The sun is shining brightly, the sky is blue, and everyone is in high spirits! Ahhh, summer is here! What better time to learn French words and phrases related to summer?
Here in this article, let’s learn and review French vocabulary about the summer. The vocabulary list is divided into different parts which you can quickly navigate by clicking below.
For starters, you can check out this short video about French summer vocabulary.
Now let's dive in to French summer words and phrases!
1. Essential French Summer Words and Phrases
| l’été | summer |
| les vacances | vacation |
| les vacances d’été | summer vacation |
| des vacanciers | holidaymakers, vacationers |
| un voyage | a journey |
| juin | June |
| juillet | July |
| août | August |
| un pique-nique | a picnic |
| glace; crème glacée | ice cream |
| un maillot de bain | a swim suit |
| un bateau | a boat |
| la pastèque | watermelon |
| la plage | beach |
| le ventilateur | fan |
| lunettes de soleil | sunglasses |
| bronzage | tan |
| Coup de soleil | sunburn |
| Un amour d’été | a summer romance |
| Passer à l’heure d’été | changing to daylight-saving time (putting the clocks forward) literally, passing to summer time |
| bonnes vacances! | have a good holiday! |
| bon voyage! | have a good trip! |
II. Talking about the summer weather
| Il fait chaud | It’s hot |
| Il fait du soleil | It’s sunny |
| Il fait beau | The weather is nice |
| La chaleur | The heat |
| Le soleil brille | The sun is shining |
| Le ciel est bleu | The sky is blue |
| humide | humid |
| ensoleillé | sunny |
III. The Outdoors
| dehors | outside |
| le parc | the park |
| les montagnes | the mountains |
| la pelouse | the lawn / grass |
| une fleur / des fleurs | a / some flower(s) |
| une plante | a plant |
| un arbre | a tree |
| la nature | nature |
| au bord de la mer | at the shore |
| la plage | the beach |
| le sable | sand |
| la piscine | the swimming pool |
| la mer | the sea |
| l’océan | the ocean |
| un lac | a lake |
| le Jardin | the garden |
IV. Summer Activities
| se reposer | to rest |
| se détendre | to relax |
| voyager | to travel |
| jardiner | to garden |
| marcher | to walk |
| courir | to run |
| jouer | to play |
| Se bronzer | to sunbathe |
| nager | to swim |
| Aller à la mer | to go to the beach |
| Marcher sur la plage | To walk on the beach |
| lire des romans sur la plage | to read on the beach |
| natation | swimming |
| se baigner | to bathe |
| plonger | to dive |
| faire de la planche à voile | to wind surf |
| faire du ski nautique | to water ski |
| faire de la voile | to sail |
| Faire un pique-nique | to have a picnic |
| faire du surf | to go surfing |
| faire du ski | to ski, go skiing |
| faire le tour de... | to have a look around... |
| faire une excursion | to go on an excursion |
| visiter les musées | to see the museums |
| faire du camping | to go camping |
| faire du sport | to play sports |
| Faire du vélo | to go biking |
| Faire de l'escalade | To go mountain climbing |
| Faire du skate | to go skating |
| Faire du parapente | to skydive |
| pêcher | to go fishing |
Did I miss any words or phrases on this list? Let me know in the comments!
For the most comprehensive list of French vocabulary, check out the e-book below!
