnaire	dictionary	School
un dicton	saying, dicton, expression
Didier		French names
la différence	difference, identity, dissent
différer	to differ, be different; to postpone
le digestif	after-dinner drink	Drinks
dimanche	Sunday	Calendar
la dinde	turkey	Meat
le dîner	dinner	Food
dingue	(inf adj) - crazy, nuts, barmy
direct	(adj) - direct, straight
les directions (f)	directions	Directions
dirigeant	(adj) - ruling, senior
un dispositif	device, mechanism; plan (of action, attack...)
le dissolvant	nail polish remover	Toiletries
dix	10	Numbers
dix-huit	18	Numbers
dix-neuf	19	Numbers
dix-sept	17	Numbers
une dizaine	about ten
le dodo	beddy-bye, sleepy-time	Baby talk
le doigt	finger	Body
Dominique	Dominic, Dominica	French names
dompter	to tame, subdue, master, overcome
les DOM-TOM	(acronym) - Départements d'outre-mer, Territoires d'outre-mer	Acronyms
donc	(conjunction) so, therefore
dorénavant	(adv) - from now on, henceforth
Dorothée	Dorothy	French names
le dos	back	Body
doté	(adj) - equipped/endowed with
la douane	customs	Travel
doublé	(adj) - lined, dubbed
le doudou	blankie, blanket	Baby talk
doué	(adj) - talented, gifted, endowed with
douillet	(adj) soft, cozy, snug
doux	(adj) - sweet, soft, gentle, mild
douze	12	Numbers
un drap	sheet, large towel
dresser	to stand up, raise, erect; to draw or write up
la droguerie	drugstore	Shopping
drôle	(adj) funny, peculiar
drôlement	(inf) awfully, terribly, very	Trèssynonyms
du brouillard	foggy	Weather
du matin	in the morning	Telling time
du soir	in the evening/at night	Telling time
du soleil	sunny	Weather
du vent	windy	Weather

Words Starting With E

Word	Definition	Category
E	the letter E	French alphabet
l'eau (f)	water	Drinks
l'eau dentifrice	mouthwash	Toiletries
ébranler	to shake, weaken, compromise
écarter	to move apart, to spread (open), to dismiss
une échéance	expiration/maturity/redemption/payment/due date; term
un échec	failure, defeat, setback, breakdown
échouer	to fail; to end up
un éclair	lightning, flash, (fig) - spark
éclater	to burst, blow up, explode; to break out; to make noise; to shine
éclipser	to eclipse, overshadow
une école	school	School
économies	(f plural) savings, conservation
écorce	(fem noun) - bark, peel, skin
écouler	to sell
écourter	to shorten, cut short, curtail
un écran	screen
écraser	to crush, grind, squeeze; run over
un écrivain	writer	Professions
s'écrouler	to fall down, collapse, crumble
éculé	(adj) - worn down, worn out
écume	(fem) foam, froth, scum, lather
Édith	Edith	French names
Édouard	Edward	French names
édulcorer	to water/tone down; to sweeten
effacer	to erase
effectuer	to carry out, to make (happen), to accomplish
effondré	(adj) - shattered, crushed, collapsed
s'efforcer	to try hard, endeavor, do one's best to
effrayé	(adj) - scared	Mood
effroyable	appalling, horrifying
égal	(adj) equal, even, unchanging
à l'égard de	toward, concerning
égards (m)	consideration
égaré	(adj) - lost, stray, distraught
une église	church	Directions
Égyptien(ne)	Egyptian	Lang + Nat
éhonté	(adj) shameless, brazen
un électricien	electrician	Professions
Éléonore	Eleanor	French names
Élisabeth	Elizabeth	French names
Élise	Elisa	French names
elle	she, it	Subject pronouns
elle est	she is	Enchaînement
Elle prend un livre	She is taking a book	Optional liaisons
elles	they	Subject pronouns
Elle s'appelle ....	Her name is...	Introductions
Élodie		French names
éloigner	to move away (transitive), remove, estrange, banish, dismiss
élucubrations (f)	wild imaginings
emballer	to pack; (inf) - to thrill; (fam) - to arrest; to seduce
un embouteillage	traffic jam, holdup, (fig) bottleneck
embrouillé	(adj) - confused, mixed-up
Émile	Emile	French names
Émilie	Emily	French names
Emmanuel	Emmanuel	French names
s'emparer	to seize, snatch, grab, take over
empiler	to pile, stack up; (fam) - to have, swindle
un(e) employé(e)	employee	Professions
emprunter	to borrow
en arrière de	in back of	Directions
en avant de	in front of	Directions
en bas	down	Directions
encastrer	to embed, fit
encenser	to burn incense; to flatter, praise excessively
enciente	(adj) - pregnant
encenser	to flatter, praise excessively
enchanté(e)	(adj) - delighted (to meet you)	Introductions
une enchère	bid
encore une fois	one more time	Basic vocab
un(e) énergumène	firebrand
en fait	in fact, as a matter of fact
enfin	(adv) - at last, finally; (interj) - well, in a word
engelures	frostbite
engourdir	to make numb
en haut	up	Directions
ennuyé	(adj) - bored, annoyed	Mood
ennuyeux	(adj) - boring	Personality
en panne	out of order, broken down	Travel
une enquête	inquiry, investigation, survey
enrayer	to (keep in) check, curb, jam
enrhume	(adj) - having a cold
en route	on the way	Driving
en souffrance	pending, awaiting delivery
entacher	to soil, taint, tarnish (fig); riddled, marred (with errors)
entourer	to surround, rally around
un entracte	(theater, cinéma) interval, intermission; (figurative) interruption, interlude, break
entraîner	to take, drag (a person), to lead, influence; to bring about, lead to; to entail, mean
entre eux	between them	Enchaînement
entretenir	to maintain, keep, look after, support; (formal) to talk, converse
entrouvrir	to half-open
éolien	(adj) related to wind
épais	(adj) thick; (derog) dense, dull, thick
éparpiller	to scatter, disperse
épater	to amaze, impress
une épaule	shoulder	Body
épi	spike, tuft
une épicerie	grocery store	Shopping
les épinards (m)	spinach	Vegetables
une épingle	pin	Jewelry
une épouse	wife	Love language
un époux	husband	Love language
une épreuve	test, ordeal, hardship
éprouver	to feel, experience, suffer, sustain, test
épuisé	(adj) - worn-out, exhausted
Éric	Eric	French names
ès	Contraction of en + les, used for university degrees.
une escale	stopover, port of call
un escalier	stairway	Home
escamoter	evade, get around; to conjure away; (inf) - to steal
les escargots (m)	snails	Meat
escrime (f)	fencing
une esgourde	archaic and slang for ear (used in jest)
Espagnol(e), l'espagnol	Spanish	Lang + Nat
une espèce	species, kind, type; (inf pej) - some, stupid
espiègle	(adj) - mischievous, impish
un espion	spy
une esquisse	sketch, outline; beginnings, hint
un essaim	swarm (literally and figuratively)
une essence	petrol/gas, spirit, essence, gist, species of a tree
essence ordinaire	regular gas	Driving
l'essentiel	the basics	Basic vocab
un essor	rapid growth, development, boom; (formal/elegant) flight
les essuie-glaces	windshield wipers	Driving
est	east	Directions
estimer	to appraise, value, estimate; to (hold in) esteem; to consider, judge
estival	(adj) summer(y)
un estomac	stomach	Body
estomaquer	(informal) to stun, stagger, flabbergast, gobsmack
estomper	to blur, dim, soften, become indistinct
et	and	Basic vocab
une étagère	(book)shelf	Furniture
étaler	to spread, strew
et demie	and a half	Telling time
été	summer	Calendar
éternuer	to sneeze
Étienne	Steven	French names
étirer	to stretch
étoffer	to enrich, fill in, flesh out, extend, beef up, strengthen
une étourderie	absent-mindedness; (fam) - careless mistake
et quart	quarter after	Telling time
être coupé	to be cut off	On the phone
un étudiant, une étudiante	student	Professions
Eugène	Eugene	French names
Européen(ne)	European	Lang + Nat
évanouir	to faint, pass out; to disappear
éveillé	(adj) - alert, bright, awake
éventuellement	(adv) - possibly, if need be
un évier	sink	Furniture
exact	(adj) exact, right, accurate, correct; on time
exagérer	to exaggerate, overdo
un examen	test	School
exaucer	to fulfill, grant, answer
excellent	excellent	Bonsynonyms
exceptionnel	exceptional	Bonsynonyms
exceptionnellement	exceptionally	Très synonyms
excité	(adj) - hyper(active)	Mood
une excursion	trip	Driving
excursionner	to go on trips, walks
excusez-moi	excuse me	Politeness
Excusez-moi de vous déranger	I'm sorry to disturb you	Politeness
exemplaire	(adj) - model, exemplary; un exemplaire - copy
exigeant	(adj) demanding, exacting
une expérience	experience, experiment
exprès	(adv) - on purpose, deliberately
un express	espresso	Drinks
exprimer	to express
extraordinaire	extraordinary	Bonsynonyms
extraordinairement	extraordinarily	Trèssynonyms
extrêmement	extremely	Trèssynonyms

Words Starting With F

Word	Definition	Category
F	the letter F	French alphabet
fabriquer	to make, produce; fabricate, make up; (inf) to do, to be up to
fabuler	to fantasize
la fac	(inf, short for faculté) - university
fâché	(adj) - angry	Mood
faible	(adj) - weak	Personality
la faim	hunger	Food
fainéant	(adj) lazy, idle
faire le plein	to fill it up	Driving
faire sisite	to sit	Baby talk
se faire les ongles	to do one's nails	Toiletries
au fait	by the way
en fait	in fact, as a matter of fact
un faix	burden
une falaise	cliff
falot	(adj) - colorless, wan, pale
un falot	lantern
fameux	adj before noun) - first-rate; real; famous, much talked-about
une famille	family	Family
fané	(adj) - faded, wilted
le fard	make-up, greasepaint
le fard à joues	blusher	Toiletries
le fard à paupières	eyeshadow	Toiletries
farfelu	(inf adj) - cranky, scatty, hare-brained, eccentric
fastueux	luxurious, sumptuous
fatigué	(adj) - tired	Mood
faufiler	to baste, tack
fauteur	one who does something (usually bad)
fêlé	(adj) cracked, (informal) crazy
une femme	wife, woman	Family
une femme de chambre	maid	Professions
une fenêtre	window	Furniture
fermé	(adj) - closed	Travel
la fermeté	firmness, solidness, confidence
féru	(adj) - interested in / keen on
la fesse	buttock
le feu	fire, stoplight, stove burner
une feuille de papier	piece of paper	Office
feuilleter	to leaf through, skim; to roll out (pastry, dough)
le feu rouge	stop light	Driving
les feux de route	high beams	Driving
le feux de stop	brake lights	Driving
février	February	Calendar
fiable	(adj) accurate, reliable, dependable
fiançailles (f)	engagement
un(e) fiancé(e)	fiance	Love language
une ficelle	string, type of bread
ficher	(slang) - to do, give, put, leave
fichu	(informal adj) - lousy, rotten, foul; done for, bust; put together, dressed; damned
figurer	to represent, to appear
le fil dentaire	dental floss	Toiletries
une fille	daughter, girl	Family
un film	a movie	Hobbies
un fils	son	Family
un fixe-cravate	tie-clip	Jewelry
flairer	to smell, sense
le flamand	Flemish	Lang + Nat
un fléau	curse, plague, bane; flail
la flemme	(inf) - laziness
une fleur	flower	Love language
un flic	(inf) - cop, copper, bobby
un flingue	gun, rifle
un flocon	flake, fleck
flopée	(informal) - a bunch, tons, loads, masses
Florence	Florence	French names
flotter	to float, drift, hang (in the air), flutter, hover
fofolle	(inf adj) - scatty, crazy
le foin	hay
follement	(inf) incredibly	Très synonyms
foncé	(invariable adj) - dark (color)
foncer	to charge at or into; to make darker; (inf) - to rush, tear, charge along
foncièrement	(adv) - fundamentally, basically
un(e) fonctionnaire	civil servant	Professions
le foot, football	soccer	Hobbies
le football américain	football	Hobbies
un forain	fairground entertainer, carnie
forcément	(adv) - necessarily, inevitably
une forme	form, shape
Formidable!	Great!	Accent affectif
fort	(adj) - strong	Personality
un fossé	(lit, fig) - ditch, gulf, gap
des fossettes	dimples	Descriptions
la foudre	lightning
un fouet	whip, whisk
la fougue	ardor, spirit
la fouille	search, excavation, dig
un fouillis	jumble, muddle
un foulard	scarf	Accessories
un four	oven	Furniture
un four à micro-ondes	microwave oven
une fourchette	fork	Dishes
fourrer	to stuff, fill; (info) - to put, stick, shove
la fourrière	dog pound, impound yard
fourvoyer	to mislead, get someone lost, lead astray
frais	(adj) - cool, crisp, fresh
une fraise	strawberry	Fruit
une framboise	raspberry	Fruit
Français(e), le français	French	Lang + Nat
franchir	to cross, get over, overcome
Francis	Francis	French names
Franck	Frank	French names
François	Francis	French names
Françoise	Frances	French names
francophone	(adj) - French-speaking
un/e Francophone	(proper noun) - French speaker
à la bonne franquette	simple, without any fuss
frapper	to hit, stab, strike, knock
frasques (f)	escapades
Frédéric	Frederick	French names
fredonner	to hum
les freins	brakes	Driving
frêle	(adj) - flimsy, fragile, frail
frémir	to quake, tremble, shudder, shiver
un frère	brother	Family
friand de	(adj) - partial to, fond of
le fric	(fam) - cash, bread, lolly
le frigo	(inf) - fridge (short for réfrigérateur)	Apocopes
frileux	(adj) - sensitive to cold; (econ) - overcautious, nervous
une friperie	used/second-hand clothing store
un frisson	shiver, shudder, thrill
les frites (f)	fries	Food
froid	(adj) - cold, unfriendly	Weather,Personality
froisser	to crumple, offend
frôler	to brush against, skim, verge on
le fromage	cheese	Dairy
le fromage blanc	cream cheese	Dairy
se frotter	to rub (one another), to fight; (slang) - to have sex
le fruit	fruit	Fruit
fugace	(adj) - fleeting, transient
fuguer	(inf) - to run away, run off
fuir	to flee, avoid, fly off, shun, shirk
fulgurant	(figurative adj) lightning, dazzling, blinding, searing
futé	(adj) - wily, crafty, cunning, sly

Format

mla apa chicago

Your Citation

Team, ThoughtCo. "Audio Dictionary of French Words Starting With D, E and F." ThoughtCo, Dec. 6, 2021, thoughtco.com/audio-dictionary-d-e-and-f-4085197. Team, ThoughtCo. (2021, December 6). Audio Dictionary of French Words Starting With D, E and F. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/audio-dictionary-d-e-and-f-4085197 Team, ThoughtCo. "Audio Dictionary of French Words Starting With D, E and F." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/audio-dictionary-d-e-and-f-4085197 (accessed May 28, 2022).