French School Vocabulary
The French education system is famously rigorous, and its vocabulary reflects a structured approach to learning. Whether you are studying in France, helping a child with French schoolwork, or preparing for a language exam, this guide covers the essential school words with pronunciation and the cultural context that makes them meaningful.
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People at School — Les Personnes à l'École
French distinguishes carefully between different levels of teachers and students. Using the right word shows you understand the French education system.
The informal word prof is how French students actually refer to their teachers. "Le prof de maths" (the math teacher) is far more common in spoken French than the full "professeur de mathématiques."
Classroom and Supplies — La Classe et les Fournitures
French schools have a specific list of fournitures scolaires (school supplies) that students need each year. These words are immediately practical for anyone navigating school life in French.
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Subjects — Les Matières
French students study a broad curriculum. Subject names are not capitalized in French (except for language names derived from proper nouns). Here are the core subjects.
Philosophie is a required subject in French lycées, not just an elective. The famous baccalauréat exam includes a philosophy essay that every student must write. This is a distinctive feature of the French education system.
Academic Life — La Vie Scolaire
These words describe the rhythm and structure of French school life, from exams to grades to breaks.
- l'Examen (ehg-zah-mehn) — Exam
- les Devoirs (duh-vwahr) — Homework
- la Note (noht) — Grade (French grades are out of 20)
- l'Emploi du temps (ahm-plwah dew tahn) — Timetable / Schedule
- la Récréation (ray-kray-ah-syohn) — Recess / Break
- la Rentrée (rahn-tray) — Back to school (September)
- le Baccalauréat (bah-kah-loh-ray-ah) — High school diploma exam
French grades are on a scale of 0 to 20. A score of 10/20 is passing, 14/20 is good, and anything above 16/20 is excellent. Getting a perfect 20/20 is extremely rare and almost never given. This is very different from the percentage-based or letter-grade systems used in English-speaking countries.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between école, collège, and lycée?
The French school system has three levels: école (primary school, ages 6-11), collège (middle school, ages 11-15), and lycée (high school, ages 15-18). Note that "collège" in French is NOT university -- that is a common false friend with English.
How do you say "homework" in French?
Homework is les devoirs (always plural). "J'ai beaucoup de devoirs" means "I have a lot of homework." A single homework assignment can be called un devoir, but the plural form is far more common in everyday speech.
What is the difference between professeur and instituteur?
Instituteur/institutrice (or the modern term professeur des écoles) teaches in primary school. Professeur (often shortened to prof) teaches in collège, lycée, or university. The informal maître/maîtresse is used by young children for their primary teacher.
Is élève or étudiant the right word for student?
Élève refers to a student in primary or secondary school. Étudiant/étudiante is specifically a university student. Using the wrong one marks you as a non-native speaker, so this distinction matters.
Are school subjects capitalized in French?
No. Like most French nouns, school subjects are written in lowercase: les mathématiques, l'histoire, les sciences. Only proper nouns within subject names are capitalized, such as le français (the French language).