Languages › French French Vocabulary Related to Soccer and the World Cup Share Flipboard Email Print Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Staff/Getty Images French Vocabulary Pronunciation & Conversation Grammar Resources For Teachers By ThoughtCo Team Updated on May 24, 2019 Whether you love playing soccer or just watching games like the World Cup, learn some French soccer terms so you can talk about the sport. Note that in the U.S., "football" refers to football américain. In most of the rest of the world, "football" is what Americans call soccer. French Soccer Vocabulary In French, le football means soccer in English, and le foot translates as football. These and related terms are vital to know if you want to talk knowledgeably about soccer in French. Le football, le foot > soccer, footballLa Coupe du monde, le Mondial > World CupLe match > game, matchLa période > halfLa mi-temps > halftimeLe temps réglementaire > regular time (the standard 90-minute game)es arrêts de jeu > stoppage timeLa prolongation > overtime People and Players When talking about football in French, it's important to learn the French terms related to the game of soccer. Une équipe > teamLes Bleus > "the Blues" - French soccer teamUn footballeu > soccer/football playerUn joueur > playerUn gardien de but, goal > goalieUn défenseur > defenderUn libero > sweeperUn ailier > wingerUn avant, attaquant > forwardUn buteur > strikerUn meneur de jeu > playmakerUn remplaçant > substituteUn entraineur > coachUn arbitre > refereeUn juge/arbitre de touche > line judge, assistant referee Plays and Penalties Understanding soccer in French means learning the terms for plays and penalties that are an inevitable part of soccer. Un but > goal Un but contre son camp > own goal Le carton jaune > yellow card Le carton rouge > red card Un caviar > perfect pass Des contestations / protestations > dissent Un corner > corner kick un coup franc, coup de pied arrêté > free kick Un coup franc direct / indirect > direct / indirect kick Un coup de tête > head butt Une faute > foul Une faute de main > hand ball Une feinte > fake out Un grand pont > kick/pass around a player's legs Hors-jeu > offside Un match nul > tie game, draw Le mur > the wall Une passe > pass Un pénalty > penalty kick Un petit pont > nutmeg, between-the-legs pass Le point de pénalty > penalty spot Une remise en jeu, une touche > throw in Une simulation > dive (fake fall) Six mètres > goal kick Sorti > out of bounds La surface de but > 6-yard box La surface de réparation > penalty box Un tacle > tackle Ne tête > header La volée > volley Equipment Equipment is a key part of French soccer, as these terms demonstrate. Le stade > stadiumLe terrain de jeu > playing field, pitchLe milieu du terrain > midfieldLe ballon de foot > soccer ball, footballLes crampons > cleatsLe filet > goal netLe maillot > uniform, kitLe piquet de corner > corner flagLe protège-tibia > shin guardLe sifflet > whistle Verbs Soccer is a game of action, so verbs—action words—are an important part of the game. Amortir > to trap, controlBétonner > to put up a strong defenseContrôler le ballon > to control the ballDéborder > to get past an opponentDribbler > to dribbleÊtre en position de hors-jeu > to be offsideExpulser > to send offFaire du chiqué > to (take a) diveFaire une passe > to pass (the ball)Faire une tête > to head (the ball)Faucher > to bring downFeinter > to fakeJouer la ligne de hors-jeu, jouer le hors-jeu > to set an offside trapMarquer (un but) > to score (a goal)Mener > to lead, be winningSauver un but/penalty > to save a goal/penaltyTirer > to shoot, kick Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Team, ThoughtCo. "French Vocabulary Related to Soccer and the World Cup." ThoughtCo, Dec. 6, 2021, thoughtco.com/french-soccer-terms-1371383. Team, ThoughtCo. (2021, December 6). French Vocabulary Related to Soccer and the World Cup. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/french-soccer-terms-1371383 Team, ThoughtCo. "French Vocabulary Related to Soccer and the World Cup." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/french-soccer-terms-1371383 (accessed May 30, 2023). copy citation