Basketball is one of the sports that are well-loved all over the world. If you are learning French and are a fan of this sport, French basketball vocabulary would help you discuss basketball with other French-speaking fans.
Read more to learn how to say basketball in French, and even basketball positions in French.
Here are other advantages of learning about French basketball vocabulary:
Don’t have time to memorize this list now? You can also click below to download a copy of the vocabulary in PDF format.
French Basketball Vocabulary
| l'équipe de basket | basketball team |
| un match | game |
| un(e) basketteur/euse | a basketball player |
| un joueur | a player |
| un pivot | a center (player) |
| un arrière | a guard |
| un attaquant | an offensive player |
| un défenseur | a defensive player |
| un sauteur | a jumper |
| un remplacant | substitute |
| l’arbitre | referee |
| l'équipement | equipment |
| un ballon de basket | basketball |
| un terrain de jeu / le terrain | court |
| le panier | basket |
| le panier adverse | opponent's basket |
| l'anneau | rim, ring, hoop |
| le panneau | backboard |
| le filet | net |
| le ballon | ball |
| la ligne de centre | center line |
| la ligne de lancer franc | free-throw line |
| la ligne des trois points | three-point line |
| le cercle central | center circle |
| la ligne de fond | endline |
| la ligne de touche | sideline |
| hors jeux | out of bounds |
| un tir | a shot |
| un tir-crochet | a hook shot |
| la faute | foul |
| la passe | pass |
| le rebond | rebound |
| la rentrée | throw-in |
| lancer | to throw |
| attraper | to catch |
| marquer | to mark |
| faire un dunk | to dunk the ball |
| tirer | to shoot |
| bloquer | to block |
| faire rebondir | to bounce |
| dribbler | to dribble |
| sauter | to jump |
| une pom-pom girl | a cheerleader |
Sports is always a good topic no matter which part of the world you’re in. If you’d rather discuss football (or soccer, depends on you), check out this article instead:
Or you can check out this article for general sports terms:
Want to learn more French vocabulary by theme? Check out the most comprehensive French vocabulary review e-book below!
Still Stuck at Intermediate French?
Break through the plateau with our proven coaching and study method.
