short essay on winter season in french

Les saisons (The seasons)

Learn and practice about the seasons (Les saisons) in french: l’été (summer), l’hiver (winter), l’automne (fall), le printemps (spring)…

Short Video

Vocabulary : The seasons  

Start reviewing the flashcards in the following Quizlet and then feel free to use the different options from Quizlet, such us match, learn, test or spell.

The seasons –  Flashcards

The seasons of the year song.

The seasons of the year

The year is formed by four seasons:

Spring, Summer, Fall  and Winter.

We are going to learn what happen in each season. Spring is a season of the year, where it begins to get hot. Trees have leaves again, the fields turn green and the flowers bloom. In the forest, animals wake up and birds make noises. This is the perfect time to go out with our friends.

Summer is the hottest season of the year, so we have to wear light clothing. It’s vacation time so we can go out and go to the beach, swimming or sunbathing with our family and friends.

Autumn (fall) is the season where the leaves start to change colour, dried and fall to the ground.  It starts to rain more often and the wind blows too hard. Winter is coldest the season. The temperature is placed below zero degrees

and the snow covers everything. We have to wear big coats and we go out play with our friends by throwing snowballs to each others, skating on ice and ride our sleighs. Spring, Summer, Autumn (Fall) and Winter are the four seasons of the year.

Saisons de l’année L’année est formée par quatre saisons: Printemps, été, automne et hiver. Nous allons apprendre ce qui arrive à chaque saison. Le printemps est une saison de l’année, où il commence à faire chaud. Les arbres ont de nouveau des feuilles, les champs deviennent vertes et les fleurs fleurissent. Dans la forêt, les animaux se réveillent et les oiseaux font des bruits. Ceci est le moment idéal pour sortir avec nos amis. L’été est la saison la plus chaude de l’année, nous devons donc porter des vêtements légers. Il est temps pour les vacances pour que nous puissions sortir et aller à la plage, nager ou se bronzer avec notre famille et nos amis. L’automne est la saison où les feuilles commencent à changer de couleur, se sécher et tombent sur le sol. Il commence à pleuvoir plus souvent et le vent souffle plus fort. L’hiver est la saison plus froid. La température est placé au-dessous de zéro degrés et la neige recouvre tout. Nous devons donc porter des gros manteaux et nous sortons jouer avec nos amis en lançant des boules de neige, faire du patinage  sur glace et monter nos traîneaux. Printemps, été, automne et l’hiver sont les quatre saisons de l’année.

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How to Talk About Seasons in French

If you want to talk about the weather or time of year in French, knowing how to talk about the seasons is essential.

A season in French is translated as une saison , and there are four distinct seasons in France: le printemps (spring), l’été (summer), l’automne (autumn/fall) and l’hiver (winter).

Keep reading to find out how to talk about seasons in French, with the names of the seasons themselves, as well as plenty of season-related vocabulary!

The Basics: How to Say the Seasons in French

Vocabulary for l’hiver (winter).

• Vocabulary for Le Printemps (Spring)

Vocabulary for L’été (Summer)

Vocabulary for l’automne (fall), how to practice seasons in french, and one more thing....

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Below is a look at the names of the seasons in French:

To talk about the seasons themselves, use a direct article . For example:

L’hiver est froid. Winter is cold.

Ma saison préférée est l’automne. My favorite season is autumn.

On the other hand, using these seasons with the prepositions en   or au   gives them the meaning of “in the” or “during the.” These prepositions are useful if you want to talk about things that happen during a certain season:

Note that printemps is the only season to take au (literally translated as “to the”). The other three seasons all take en (in):

Les canards reviennent au printemps. The ducks return in the spring.

J’irai en Europe en été. I will go to Europe in the summer.

L’hiver in France typically consists of the months of janvier , février and mars   (January, February and March). This time of year is characterized by cooler weather and even snow in the northern or mountainous regions of the country.

Let’s check out some common vocabulary associated with l’hiver.

To see these words in action, let’s use a couple of them in a few example sentences:

En hiver, je porte mes gants, mon chapeau et mon manteau. Il fait froid et il y a beaucoup de neige. Je fais du ski et du snowboard.

During the winter, I wear my gloves, my hat and my coat. It is cold, and there is a lot of snow. I ski and snowboard.

Vocabulary for L e Printemps (Spring)

Le printemps typically consists of the months of avril , mai and juin   (April, May and June). This is the time of year when the weather starts to warm up and plants begin to grow again, filling the landscape with green trees and beautiful flowers.

Here’s some common vocabulary associated with le printemps:

Now let’s use a couple of these words in a sample paragraph:

Au printemps, les oiseaux retournent du sud. Il fait frais et il y a beaucoup de pluie. Je porte un imperméable et j’adore toutes les fleurs.

During the spring, the birds return from the south. It is cool, and there is a lot of rain. I wear a raincoat, and I love all the flowers.

L’été typically consists of the months of juillet , août and septembre   (July, August and September). Like in North America, l’été is the hottest time of the year. As such, students are often on summer holidays, and people are social with lots of outdoor activities and parties.

Let’s look at some common vocabulary to celebrate l’été:

Now, let’s set the scene for a hot and relaxing summer day:

En été, je vais souvent à la plage. Je porte mon maillot de bain, mes tongs et mes lunettes de soleil. J’aime nager et manger de la pastèque. 

During the summer, I often go to the beach. I wear my swimsuit, my flip-flops and my sunglasses. I like to swim and eat watermelon.

L’automne typically consists of the months of octobre , novembre and décembre   (October, November and December). During this time of year, the leaves on the trees begin to change colors and fall, and the weather becomes cool again.

Some common vocabulary associated with l’automne is:

During the autumn, you might say the following:

En automne, on voit le changement de couleur des feuilles. Je mange la tarte aux pommes et du maïs. Je porte un coupe-vent et je taille une citrouille.

During the autumn, we see the changing of the leaves. I eat an apple pie and some corn. I wear a windbreaker, and I carve a pumpkin.

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Here are some of the best practice resources available around the web:

• To practice the months of the year in French, check out this interactive quiz from Digital Dialects .
• Take this test with French Circles to practice seasons in French and their corresponding weather words. French Circles also offers a reading and video related to the seasons in French , plus digital flashcards for extra practice.
• Sporcle offers a straightforward quiz that tests you on weather conditions and seasons in French . Simply translate the English word or expression into French before the timer runs out.

A good base of French vocabulary is always in season. Now go forth and use your newly-acquired vocabulary to talk about any season in French!

FluentU has a wide variety of great content, like interviews, documentary excerpts and web series, as you can see here:

FluentU brings native French videos with reach. With interactive captions, you can tap on any word to see an image, definition and useful examples.

For example, if you tap on the word "crois," you'll see this:

Practice and reinforce all the vocabulary you've learned in a given video with learn mode. Swipe left or right to see more examples for the word you’re learning, and play the mini-games found in our dynamic flashcards, like "fill in the blank."

All throughout, FluentU tracks the vocabulary that you’re learning and uses this information to give you a totally personalized experience. It gives you extra practice with difficult words—and reminds you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned.

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Seasons in French: Vocabulary and example sentences

Examples of sentences using seasons in french, master french language with italki, the enrollment process at italki, frequently asked questions, seasons in french: how to talk about the colorful seasons.

Seasons determine the pace of our existence. They serve as a soothing reminder that in nature, everything is constantly renewed, and everything goes as intended, despite any challenges that may arise. It is no wonder that seasons hold great significance and symbolism in many cultures around the world. This article will help you learn the seasons in French and how you can use them in your conversations.

It is essential to learn French grammar, vocabulary, tense formation and sentence structuring to achieve fluency. In French, “season” is “saison” (plural “saisons”). In the table below, there are four major seasons in French:

Summer in French

French summer words

Fall in French

French fall words

Learning months in French can help you carry out basic conversations. You can also develop the confidence to inquire about changing weather conditions with the locals and prepare proactively for the extreme weather.  

Winter in French

French winter words

You must also learn basic French greetings to make these seasons more exciting and memorable. For example, learning to say good night in French can allow you to get closer to the people you like and adore.

Spring in French

French spring words

L’été (summer)

• Dans ma région, l’été est chaud et humide (In my region, summer is hot and humid).
• L’été est ma saison préférée. J’adore la plage ! (Summer is my favorite season. I just love the beach!).

L’automne (fall/autumn)

• En automne, je vais souvent ramasser des champignons. (In fall, I often go mushroom picking).
• Manges-tu des châtaignes en automne ? (Do you eat chestnuts in fall?)

L’hiver (winter)

• Je trouve que la neige embellit toujours le paysage. (I think snow always makes the landscape nicer).

Le printemps (spring)

• Quelle est ta fleur printanière préférée ? (What’s your favorite spring flower?)

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What are the names of the four seasons in French?

In French, the four seasons are “le printemps” (spring), “l’été” (summer), “l’automne” (autumn/fall), and “l’hiver” (winter). Each season brings its own distinct characteristics and is an integral part of the cultural and natural rhythm in France.

What are some seasonal foods in France?

Spring (le printemps) brings delicate flavors such as asparagus, strawberries, lamb, and fresh herbs like tarragon and chives. Summer (l’été) highlights vibrant produce like tomatoes, zucchini, peaches, and seafood such as oysters and mussels from coastal regions.

Autumn (l’automne) introduces hearty dishes featuring mushrooms, pumpkins, apples, and chestnuts, alongside game meats like venison and wild boar. Winter (l’hiver) offers rich indulgences such as truffles, root vegetables like turnips and parsnips, game birds such as duck and pheasant, and comforting stews like cassoulet and pot-au-feu.

How do the seasons affect tourism in France?

Spring (le printemps) attracts visitors eager to explore gardens in full bloom, historic landmarks, and cultural events with moderate weather and fewer crowds compared to peak summer months. Summer (l’été) sees a surge in tourism, especially in coastal resorts, major cities, and iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, with long sunny days and a bustling atmosphere.

Autumn (l’automne) appeals to wine enthusiasts embarking on vineyard tours and cultural travelers enjoying the tranquility of autumnal landscapes and local festivals celebrating regional heritage and culinary traditions. Winter (l’hiver) draws winter sports enthusiasts to the French Alps and Pyrenees for skiing and snowboarding adventures, while cities charm visitors with festive markets, cultural events, and holiday traditions.

The seasons in France offer a variety of experiences and activities throughout the year. Whether you enjoy the summer heat, autumn colors, spring blooms, or winter sports, there is always something to appreciate. Expand your vocabulary related to French seasons and feel free to talk about them with locals.

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French Seasons – Les saisons

Parlons des saisons ! Let’s talk about the different seasons in French! What are they called and how do you use them? Here’s the guide!

The Seasons in French

In French, we generally talk about  four seasons , which correspond to  specific months of the year:

• All of the traditional four seasons are masculine (as are the months).
• English-speakers should note that aut u mn has a slightly different spelling in French: it’s aut o mn e  with an O and an E. Its pronunciation is also slightly unexpected: in French, we  pronounce the N  instead of the M.
• Hiver is also unusual because we do pronounce the final R (unlike with most French words ending in – er ).

When talking about something happening in a certain season, we use the following prepositions :

• AU   for printemps This is because à + le  must contract to  au .
• EN   for été , automne , and hiver This is because these three begin with vowel sounds. (The H in hiver is mute.) For  en , there’s also a noticeable liaison. So we need to pronounce the N when connecting the words.

Other Regions, Other Seasons

In tropical countries with hot and wet seasons , there are also the following terms:

Note that they are feminine.

For these terms, instead of au or en , we can use the prepositions  pendant or durant , which mean “during.” ( Pendant la saison des pluies. ..)

Going further

The seasons also inspire adjectives: things can be summery, wintry, etc. See the lesson on this topic right  here .

Mastered the French seasons   ? Looking for more basic French lessons?

Hey, we’ve all got to start with the basics ; there’s no shame in that! And the stronger your grasp of basic French, the easier the language will be. So shore up your French foundations HERE .

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Everything you need to know about the four seasons in French!

We all know the four seasons: printemps (spring), été (summer), automne (autumn) and hiver (winter). Being able to talk about the weather and describe current conditions or knowing some popular sayings about the seasons are all significant assets for anyone who wants to learn French.

The seasons are a universal theme and the perfect way to spark a spontaneous conversation, helping you to improve your speaking skills and integrate more easily with French people. So, how do you talk about the seasons in French ? Why does the French Riviera’s climate make it the perfect location in which to learn French? Why is the theme of the seasons an important one for French people? What grammatical structures should you use when talking about the weather?

The seasons: not as trivial a topic as it might seem

The French attach huge importance to the weather, as proved by the popularity of weather forecasts and the success of special weather apps on smartphones. In common parlance, the expression “parler de la pluie et du beau temps” (literally “to talk about rain and good weather”) is used to refer to trivial small talk. However, climate change has completely shifted our priorities: now, talking about the seasons in French does not just mean talking about “everything and nothing” but discussing a topic of greater significance. 

Grammar and the seasons

From a grammatical point of view, the seasons – le printemps, l’été, l’automne and l’hiver are all masculine nouns, for example “Nous avons connu un bel automne cette année” (“We’ve had a lovely autumn this year”), “le printemps est pluvieux” (“spring is rainy”). In addition, remember to use “en” and “au” when talking about the four seasons in French: “Je pars toujours en vacances en hiver” (“I always go on holiday in winter”) “nous nettoyons la maison au printemps” (“we clean the house in spring”), “en été, les températures augmentent” (“temperatures rise in summer”) or “les vendanges ont lieu chaque année en automne” (“the grapes are harvested in autumn each year”). Additionally, you can use the pronoun “il” in descriptions – “il pleut” (“it’s raining”), “il neige” (“it’s snowing”), “il fait chaud” (“it’s hot”, etc.) – or the structure “il y a” – “il y a du verglas ce matin sur la route” (“there’s black ice on the road this morning”), “il y a beaucoup de vent cet après-midi” (“it’s really windy this afternoon”), etc. For temperatures, the verb “faire” is used: “Il fait moins cinq aujourd’hui” (“it’s minus five today”). So be careful when you’re talking about the four seasons of France in French!

The word “printemps” (“spring”) comes from “primu” meaning “first” and “tempus” meaning “time”. Using the word season in French implies that you are viewing the seasons from the point of view of countries in the Northern hemisphere. In this part of the world, spring falls in March, April and May. Spring (the adjectival form in French is “printanier”) is the season of buds and lily of the valley. Synonymous with youth, it marks the end of winter, the revival of nature and the time when we pick “primevères” (“primroses”), which herald beautiful weather. That is why, for many people, the best season in French is spring, even though it can still be cool at the beginning. After all, as the French saying goes, “en avril, ne te découvre pas d’un fil”, meaning that you shouldn’t trust warm weather in April (literally, “in April, don’t remove a thread [of clothing]”).  

Summer is now associated with heatwaves, that very hot time when we just want to stay cool or slather on the sun cream and sunbathe. It’s the perfect time for a junior language stay in the South of France ! Your teenager will make quick progress thanks to French lessons in smaller groups, a wide range of sports and other activities, events and very comfortable accommodation. Unless you’d rather take advantage of the gorgeous weather and sign up for our French lessons with relaxation and meditation programme ? You’ll be delighted with this combination of interactive French classes and exclusive wellbeing activities.

In France, autumn conjures up thoughts of the annual return to school in September. At this time of year, the days are getting shorter, the temperatures are starting to cool and the colours that dominate the natural world are changing. “When a sighing begins/In the violins/Of the autumn-song,/My heart is drowned/In the slow sound/Languorous and long” wrote Verlaine in Poèmes saturniens (Autumn Song, translation by Arthur Symons, 1902). With a little luck, you might enjoy an Indian summer or an “été de la Saint Martin” (“St. Martin’s summer”) when you take an intensive French course of 30 lessons per week in Antibes – a programme aimed at those who really want to make progress!

In France, in terms of the calendar, winter begins on 21 or 22 December. While winter is traditionally a time for hibernation, that’s not the case when it comes to learning French in France . Take advantage of low-season rates and the mild climate and come to the Centre International d’Antibes on the French Riviera. There’s no shortage of activities to keep you busy in our region in winter: flower battles in Nice, the Lemon Festival in Menton, the Chagall museum in Nice , hikes in the Estérel mountains and more.

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Explore the beauty of the French seasons with our complete guide — learn vocabulary, reveal cultural insights, and experience France in a new way.

Le Printemps — “Spring” in French

L'été — “summer” in french, l'automne — “autumn” in french, l'hiver — “winter” in french, season-related vocabulary, the bottom line.

The four seasons in French — le printemps (spring), l'été (summer), l'automne (autumn), and l'hiver (winter) — form a rhythmic backdrop to French life, influencing everything from cuisine to celebrations, fashion, and even idiomatic expressions.

Understanding how all seasons of the year are interlaced with the French language and culture not only broadens your vocabulary but deepens your cultural awareness.

Uncover the linguistic treasures of each saison , learn about French seasonal holidays, discover what constitutes each season in France, and soak in French phrases that beautifully encapsulate seasonal activities and trends.

Discover how to learn words 3x faster

Learn French with Langster

Le printemps in France typically spans from March to May, with the arrival of warmer weather and longer days. The word printemps itself comes from the Latin primo tempore , meaning "the first time."

During this season, flowers bloom, birds sing, the temperature gets milder, outdoor activities return, and new life emerges after the cold winter months.

Spring Vocabulary List

Here are some vocabulary words related to le printemps :

le printemps

au printemps

le papillon

le beau temps

good weather

Some French phrases related to spring are:

Cultural Insights

In France, spring is also associated with Pâques (Easter), a major religious holiday that commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Children go on egg hunts, and families gather for a traditional Easter meal, typically consisting of lamb and chocolate treats — oeufs en chocolate .

Some other spring holidays include:

Le 1er mai, la Fête du travail

Le 1er avril, Poisson d’avril

April Fools

l’Ascension

Ascension Day

Other popular activities during this season include picnics, visiting parks and gardens, and enjoying outdoor concerts.

L'été in France spans from June to August, with hot temperatures and abundant sunshine. The word été comes from the Latin aestas , meaning "heat."

This season is known for its warm weather, longer days, and vibrant energy.

Summer Vocabulary List

Here are some vocabulary words related to l'été :

la crème solaire

les lunettes de soleil

les vacances

vacation, holiday

Some French phrases related to summer are:

With its long days and sunny skies, summer is arguably France's favorite season. From June to September, the country comes alive with outdoor activities such as picnics, swimming, and pétanque — a popular French game similar to bocce ball.

In France, summer is also the ideal time for traveling and taking les vacances with family and friends. The country's coastline during la saison touristique becomes bustling with tourists enjoying the sun, sand, and sea.

Another popular activity during this season is attending music festivals like le Festival d'Avignon , which showcases a variety of performing arts.

The month of July also brings La Fête Nationale ( Bastille Day ) on July 14th, a national holiday commemorating the storming of the Bastille prison during the French Revolution. Fireworks displays and parades are common celebrations.

L'automne in France spans from September to November, with cooler temperatures and the changing of leaves. The word automne comes from the Latin autumnus , meaning "to harvest."

This season is known for its crisp air, pumpkin-spiced everything, and cozy atmosphere from the point of view of countries in the Northern Hemisphere . During these months, farmers gather their crops and prepare for the winter season.

Autumn Vocabulary List

Here are some vocabulary words related to l'automne :

les feuilles

la châtaigne

les champignons

la citrouille

back to school season

Some French phrases related to autumn are:

As the leaves start to change colors, and the temperatures begin to drop, autumn brings a certain coziness to France. From September to December, it is common to see French people enjoying hearty meals and taking leisurely strolls through parks and forests, getting the most out of this beautiful season.

In France, l'automne is also associated with Halloween on October 31st, a holiday that has gained popularity in recent years and is followed by All Saints Day on November 1st. Traditional celebrations include costume parties and trick-or-treating.

One of the most iconic holidays celebrated during fall in France is la Fête des Vendanges , or the Harvest Festival. It's a time to celebrate the end of the grape harvest season and sample delicious wines from different regions.

La rentrée is also a significant event during this season, when children go back to school and adults return to work after summer vacations.

L'hiver in France spans from December to February, with the coldest temperatures and shorter days. The word hiver comes from the Latin hibernus , meaning "wintry."

This season is characterized by cold weather, shorter days, and the occasional snowfall. Winter is a time for cozying up by the fireplace, enjoying hearty meals, and celebrating the holiday season.

Here are some vocabulary words related to l'hiver :

le feu de cheminée

le chocolat chaud

hot chocolate

les vacances d'hiver

winter holidays

les cadeaux de Noël

Christmas gifts

Some French phrases related to winter are:

In France, l'hiver is also associated with Christmas and New Year's Eve, both widely celebrated holidays, so it is common to hear Joyeux Noël ( Merry Christmas ) and Bonne Année (Happy New Year) being exchanged between French speakers.

Families gather to exchange gifts, enjoy traditional meals like la bûche de Noël (yule log cake), and attend midnight mass. Winter is also the perfect time for outdoor activities like skiing in the French Alps or cozying up by a feu de cheminée with a hot cup of cocoa.

The month of January is also known as the soldes , where many stores offer discounted prices.

As you may have noticed, the word “season” can be used in many different contexts and French expressions. Below, we provide a list of the most common season-related words and phrases:

les quatre saisons

four seasons

la saison sèche

the dry season

la saison des pluies

the rainy season

la saison de la récolte

the harvest season

la saison touristique

the tourist season

les vêtements de saison

the seasonal clothes

la saison des soldes

the sales season

la saison d'une série

the season of a TV series

The four seasons in French not only represent changes in weather but also hold significant cultural and linguistic significance in France. From Easter celebrations to grape harvest festivals, there's always something special happening in France during every saison .

By learning about the vocabulary, holidays, and phrases associated with each season, you will not only expand your language skills but gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for French culture.

So, next time you find yourself speaking French with a native speaker, don't forget to bring up the current season and all its delights. Download our Langster app to find more examples of using this seasonal vocabulary in real-life contexts, and fully immerse yourself in the French experience. Happy learning!

Ellis is a seasoned polyglot and one of the creative minds behind Langster Blog, where she shares effective language learning strategies and insights from her own journey mastering the four languages. Ellis strives to empower learners globally to embrace new languages with confidence and curiosity. Off the blog, she immerses herself in exploring diverse cultures through cinema and contemporary fiction, further fueling her passion for language and connection.

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Seasons of the Year

By: Author David Issokson

Posted on Published: September 13, 2012  - Last updated: August 13, 2024

Les saisons

The four seasons in French are: le printemps (pronounced pʀɛ̃tɑ̃, l’été (pronouced ete), l’automne (pronounced ɔtɔn) and l’hiver pronounced (ivɛʀ). This post will cover the correct ways to pronounce the seasons, which prepositions to use, as well as example sentences and expressions.

Four seasons in French in a nutshell:

• le printemps spring / au printemps in the spring
• l’été summer / en été in the summer
• l’automne fall, autumn / en automne in the fall, in autumn
• l’hiver winter / en hiver in the winter

Le Printemps – Spring

In French, “spring” is “le printemps” . The pronunciation of this word is a bit difficult. The “in” is a nasal “ɛ̃” and the “emps” is a nasal “ɑ̃”. Do not pronounce the -p or the -s. Our friend, Julien, on YouTube explains how to pronounce “printemps” .

Talking about spring in sentences

The word “printemps” is masculine. Thus, it’s “le printemps” . When speaking about spring in the general sense, “le” (the) must precede the noun. For example:

• J’adore le printemps! I love (the) springtime!.

To say, “in the spring”, “in springtime”, the word “printemps” takes the preposition “au”. For example:

• Que faites-vous au printemps? What are you doing in the springtime?
• Il commence a faire beau au printemps. The weather gets nice out in the spring.

To say “this” spring, “printemps” is preceded by “ce” . For example:

• On part en vacances ce printemps. We’re going on vacation this spring.

“Ce” is a demonstrative adjective, meaning “this”. This page on our site covers demonstrative adjectives in detail .

A fun French expression with the word “printemps” is: “Une hirondelle ne fait pas le printemps” , meaning “One swallow does not make a summer”.

L’été – summer

The French word for “summer” is “été” . The pronunciation is quite simple: ay-tay. “Été” s a masculine noun. Note that “été” is also the past participle of the verb “ être “ (to be). Hence, “été” in French also means “was” or “been”.

In the following video, Julien on YouTube teaches how to pronounce “été “.

Talking about summer in sentences

When speaking about the summer in general, “été” takes the direct article “l'” . Hence, l’été means “the summer”. For example:

• J’aime l’été parce qu’il fait beau. I like (the) summer because it’s nice out.

To express “during the summer” or “in the summer”, “été” is preceded by the preposition “en” . For example:

• En été, on va à la plage. People go to the beach during the summer.

To say “this” summer, “été” is preceded by “cet” . For example:

• Qu’est-ce que tu vas faire cet été? What are you going to do this summer?

“ L’heure d’été “ refers to daylight saving time, the time of the year when the clocks are moved one hour ahead. “Passage à l’heure d’été” refers to the act of putting the clocks forward in the springtime.

L’automne – fall, autumn

The French word for “fall” or “autumn” is “l’automne” . Unlike English were the -m is pronounced, the -n is pronounced in French. Hence, if you end the word with the -m sound in French, it’s wrong. The correct pronunciation is “oh-tun”.

Julien on YouTube teaches how to pronounce “l’automne” .

Talking about the fall (autumn)

“Automne” is masculine noun and is preceded with the article “l'” to mean “the fall (autumn)”. For example:

• J’adore les couleurs de l’auto mne. I love the colors of (the) fall.

To say “in the fall” or “in autumn”, the French word “automne” is preceded by the preposition “en”. For example.

• Les cours commencent en automne. Classes start in the fall.

To express “this fall”, “automne” is preceded by “cet”. For example:

• Je prépare mon voyage cet automne. I’m preparing for my trip this fall.

L’hiver – winter

The French word for winter is “hiver” . The -h is a silent or aspirated and not pronounced at all. Hence, the pronunciation is “ee-ver”. You must pronounce the -r. Julien on YouTube teaches how to pronounce “hiver” in the following video.

Talking about the winter

To talk about the winter in the general sense, the word “hiver” is preceded by “l'” . For example:

• J’aime l’hiver pour faire du ski. I like the winter for skiing,

To say “in the winter” or “during the winter”, the word “hiver” is preceded by “en” . For example:

• Il fait froid en hiver. It’s cold out during the winter (in wintertime).

“L’heure d’hiver” refers to the time of the year when the clocks are put back by one hour. “Passage à l’heure d’hiver” is the act of putting the clocks back.

Discover more:

• Printemps – Spring
• Été – Summer
• How to tell time in French
• French weather vocabulary

French vocabulary | Lessons by David Issokson

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David Issokson

David Issokson is a lifelong language learner and speaks over seven languages. Of all the languages he speaks, he's the most passionate about French! David has helped hundreds of students to improve their French in his private lessons. When not teaching or writing his French Word of the Day lessons, David enjoys his time skiing, hiking and mountain biking in Victor, Idaho.

See all posts by David Issokson

The Seasons in French With Audio Recordings

How do you say the 4 seasons in French? Should you use Au or En ? Learn about the French season vocabulary as well as typical sentences used to talk about the seasons in French.

First, let’s learn the names of the four seasons and their correct French pronunciation .

What Are The Names Of The 4 Seasons in French?

Let’s learn the names for spring, summer, fall and winter in French:

This free French lesson – like many on French Today’s blog – features audio recordings. Click on the link next to the headphones to hear the French pronunciation.

• Le printemps : spring
• L’été (m): summer
• L’automne (m): fall
• L’hiver (m): winter

Note the seasons are all masculine singular in French.

Au / En For Seasons in French ?

Although all the seasons are masculine in French, to translate “in + season’s name”, we use two different prepositions : “au” and “en”.

• Au printemps

Why Is It Au Printemps in French But En Hiver, En Été, En Automne?

Why do we use “au + season” or “en + season” in French? The preposition changes because of the sound: specifically the vowel (or silent h, hence vowel) which starts “été, automne, hiver”.

Try saying “au été”, “au automne”, “au hiver”… It’s not easy on the mouth! So at one point, the “au” became “en”…

With the strong liaison with the N of the “en” to start the vowel sound, it’s much easier to pronounce.

Listen to the audio recording again and repeat out-loud to see for yourself.

This is what I call a lazy mouth rule !

7 Examples of Sentences Using the Seasons in French

Now let’s see some sentences commonly used to talk about the seasons in French:

• Mardi, c’était le premier jour du printemps Tuesday was the first day of spring.
• Quelle est votre saison préférée ? What’s your favorite season?
• Ma saison préférée est l’été My favorite season is summertime.
• Quel temps fait-il en France au printemps ? What’s the weather like in France in the spring?
• En été, je nage souvent dans la mer . In summer, I often swim in the sea.
• Mon chien adore se rouler dans les feuilles en automne . My dog loves rolling in the leaves in the fall.
• En hiver, il neige rarement en Bretagne . In winter, it seldom snows in Brittany.

Famous Saying About the Seasons in French

Here is a famous French saying about the seasons:

“En avril, ne te découvre pas d’un fil. Mais en mai, fais ce qu’il te plaît”

In April, don’t take a thread off (= don’t take your clothes of because it could still be cold). But in May, do whatever you’d like. (Dress light if you want because it should be warm enough)

And now for a fun practice, I invite you to listen to my recording and explanation of a French poem about Spring .

*Main picture: The 4 Seasons by Mucha. I love it, don’t you?

Camille Chevalier-Karfis

Born and raised in Paris, I have been teaching today's French to adults for 25+ years in the US and France. Based on my students' goals and needs, I've created unique downloadable French audiobooks focussing on French like it's spoken today, for all levels. Come to Paimpol and enjoy an exclusive French immersion homestay with me in Brittany .

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The essential guide to the seasons in French

August 2, 2021

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Like many cultures, the French divide up the year into four seasons, each with its own cultural ramifications.

Let’s learn how to say the seasons in French and what the seasons mean to the French – including which one is France’s favorite!

What are the seasons called in French?

The four seasons in French are:

• l’hiver  (winter)
• le printemps  (spring)
• l’été  (summer)
• l’automne  (autumn/fall)

What gender are the seasons in French?

In French, all of the seasons are masculine. Sadly, things aren’t totally simple: the word for “season” itself is feminine: une saison .

Do you capitalize the seasons in French?

You typically don’t capitalize the seasons in French, unless they’re at the start of a sentence or maybe part of a title.

When do you use an article with French seasons?

You will often use an article with the seasons in French. For instance, in English you might say “The French’s favorite season is summer.” In French that would be: L’été est la saison préférée des Fran ç ais.   

When saying “in”a season, though, French seasons don’t need an article. For example: Son livre sera disponible en automne.  (His book will be available in the fall.)

Words like ce/cet (“this”) can also replace an article: Cet hiver elle apprendra à  skier.  (This winter, she’ll learn to ski.)

As with that last example, most other cases will be similar to English. Take, for instance, the phrase “over/during the spring”. That would be translated as pendant le printemps.

Can the French seasons be plural?

The seasons in French can be plural, depending on the context. For instance: On se voit tous les étés.  (We see each other every summer) but this isn’t very common and you will mostly hear people say “ chaque été ” if they mean “every summer.”

As in English, the seasons are often kept singular. For example, you’d say L’hiver est ma saison   préférée  (Winter is my favorite season).

Adjective forms of the French seasons

If you want to use a season as an adjective in French, you have two choices: Either use an  adjective derivative or de  + season:

• hivernal(e)  or d’hiver
• printanier/printanière  or de printemps
• estival(e)  or d’été
• automnal(e)  or d’automne

For instance:

On pr é voit un temps hivernal  (We’re expecting winter weather.)

Je me suis achet é  une robe d’été.  (I bought myself a summer dress.)

In general, you could say that:

● the adjective derivative tends to be paired with words that are specifically associated with a season. For instance, “winter weather”.

● de + season  tends to be used with a word that isn’t necessarily associated with a particular season. In the example above, for instance, a dress isn’t inherently made for summer.  

This is just a general rule, and don’t worry – if you choose an option that’s technically wrong, French people will still understand what you’re trying to say.

Another bit of good news is that the more familiar you get with French, the more you’ll come across phrases with these adjectives or de + season forms, so you’ll get used to using many of them.

Which prepositions do you use with the seasons in French?

You can use several prepositions with the seasons in French, including au/en  or du/d’ .

For example:

Il est n é  en hiver. (He was born in the winter.)

Le 21 septembre est le premier jour d’automne. (September 21 is the first day of autumn.)

If you want to say “in a season” in French, three of the seasons take the preposition en.

Spring is different, and I guess that makes sense, what with its showy flowers and all. So to say “in (the) spring”, you use the preposition au : au printemps .  

As this helpful article explains, the reason for this is probably due to sonority . The seasons that begin with a vowel couldn’t be paired with au  on a sound level; en  works better.  

Here’s a quick list of how to say “in” and each season:

• en hiver – in winter
• au printemps – in spring
• en été – in summer
• en automne – in autumn

How to talk about past, current, and future seasons in French

As in English, you can use words like “last,” “this”, and “next” to talk about past, present, and future seasons.

Nous y avons lou é  un bateau l’été dernier.  (We rented a boat from there last summer)

Le musée ouvrira ce printemps.  (The museum will open this spring.)

On va déj à  réserver pour l’hiver prochain.  (We’ll reserve for next winter right now.)

What do the seasons mean to the French?

In general, you could say that the French see the seasons this way:

L’hiver  (Winter)

A cold, dreary time to slog through. Many people try to take a vacation during this time, either to go skiing or somewhere warm.

Le printemps  (Spring)

There’s truth to the legendary beauty of springtime in Paris. Most French people love spring wherever they live, as it means warm weather is coming, although in many places, it can still be chilly.  Still, people begin to emerge and savor the sunshine.

L’été  (Summer)

According to a 2018 poll, summer is French people’s favorite season , with 45% of respondents saying it’s the time of year they love the most. This doesn’t surprise me at all. Everyone seems thrilled to bask in the sun on cafe terraces, in parks, and of course on the beach.

Summer is also a time of relaxation. The majority of French people go on vacation in the summer months. For instance, a recent poll showed that, despite uncertainties and travel restrictions due to the ongoing pandemic, 67% of the population plans to travel this summer. Because of this, many French businesses shut down entirely or operate more slowly in summer, especially in August, the most popular vacation month.  

The French love of summer has always surprised me, since the country isn’t particularly well-equipped to deal with global warming. Still, even when there’s a massive heatwave, you’re less likely to hear people complaining about that than about rain or cold weather!

L’automne  (Autumn/Fall)

Autumn is associated with what’s known as  la rentrée:   back to school, back to work, back to the routine after the hot, heady days of summer.

Growing up in America, autumn was like this for me, but it was also an exciting time, with holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving to look forward to. The French have no major fall holidays, although there is a two-week school vacation, les vacances de la Toussaint . It’s not a particularly festive season; the French keep their noses down and work hard so that they can enjoy the end-of-year holidays.

With all of this in mind, you probably won’t be surprised that in the survey that I cited above, spring was the French’s second-favorite season, with 41% of participants’ votes; autumn was in third place, with just 7% of votes, and winter in fourth, with a chilly 5%.

If you’d like to learn more about the seasons in France, feel free to read my article about what a year in Paris is like . You can also read our in-depth article on summer in France  and check out our lesson on the days of the week in French  for more cultural context and additional grammar tips.

Some other useful French seasons vocabulary

Here are a few common seasons-related French phrases and expressions:

de saison – seasonal

être de saison  – to be in season (for fruits and vegetables)

un temps de saison  – seasonal weather. Ex: Demain il fera 24 degrés, un temps de saison. (Tomorrow it will be 24 degrees Celsius, seasonal weather.)

les quatre saisons  – the four seasons.

la haute saison  – high season/peak season. Ex: A cette station balnéaire, la haute saison est de juin au septembre.  (For this coastal city, high season is from June to September.)

la basse saison  – low season

fêter ses [age] printemps  – to celebrate __ springs (a fancy way to celebrate another youthful year). Ex: La princesse a récemment f ê t é  ses 16 printemps.  (The princess recently celebrated her 16 th  spring (her 16 th  year)).

avoir [age] hivers  – to have lived ___ winters. This is the opposite of the previous expression, in that it denotes age.  Ex: Mamie aura 90 hivers cette ann é e.  (Grandma will have lived 90 winters this year.)  This expression could also be used ironically, to show that a person seems wiser than they are or thinks so, anyway.

Une hirondelle ne fait pas le printemps  – A single swallow does not mean spring is here. This common French idiom means that you shouldn’t draw conclusions based on just a single piece of evidence.

une cuisine d’été – An outdoor kitchen where people can prepare food and eat in warm weather. This is a common feature of many houses in the South of France.

été comme hiver  – as in summer and winter (in other words, “year ‘round”). Ex: Notre parc d’attractions est ouvert été comme hiver.  (Our theme park is open year ‘round.)

un été indien  – Indian summer (warm autumn weather)

heure d’été  – daylight saving time (literally, “the hour of summer”). Ex: Ce samedi on passe à  l’heure d’été.  (We change the clocks for daylight saving time this Saturday.)

heure d’hiver  – standard time (literally “the hour of winter”)

les sports d’hiver  – winter sports

un vent d’hiver  – a winter wind

Now you know all about the French seasons. What’s your favorite season?  What season do you think would be the best time to visit France?

Learn to talk about seasons in French

Updated: March 13, 2021 by Mylene in French Vocabulary Array  ▪ English Français  

Learn the vocabulary related to seasons in French, along with their contextual use in the daily spoken French. In addition, you can listen to the audio recordings to hear how the seasons are pronounced in French.

In this post, you’ll learn:

• The seasons of the year in French
• How to pronounce seasons in French

Different seasons in different contexts

After all, learning the names of the seasons is a basic part of learning a new language, as featured in our beginner’s guide to learning French vocabulary . Now let us discover all the names of the seasons in French.

What are the seasons of the year in French?

You already know that a year has 4 seasons. A season is “une saison” in French. In the plural, a silent s is added at the end of the word. For example, les 4 saisons (the 4 seasons). Here is the list of the seasons of the year in French.

Which months are in each season?

A quick reminder about the months in French . There are 12 months in a year:

• Janvier (January)
• Février (February)
• Mars (Mars)
• Avril (April)
• Juin (June)
• Juillet (July)
• Août (August)
• Septembre (September)
• Octobre (October)
• Novembre (November)
• Décembre (December)

The winter is l’hiver. It lasts from December, January, February, and March.

Spring is le printemps. It includes the following months: March, April, May, and June.

Summer is l’été. Summer’s months are June, July, August, and September.

Fall is l’automne. The fall includes September, October, November, and December. This season is also known as the autumn season.

Quick tip: En vs. Au

Use the preposition “en” to say:

• in winter: en hiver
• in fall: en automne
• in summer: en été

As for spring, use the preposition “au” as follows:

• in spring: au printemps

Gender and seasons in French

The word “saisons” is masculine in French :

• Le printemps, un printemps

When le is used before the seasons  in French, it’s reduced to l’ as the next letter is either a vowel or an -h:

Spring (Printemps)

Spring is the season when nature awakens. With the first blooms of the season, nature is colorful and flourishing.

Easter is in Spring and is celebrated in many ways. Besides religious traditions, kids will get their Chasse aux oeufs (hunt for eggs) and chocolate-lovers will get wonderful chocolate sculptures of eggs, fish, chickens, and rabbits, among others.

Spring season translates to printemps in French. The season of spring is from March 21-June 21. 

Labor Day, La Fête du Travail ( check the video here ), another major public holiday in the French Calendar, is celebrated in France on the first of May.

Summer (Été)

By the sea or in the mountains, France is a great place to spend your summer vacation and, humbly, one of the most visited countries in the world.

Check the map of the  most visited countries in the world . C’est les vacances!!

Summer is from June 21 to September 21. It is called été in French. The sunny season is traditionally the right time to take well-deserved holidays.

For tourism, July and August are the summer’s high-season periods in France. In the middle of summer, France celebrates Bastille day on July 14th.

Vive la France!

Fireworks, military parades, concerts, and balls are how French people celebrate their national day.

If you’re learning about seasons in French, you’ll want to learn about asking and telling time in French .

Fall (Automne)

Temperatures tend to become moderate, but it is not unusual that days in September remain quite warm as part of what the French call an “Indian summer”.

After all, nothing signals the arrival of fall quite like the changing colors. Autumn’s colors are often various shades of yellow (jaune), orange (orange), purple (violet), and red (rouge). Read our article to learn more about colors in French .

Fall (autumn) is from September 21-December 21 and it is the back-to-school season. In French, la saison d’automne means the fall season. 

As for the celebrations in France, Halloween is one of them accompanying All Saints’ Day on the first of November. 

Winter (Hiver)

Winter is the coldest time of the year in terms of temperature. Snow is usually expected in many regions of France and is a great time for winter sports lovers.

With hundreds of ski resorts in France, choosing which one to pick might not be easy.

Winter is called hiver in French. The season of winter is from December 21-March 21. 

Christmas is celebrated in France during the winter season. On January 1st, a new year is welcomed with a lot of hope and new resolutions. Valentine’s day on the 14th of February is an important celebration of love for couples in France as well as all over the world.

Find out how to improve your French this winter with Master Your French.

How to pronounce seasons in French?

Now that you know the French seasons, you can start the pronunciation exercise.

Below are the audio recordings of the names of the four seasons of the year in French.

Listen to learn then repeat to master the pronunciation of French seasons.

Click to listen to the audios:

In addition to seasons of the year in the context of the weather, “une saison”  in French can be used to describe a specific event that occurs over a defined period. Here are a few examples:

La saison des vendanges

La saison des fruits et des légumes, la saison touristique, la saison sportive.

Let’s see together the details of each season.

La saison des vendanges is the time when grapes are harvested. France is famous for its wine (vin). Different regions in France have different harvest times (saison des vendanges). I live in Bourgogne (Burgundy) so the harvest season typically falls between September and October. But why is it the best saison to harvest grapes? The time of harvest is determined by the ripeness of the grape, the weather…

La saison des fruits et des légumes is getting more traction since a few years. Nowadays, in France, we are encouraged to choose les légumes de saison (seasonal vegetables)  and les fruits de saison (seasonal fruits). So that we consume local vegetables and fruits!

During the summer (July, and August), we’re talking about “ la saison touristique ” in French (touristic season). If you want to visit the South of France, my only advice is to try to avoid the touristic season!!! Prices are often higher, compared to other times of the year, and there are so many people!!! If your lifestyle allows you to travel other times of the year you’ll be able to enjoy this beautiful region by yourself.

La saison sportive refers to the sports season. Many people are interested in different sports. if you’re interested in a or more sports, you know that there is a sports season for each Sport (Skating in Winter or Beach soccer in Summer, for example).

More seasons than you’ve imagined!

La saison des soldes . That means the sales season. In France, we usually have “la saison des soldes” in January and in July for 6 weeks.

Les vêtements de saison . In winter, people tend to wear warm clothes. Seasons define the way how people dress, and this is why we talk about seasonal clothes.

La saison d’une série . Episodes of a TV show that are released at regular intervals.

La saison des foins . The haymaking season. There is usually about a two-week “window” of time in which grass is at its ideal stage for harvesting hay.

Summary of the lesson

Although that one paragraph and a few lines about every season are never enough to describe a season, I hope that the explanations in this article will help you better understand the main characteristics of France’s unique seasons.

In this lesson, we reviewed the list of seasons in French. Let us recall what we have learned.

• There are 4 seasons in a year: Hiver, Printemps, Eté, Automne.
• We explored how the word season is used in different contexts in the French language.
• You have access to the audio to learn how to pronounce months and seasons in French.

Now that you master the seasons in French, it’s important to keep improving your French level. As a next step, you can explore more French words as part of our French vocabulary list . 

And for more videos, check out Master Your French on  YouTube .

Common French greetings to learn and mistakes to avoid

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by Anne-Lise Vassoille

Updated on January 5, 2024

Learn how to talk about the 4 seasons in French

While you may not need it as frequently as the days of the week and the months in French , especially for the expression of dates, the vocabulary around the four seasons of the year in French is still very useful. Seasons set the pace of the year in France, and there are various celebrations and activities scheduled throughout the year to commemorate the changing seasons . The solstice d’été (summer solstice), for example. has been chosen for the annual Fête de la musique (Music Day), while the sports d’hiver (winter sports) remain extremely popular from the Alps to the Pyrénées mountains. 

Even if you are still at a beginner or elementary level , learning the words, the grammatical points and a few useful expressions around the seasons in French will extend your vocabulary, but also your understanding of the way of life and culture in France.

How to say the 4 seasons in French

A few grammar points about seasons in the french language, a few expressions involving the seasons of the year in french, learn languages at your pace.

Let’s start with the basics: how to say the four seasons in French.

Thankfully, the pronunciation of the four seasons is fairly straightforward and with only a little practice, you should easily get it right!

Now that you know the words for the four seasons, let’s look at the grammar you’ll need to remember in order to use them in sentences.

The grammar gender of the seasons

Funnily enough, if la saison (the season) is a feminine word, the actual seasons in French are all masculine, as you can easily tell when they are used with an adjective :

What prepositions do you need with the seasons in French?

Aside from talking about the weather, the seasons serve to express the time of the year, which involves using a preposition. Since the words for the seasons are all masculine in French, you might expect the same preposition to be used. 

However, another factor comes into play: the first letter of the word. Three seasons out of four, namely été , automne and hiver , start with either a vowel or an h + vowel (the letter h is not pronounced in French). This is why the definite article is l’ rather than le for these three seasons, as you can see in our first table above.

This also impacts the preposition to be used, with printemps needing a different one from été , automne and hiver :

With the seasons setting the tempo of life, they are often used in expressions to describe the time of the year. Let’s look at a few common ones.

5 phrases to describe the various seasons in France

Rather than using the actual words of the four seasons, a few expressions can be used to embody what these seasons stand for:

9 phrases relating to seasonal activities and trends

Seasons are also marked by specific activities, from agricultural tasks to holidays and tourism.

9 phrases that include specific French seasons

Rather than the more generic saison , several phrases use the words of specific seasons in French:

Learn the four seasons in one day in French

There you have it: not just the words for the four seasons in French, but also a few grammar points to use them correctly in sentences, as well as a wealth of common turns of phrases and sayings. Through them, you even get an inkling of a year in the life of an average French person.

Anne-Lise Vassoille

Anne-Lise is a translator and copywriter working for various industries... Settled down in London, she cannot get enough of the exceptional cultural life in the English capital city, starting with theater, be it to see a new West End show or to roll up her sleeves with her amateur drama group. She is also interested in photography, as her Instagram profile shows. She indulges her passion for languages in a translation blog she writes with other linguist friends. Go to her Linkedin page to know more about her background and her professional experience.

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Seasons in French: Here’s Everything You Need to Know

Surely many of you use French tongue twisters to improve pronunciation but what about improving your French vocabulary?

Do you have the terms and phrases for seasons in French in your ‘personal dictionary’?

Do you know which words we typically use in summer or autumn?

When fall (or autumn) comes, people usually like to improve their skills and work on themselves mentally and physically.

Perhaps it has to do something with going back to school, the beginning of learning and achieving something bigger than just lying the whole day on a sofa.

So, this is an ideal opportunity to learn new French words.

In this post, we are going to introduce you to seasons in French and help you improve your vocabulary.

Also, you can download and print the vocabulary list with all these words in the end.

Now, prepare yourself and start taking notes.

Introduction to Seasons in French

The word for season in French is une saison.

This noun is feminine , so when you have to use it, you use articles une, and la.

Moreover, if you use adjectives with this word, adjectives also have to be in the feminine gender.

For example, if you want to say favorite season, you say it saison préférée. So, as you see, the adjective préférée is feminine.

For plural form the -s is added to the word so if you want to say seasons, you say les saisons

Seasons in French

As for the seasons in France, like in most parts of the world, there are four seasons: spring , summer, autumn, or fall, and winter.

Spring or le printemps is the masculine noun, like the other three seasons.

L’été or summer, l’automne or autumn/ fall, and l‘hiver or winter begin with vowels, so when adding the article you have to use the apostrophe.

Le Printemps (Spring)

Au printemps or in the spring, nature awakens.

Everything is full of colors, optimism, and positive thoughts.

This season consists of avril, mai, and juin, that is, April, May, and June.

Flowers bloom and trees are filling the landscape.

One of the popular holidays is celebrated au printemps. It is La Fête du Travail ( Labour Day).

Le Printemps Vocabulary

In the following lines, you can find some of the words which are associated with spring.

Il fait frais

It's cold

L’arc-en-ciel

Le papillon , un imperméable , une abeille .

And now, here are some of the examples of the words we use in spring.

• Au printemps, tout est coloré.- In spring, everything is colorful.
• J'aime les fleurs et les arbres verts au printemps.- I like flowers and green trees in the spring.
• Au printemps, les oiseaux retournent du sud. - In spring, the birds return from the south. 

L’ Été (Summer)

The word summer in French is été. 

July, August, and September or in French, juillet, août, and septembre are summer months.

Use warm and sunny weather and, en été ( in the summer) go to France on holiday.

Try organizing your vacation on July the 14th, the day when the French celebrate Bastille Day .

It is an ideal opportunity to improve your vocabulary and walk the streets with native speakers shouting Vive la France! ( Long live France!)

L’ Été Vocabulary

To be prepared for the summer in France, you have to boost your ‘summer vocabulary.’ Here are some of the common words.

Il fait chaud

It's hot

J'ai chaud

I'm hot

La canicule

La pastèque, la crème solaire.

Beach umrella

Le maillot de bain

Les lunettes de soleil, les vacances, les sandales.

And now, here are some examples.

• En été, je vais souvent à la plage. - In summer, I often go to the beach.
• J’aime nager et manger de la place-  I like to swim and eat ice-cream.
• En été, il fait très chaud- In the summer it is very hot.

L’Automne (Autumn/ Fall)

In the end of September comes the new season, l’automne, or autumn.

Months en automne ( in the autumn/ fall) are octobre, novembre, and décembre, that is, October, November, and December.

Even though this season is not as warm as spring, there are, however, warm days filled with colors such as yellow, orange, purple, red, and brown or in French, jaune, orange, violet, rouge, and marron.

In case you don’t get to visit France in the summer, you should consider going en automne on Halloween , October 31st and on All Saints Day, November 1st.

L’Automne Vocabulary

Be prepared for l’automne with some specific words used in this season.

La citrouille

Return to school

La tarte aux pommes

Le changement de couleur des feuilles.

The changing colour of the leaves

Un couple-vent

Windbreaker

Un tas de feuilles

A pile of leaves

Tailler une citrouille

To carve a pumpkin

Let’s take a glance at some examples:

• En automne, j'adore faire une tarte aux pommes.- In the autumn I love to bake apple pie.
• En automne, la citrouille est très populaire.- In the autumn pumpkin is very popular.

L’Hiver (Winter)

L’hiver or winter in France is ideal for winter sports lovers. 

Janvier, février, and mars or January, February, and March snow are usually expected in most regions in France.

En hiver (in winter), Christmas and New Year are celebrated, but let’s not forget the most romantic Valentine’s day February 14th.

  L’Hiver Vocabulary

To improve your vocabulary with l’hiver vocabulary, take a look at the following words:

Faire du ski

Il fait froid, j'ai froid.

I'm cold

La boule de neige

Le planche à neige.

Snowboarding

Le bonhomme de neige

Le patin à glace.

Ice skating

And here are some of the examples:

• En hiver je porte des gants.- In the winter I wear gloves.
• En hiver, il y a beaucoup de neige.- In the winter there is a lot of snow.
• Beaucoup de gens aiment le ski.- A lot of people like skiing.

Knowing the names of seasons in French is important.

And now you know them and much more. 

To further enhance your vocabulary, consider these interactive learning options: Babbel provides enjoyable lessons that are easy to fit into your daily activities. If you're seeking a thorough exploration of French, Udemy's extensive course offers in-depth coverage of essential to advanced content. If direct interaction is what you prefer, Lingoda's native speaker-led classes can significantly boost your speaking skills.

How to say seasons in French?

les saisons

how to say spring in French?

le printemps

how to say autumn in French?

l'automne

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The Seasons of the Year in France Explained

Like its neighbouring European nations, France is situated in the Northern Hemisphere and goes through a cycle of four distinctive seasons. Let’s look closely at the seasons of the year in France with some interesting facts…

🎥 Watch our short video about the seasons of the year in France:

What is a season in France?

The Earth revolves around the Sun for 365 days . The tilt of the Earth’s axis combined with the rotation of the Earth around the Sun produces an alternation of seasons .

These four seasons (spring, summer, autumn and winter) each last about three months .

These four periods of the year have approximately constant weather conditions.

The spring and autumn equinoxes and the summer and winter solstices mark the beginning of each season.

The Ancient Times and the seasons of the year in France

The notion of the season has been known since Ancient Times.

In the 3rd century BC, the astronomer and mathematician Eratosthenes calculated the inclination of the earth’s axis, the phenomenon responsible for the seasons.

Then, astronomer Hipparchus of Nicaea discovered the precession of the equinoxes in the 2nd century AD.

The seasons of the year in Greek mythology

The cycle of the seasons is also present in Greek mythology with the myth of Persephone .

Daughter of Zeus and Demeter, she married the god Hades, who held her prisoner in the underworld against her will.

Wanting to recover her daughter, Demeter, goddess of agriculture and harvests, stopped making the earth bear fruit.

To avoid letting the world die, a compromise was found between Zeus, Hades and Demeter: Persephone had to spend six months in the underworld and six months on Earth.

These two periods represent winter and summer.

The seasons of the year and French traditions

In French traditions, the seasons or the changes of seasons are marked by festivals . These celebrations sometimes go back to the dawn of time.

• Winter: Christmas
• Spring: Easter
• Summer: Saint John’s Day , and much more recently, the Fête de la Musique (Music World Day).
• Autumn: Toussaint (All Saints’ Day)

Some of these festivals had enormous social and religious importance in the rural world. Nowadays, the emphasis is more on their festive and/or commercial aspects.

Learn more about Holidays and Celebrations in France…

The dates of the four seasons in France

Here are the dates of the seasons of the year 2023, starting with the winter season:

• Winter will end on March 20, 2023.
• Spring will take place from 20 March to 21 June 2023.
• Summer will take place from 21 June to 23 September 2023.
• Autumn will take place from 23 September to 21 December 2023.

The seasons’ dates are based on the equinoxes and solstices provided by the Institute of Celestial Mechanics and Ephemeris Calculation.

Staggered seasons in question

As a result of recent observations, there seems to be a discrepancy between the official dates of the seasons and the weather.

A study carried out by the Weather Channel for the years 2000/2013 confirmed this fact by indicating that there would be a gap of about 20% about the dates on the calendar.

• Winter would generally cover a period from 1 December to 28 February.
• Spring would begin on 1 March and end on 31 May.
• Summer would be between June 1 and August 31.
• Autumn would begin on September 1 and end on November 30.

The seasons in France in French

Let’s learn about the 12 months and four seasons in France… in French, starting with winter.

Note that all seasons are masculine and are therefore preceded by the article le or l’ .

WINTER = L’HIVER

• January = Janvier
• February = Février
• March = Mars

SPRING = LE PRINTEMPS

• April = Avril
• June = Juin

SUMMER = L’ÉTÉ

• July = Juillet
• August = Août [pronounced ‘out’]
• September = Septembre

AUTUMN/FALL = L’AUTOMNE

• October = Octobre
• November = Novembre
• December = Décembre

The seven days of the week

In addition, here are the seven days of the week in French:

• Monday = Lundi
• Tuesday = Mardi
• Wednesday = Mercredi
• Thursday = Jeudi
• Friday = Vendredi
• Saturday = Samedi
• Sunday = Dimanche

All weekdays are masculine and are preceded with the article le.

The four seasons of the year in France

Click on the images below to reach our dedicated pages on the seasons of France.

Winter – l’hiver

December-January-February-March

Spring – le printemps

March-April-May-June

Summer – l’été

June-July-August-September

Autumn – l’automne

September-October-November-December

Pictures of the seasons of the year in France

Here are more photos of the seasons of the year in France, starting with winter.

Want to see more photos of the four seasons in France?

Check out our French blog Mon Grand-Est :

• Spring in Lorraine
• Spring in Alsace
• Winter in the French Alps 1
• Winter in the French Alps 2

Get the ebook Holidays & Celebrations in France!

288 pages – 117 illustrations

In this book, Pierre reveals the secrets of French celebrations, from the most famous to the least known. It is a cultural journey into French customs and traditions that will satisfy those curious and lovers of France.

FIND OUT MORE & BUY YOUR COPY!

The Four Seasons in art

The seasons have always inspired artists such as painters and composers. The most famous musical illustration of the seasons is Antonio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons .

Composed around 1716-1717, this grandiose universal hymn to nature is one of the significant works in the history of classical music. Indeed, it has been a huge worldwide success since its first performance in London and Paris in 1728.

Pin it now!

Did you like what you read? Pin in on Pinterest!

Holidays and Celebrations in France

Learn more about the seasons, celebrations and public holidays in France:

About the author

Pierre is a French/Australian who is passionate about France and its culture. He grew up in France and Germany and has also lived in Australia and England. He has a background teaching French, Economics and Current Affairs, and holds a Master of Translating and Interpreting English-French with the degree of Master of International Relations, and a degree of Economics and Management. Pierre is the author of Discovery Courses and books about France.

Like it? Leave a comment!

Hello! my son and I are researching how to move to FRANCE. I am in the U.S. if we want to stay longer should we get a student visa since working there right away would be difficult while looking for a place? Can you recommend a town? I AM FROM NEW YORK CITY ORIGINALLY.THANK YOU!

Bonjour Anna! Thank you very much for your comment. Although I do not have the answer to your enquiry about student visas, you might get some useful info on this forum dedicated to expats living (or wanting to live) in France: http://www.expatforum.com/expats/france-expat-forum-expats-living-france/ As for recommending a town, it’s a hard one to reply as there are so many towns (except Paris) that can be listed. Some of the favourite towns we’ve visited are Aix-en-Provence, Bordeaux, Strasbourg, Annecy, La Rochelle, Tours… you might be interested in Nantes, Rennes, Toulouse, Nice, Avignon, Montpellier or Nancy. All the best!

Hello Pierre!

My name is Brittney. I am from Oklahoma City, OK, USA. I was wanting to elope in the french alps! This seasonal chart definitely helped! I was wondering, do the alps follow the same seasonal patterns? I was looking to get married in between January and April. What would your recommendations be? Also, can you give me some insight on resources I could look into for other things weather, hotel, wedding, travel related? Thank you! x

Bonjour Brittney. First I wanted to apologize for replying to your comment so late… I just didn’t see it coming through my wall! If you’d like to go to the Alps between January and April, it will definitely be Winter (and cold!). In April, places like Annecy are just wonderful with the coming of Spring. I highly recommend it. Annecy and its beautiful lake are surrounded by the snow-capped peaks of the Alps and are a perfect setting for a wedding! Check out our article for more info+photos: https://frenchmoments.eu/annecy/ . The Tourist Office of Annecy should be very helpful too: http://en.lac-annecy.com/ Contact them by email about your project and they should help you with a list of places to stay, etc. Personally, I know one or two places by the lake that are very popular for wedding celebrations: Hôtel L’Impérial (Annecy) http://www.hotel-imperial-palace.com/en and Hôtel de l’Abbaye de Talloires (Talloires) http://www.abbaye-talloires.com/en . Let me know if you need any more advise, I’d be happy to help. Have a great day. Pierre

hello I want to study in France, can you please recommend a university for me, thanks

Hi Miriam, I’d love to help you but this is a very general question as there are so many universities in France where you can study. It also depends on the destinations. Paris’ La Sorbonne is maybe the most famous one… but the rest of France has some great uni too: Strasbourg, Nancy, Montpellier, Lyon, Lille, Nantes, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Marseille, Nice… the choice is vast! 🙂

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L’Hiver: Talking About Winter in French

• Post author: Language Garage
• Post published: February 4, 2020
• Post category: French / Vocabulary

It’s l’hiver ( winter ) in the northern hemisphere, which means that in many places il fait très froid ( it’s very cold ). In this post we’ll learn some French vocabulary for talking about cold winter weather.

Il fait froid dehors ! It’s Cold Outside!

Let’s start with some basic expressions that will help you talk about cold winter weather.

• Il fait froid. It’s cold.
• Il gèle ! It’s freezing!
• Il neige. It’s snowing.

• Il tombe de la neige fondue. It’s sleeting.
• Il fait froid et venteux. It’s cold and windy.
• La neige est belle. The snow is beautiful.
• Nous allons avoir du blizzard cette semaine. We’re going to have a blizzard this week.
• Le lac est gelé. The lake is frozen.
• La neige fond. The snow is melting.
• Je tremble de froid ! I’m shivering!

J’aime l’hiver. I Love the Winter.

Not everyone hates the snow. If you’re a kid, or a kid at heart, you may enjoy some fun winter activities.

• J’adore la neige. I love the snow.
• Construisons un bonhomme de neige. Let’s build a snowman.
• Je vais skier ce week-end. I’m going skiing this weekend.
• Allons faire de la luge. Let’s go sledding.
• Allons patiner. Let’s go ice skating.
• J’aime le snowboard. I like snowboarding.
• Faisons une bataille de boules de neige ! Let’s have a snowball fight!
• Les enfants construisent un château de neige. The kids are building a snow fort.

Je déteste l’hiver. I Hate the Winter

Of course, winter isn’t all fun and games.

• Je déteste la neige. I hate the snow.
• Je dois pelleter l’allée. I have to shovel the driveway.
• Les routes sont glacées et dangereuses. The roads are icy and dangerous.
• J’ai glissé sur le trottoir. I slipped on the sidewalk.
• Je n’aime pas le froid ! I don’t like the cold!
• Le soleil me manque. I miss the sun.
• Le climat hivernal est déprimant. Winter weather is depressing.

Vêtements d’hiver:   Winter Clothes

If you have to go outside, you need to dress appropriately. You’ll probably wear: un manteau d’hiver ( a winter coat ), un chapeau ( a hat ), une écharpe ( a scarf ), des gants ( gloves ), des mitaines ( mittens ), des bottes ( boots ).

• Il me faut un chapeau/bonnet et de gants aujourd’hui.   I need a hat and gloves today.
• Ce manteau n’est pas assez épais. This coat isn’t heavy enough!
• As-tu/Avez-vous des bottes imperméables ? Do you have waterproof boots?
• Je porte un pull et un manteau / une doudoune . I’m wearing a sweater and a coat / puffy jacket.

Des soirées douillettes et tranquilles:   Cozy, Quiet Evenings

But inside, you can still feel chaud et confortable ( warm and cozy ). You can sit next to un feu ( a fire ), and maybe déguster ( enjoy ) une tasse de thé ( a cup of tea ) or better yet, une tasse de chocolat chaud ( a cup of hot chocolate ). Just get une couverture ( a blanket ), maybe un bon livre ( a good book ), and you’re ready to make the most out of les jours froids et des longues nuits ( the cold days and long nights ). It’s only a few more months until the spring!

• Il fait une chaleur agréable dans cette maison . It’s warm and cozy in this house.
• Faisons un feu dans la cheminée. Let’s make a fire in the fireplace.
• Prenons un chocolat chaud devant le feu. Let’s have hot chocolate in front of the fire.
• Je me réchauffe près du feu. I’m warming up next to the fire.
• As-tu/Avez-vous une couverture / une couette ?  Do you have a blanket / quilt?
• Je me couche tôt en hiver. I go to bed early in the winter.

Do you want to learn French?

Check out our other posts on French language, culture, and more . And if you’re looking for convenient and affordable live French lessons with a real teacher, check out The Language Garage . Our lessons are given online in a virtual classroom, so it doesn’t matter where you live or work. We can come to you. And we have flexible options, with a free trial so that you can decide if there’s a fit. Check us out!

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French Seasons Winter – L’Hiver

Did you know? Winter is the coldest season of the year in France, even snow falls!

What are French people doing during winter season?

In today’s episode, you will learn French Seasons Winter Vocabulary in a fun and easy way!

Enjoy watching the video!

Now it’s your turn

I’d like to hear what you have to say: What do you like to do during winter season? Or maybe you have a question.

Either way, let me know by leaving a comment below right now.

It only takes a sec.

Merci ! A tout de suite…

FRENCH TRANSCRIPT

French seasons winter – l’hiver.

Salut, c’est Thomas, Français Immersion TV . Dans cette vidéo, on va parler de l’hiver !

L’hiver L’hiver, il fait froid ! « gla gla gla ! »

IL FAIT FROID.

Jean-Louis met des gants.

Des gants Un gant. Des gants. Jean-Louis met un bonnet sur la tête.

Il a un pull.

Jean-Louis met sa veste.

Il y a de la neige

Et les flocons de neige

UN FLOCON DE NEIGE

Et il y a plein de neige. Il mange un flocon de neige. Il fait du patin à glace.

IL FAIT DU PATIN À GLACE.

Les patins à glace, c’est ça.

LES PATINS À GLACE

Et la glace, c’est ça.

Quand l’eau est toute gelée. Il fait froid ! En hiver, on peut aussi faire du ski. Les skis

Elle fait du ski.

ELLE FAIT DU SKI.

Il fait de la luge.

IL FAIT DE LA LUGE.

En hiver, on peut aussi faires des bonhommes de neige.

UN BONHOMME DE NEIGE

Et en hiver, on peut aussi faire des boules de neige.

UNE BOULE DE NEIGE

Et des boules de neige Elle fait des boules de neige.

ELLE FAIT DES BOULES DE NEIGE.

En hiver, il fait froid ! « gla gla gla ! » Pour avoir chaud, on fait du feu dans la cheminée.

Une cheminée Mais une cheminée, c’est aussi ça.

UNE CHEMINÉE

Pour avoir chaud, on fait du feu.

FAIRE DU FEU

Faire du feu pour avoir chaud. Et boire un chocolat chaud.

Et toi ! Qu’aimes-tu faire en hiver ? Faire du patin à glace ? Faire du ski ? De la luge ? Ou des boules de neige ? Un bonhomme de neige ?

Dis-le-moi dans les commentaires sous la vidéo !

Si tu as aimé cette vidéo, mets un like , inscris-toi à ma chaîne youtube .

Would you like to watch more videos in French? Subscribe to my website and you will receive videos in French for more than 2 hours. “Les 7 Secrets pour Apprendre le Français” or “The 7 Secrets to Learn French” To immerse yourself in French. Plus the transcription in French and the translation in English. And it’s free!

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French Lesson – Seasons Winter (French Vocabulary)

• French vocabulary

The Four Seasons in French

Learning French is an enriching journey, and knowing how to discuss everyday topics like the weather and seasons is essential. This guide will help you master the vocabulary related to the four seasons and associated expressions. 🌸🍂❄️☀️

Autumn - L’automne

Autumn, called 'l’automne' in French, is a time when leaves fall, temperatures cool, and beautiful colors blanket the ground. In this season, French speakers might talk about "tourner la page" which translates to "turning over a new leaf" or starting anew.

Autumn Vocabulary

• Leaves: feuilles
• Harvest: récolte
• Sweater: pull
• Pumpkin: citrouille
• Rain: pluie
• Acorn: gland
• Pinecone: pomme de pin
• Rake: râteau
• Chestnuts: châtaignes

Autumn Festivals

• Vendanges (Grape Harvest)

In Switzerland and France, the grape harvest is an important season, especially in wine-producing regions like Vaud or Burgundy, where festivals celebrate the harvest with wine tastings and community gatherings.

• Halloween (Halloween)

Halloween is a holiday celebrated on October 31st of each year. Very popular in the United States, it is now also celebrated in many countries around the world, including France and Switzerland. People of all ages dress up and go knocking on doors of each house saying the famous phrase “Un bonbon ou un sort !” which means “Trick or treat.”

Winter - L’hiver

Winter, or 'l’hiver' in French, is the coldest season, marked by snow, shorter days, and festive celebrations. During the winter you might hear the phrase "Il fait un froid de canard" , which translates to "it's duck cold," indicating extremely cold weather.

Winter Vocabulary

• Snow: neige
• Cold: froid
• Scarf: écharpe
• Fireplace: cheminée
• Coat: manteau
• Snowman: bonhomme de neige
• Frost: gelée
• Gloves: gants
• Boots: bottes
• Snowflake: flocon de neige

Winter Festivals

• Christmas (Noël)

Christmas or Noël , is a Christian holiday celebrated all over the world on December 25th of each year. It is associated with traditions such as the famous Christmas tree (sapin de Noël) decorations, Santa Claus (Père Noël), and his reindeers (rennes) who bring gifts (cadeaux), and festive family meals.

• New Year (le Nouvel An)

Le Nouvel An is a worldwide celebration that takes place on the evening of December 31st. We make resolutions (résolutions) and have a good time with family or friends while wishing each other the best for the new year. Just before midnight (minuit), we do the countdown (décompte) "5,4,3,2,1…" then fireworks (feux d'artifice) explode in the sky.

Spring - Le printemps

In spring, or 'le printemps', the weather warms up, flowers bloom, vibrant colors emerge, and birds sing loudly. A common saying, “En avril, ne te découvre pas d'un fil; en mai, fais ce qu'il te plaît” - "In April, don’t remove a thread; in May, do as you please." This advises caution against the unpredictable weather of April and suggests that by May, warmer weather is more reliable.

Spring Vocabulary

• Flower: fleur
• Blossom: éclore
• Sunshine: soleil
• Butterfly: papillon
• Easter: Pâques
• Garden: jardin
• Birdsong: chant des oiseaux
• Ladybug: coccinelle

Spring Festival

• Fête de la Tulipe (Tulip Festival)

In Morges, Switzerland, the Tulip Festival (Fête de la Tulipe) takes place from April to May, featuring over 120,000 tulips in various species and colors, creating a vibrant display in the parks of the city.

• Easter (Pâques)

Easter or Pâques is a Christian holiday. It is marked by religious celebrations at the church (l’église), colorful chocolates, chocolate bunnies (lapins en chocolat), egg hunts (chasses aux œufs), and family meals on Sunday (dimanche).

Summer - L’été

Summer, or 'l’été', is the warmest season, starting in June. It's the ideal time for sunglasses, hats, sandals, and beach outings. Remember to apply sunscreen, or you might end up with "un coup de soleil," a sunburn.

Summer Vocabulary

• Sun: soleil
• Beach: plage
• Ice cream: glace
• Vacation: vacances
• Barbecue: barbecue
• Sunglasses: lunettes de soleil
• Sand: sable
• Flip-flops: tongs
• Sunscreen: crème solaire
• Pool: piscine
• Warmth: chaleur

Summer Festivals

• Fête de la Musique (street music festival):

Celebrated across French-speaking countries on June 21st, this festival marks the summer solstice with free concerts and performances in streets, parks, and public spaces.

• Montreux Jazz Festival

Held in Montreux, Switzerland, this is one of the most prestigious jazz festivals in the world, attracting artists and fans from across the globe every July.

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Seasons in French - Learn French

At times, you might want to talk about the seasons in French.

• En hiver, il fait froid en France – In winter, it is cold in  France.
• En été, il fait trop chaud à Paris – In summer, it is too hot in Paris.
• En automne, on ramasse les chataîgnes dans la fôret  – In autumn, we pick up chesnuts in the forest.
• Au printemps, les fleurs bourgeonnent partout – in spring, flowers blossom everywhere.

More Considerations

To inquire about the seasons, use  Quelle saison est-ce? (what's the season?). 

As you can see in the examples above, the preposition "en" is used to express "in". The only exception is printemps, where "au" is used instead.

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Vocab for Surviving a French Winter Posted by Elizabeth Schmermund on Feb 23, 2015 in Vocabulary

En écrivant ce poste à New York pendant un hiver particulièrement brutale, je me suis dit « Allez, je vais faire un poste sur la neige, la froideur, et tout le reste. »

Looking out my window today, I see about two feet of snow on the ground and frozen branches on bare trees. My car thermometer today registered only 5 degrees Fahrenheit (-15 Celsius). I know I shouldn’t be complaining – my close friend in Minnesota has dealt with much worse this winter – but I still can’t wait for the warmth of spring.

In honor of this cold and seemingly endless winter, here are some paragraphs in French (with highlighted vocabulary) to highlight the beauty of the season:

A Paris, nous ne voyons pas souvent de la neige .  Des fois, il y a des flocons de neige mais pas d’accumulation.  En plus, souvent les saisons ici sont plus douces que les saisons au nord des Etats-Unis.  On ne voit jamais des bonhommes de neige dans les rue parisiennes !

En hiver , il faut sortir avec un manteau lourd , des gants , des bottes , un foulard , et un chapeau .  Avec ces vêtements, on reste tout chaud dehors même quand il fait moins zéro degrés!

Moi, j’aime le congé d’hiver . Chaque année je pars aux alpes pour faire du ski . Je fais souvent du ski alpin , mais des fois j’essaie faire du ski de fond . Mais, bien sûr, je mets toujours un casque et un masque de ski .

I want to allow you to try to translate the above paragraphs as best as you can. If you have any questions, include them in the comments below.

Here’s the list of winter vocabulary to help:

La neige – snow

Les flocons de neige – snowflakes

Les saisons – seasons

Les bonhommes de neige – snowmen

L’hiver – winter

Un manteau (lourd) – a (heavy) jacket

Les gants – gloves

Les bottes – boots

Un foulard – a scarf

Un chapeau – a hat

Le congé d’hiver – winter break

Faire du ski – to ski

Le ski alpin – downhill skiing

Le ski de fond – cross-country skiing

Un casque de ski – ski helmet

Un masque de ski – ski goggles

Restez au chaud, tout le monde !

Build vocabulary, practice pronunciation, and more with Transparent Language Online. Available anytime, anywhere, on any device.

About the Author: Elizabeth Schmermund

Bonjour tout le monde! I'm a freelance writer, doctoral student, mom, and Francophile. I'm excited to share some of my experiences living in France, as well as the cultural nuances that I've learned being married to a Frenchman, with all of you. To find out more about me, feel free to check out my website at http://www.imaginistwriter.com. A la prochaine!

How to Talk About Seasons in French: The Complete Guide

What are the ingredients for a good base in French proficiency?

Start with some  high-quality online French lessons  and then mix in some grammar fundamentals.

But what about  seasons in French?

Well, that’s the vocabulary you’re going to acquire, and you can never have too much!

And not just any vocabulary! I’m talking about adding some real  season ing to your French proficiency.

Are you starting to catch my drift?

What I’m trying to say is:  I’m going to teach you how to name and talk about seasons in French.

Let’s get started!

Enough teasing about it, let’s get seasoning!

A season in French is translated as  une saison.  It’s a feminine noun so it takes the feminine articles  la  (the) and  une  (a), and adjectives that describe this noun must be feminine also. For example, you could ask someone which is their  saison préférée  (favorite season), using the feminine adjective  préféré e  (favorite).

Each  saison  contains  trois mois  (three months). These  saisons  and  mois  create  une année  (a year).

Being in the Northern Hemisphere,  France experiences similar seasons to those in North America.

There are four distinct seasons in France: spring, summer, autumn (or fall) and winter.

Despite being a single country,  the climates in France can be quite different  depending on where you are. In the northern regions of France, there’s a colder and more pronounced winter than in the southern regions along the Mediterranean, which experience a much warmer climate.

Furthermore, in other French-speaking countries around the world, such as those located in Africa or Polynesia, weather can be quite warm year-round, without a distinct winter at all.

The Basics: How to Say the Seasons in French

Below is a look at the names of the seasons in French. The  m.  or  f.  beside a French word indicates whether the word is masculine or feminine. Remember that masculine words take the articles  le  (the) and  un  (a) and feminine words take the articles  la  and  une.

Click on the hyperlink to hear an audio recording of each French word.

L’hiver  (m.): the winter

En hiver:  in the winter

Le   printemps  (m.): the spring

Au printemps:  in the spring

L’été  (m.): the summer

En été:  in the summer

L’automne  (m.): the autumn (also: fall)

En automne:  in the autumn (in the fall)

Pay special attention to the pronunciation of the word  hiver.  It’s atypical of the regular  -er  ending. Rather than being pronounced like the  -er  in  parler  (to speak) as in “may,” the  -er  is pronounced like the English word “air.”

Using Articles and Prepositions with French Seasons

To talk about the seasons themselves, use a direct article. For example:

L’ hiver est froid.  — Winter is cold.

Ma saison préférée est  l’ automne.  — My favorite season is autumn.

On the other hand, using these seasons with the prepositions  en  or  au  gives them the meaning of “in the” or “during the.” These prepositions are useful if you want to talk about things that happen during a certain season.

Note that  printemps  is the only season to take  au   (literally translated as “to the”). The other three seasons all take  en  (in).

Les canards retournent  au  printemps.  — The ducks return in the spring.

J’irai en Europe  en  été.  —  I will go to Europe in the summer.

Common French Seasonal Vocabulary

Now that we know how to say the seasons in French, let’s check out some common vocabulary associated with each season. These include activities specific to each time of year as well as weather words and common weather expressions.

Keep in mind that months don’t get capitalized in French like the do in English: they remain lowercase at all times.

Vocabulary for  l’hiver  (winter)

L’hiver  in France typically consists of the months of  janvier, février  and  mars  (January, February and March). This time of year is characterized by cooler weather and even snow in the northern or mountainous regions of the country.

Let’s check out some common vocabulary associated with  l’hiver.

La neige:  snow

Le bonhomme de neige:  snowman

La boule de neige:  snowball

La glace:  ice

Le   froid:  the cold

Il fait froid:  it is cold (Keep in mind that French uses the verb  faire  (to do) to describe the temperature.)

J’ai froid:  I am cold (French also uses the verb  avoir  (to have) to describe the temperature that one is feeling.)

Le patin à glace:  ice skating

Le ski:  skiing

Faire du ski:  to ski

La planche à neige:  snowboarding

Le glaçon:  icicle

Les gants:  gloves

Le bonnet:  hat

Le manteau:  coat

Les bottes:  boots

To see these words in action, let’s use a couple of them in a few example sentences:

En hiver, je porte mes gants, mon chapeau et mon manteau. Il fait froid et il y a beaucoup de neige. Je fais du ski et de la planche à neige.

During the winter, I wear my gloves, my hat and my coat. It is cold, and there is a lot of snow. I ski and snowboard.

Vocabulary for  l e printemps  (spring)

Le printemps  typically consists of the months of  avril, mai  and  juin  (April, May and June). This is the time of year when the weather starts to warm up and plants begin to grow again, filling the landscape with green trees and beautiful flowers.

Here’s some common vocabulary associated with  le printemps:

La fleur:  flower

Le tulipe:   tulip

Le papillon:  butterfly

La pluie:  rain

La parapluie:  umbrella

L’arc-en-ciel:  rainbow

Un oiseau:  bird

Une abeille:  bee

Le nuage:  cloud

Il fait frais:  it is cool

Un imperméable:  a raincoat

Now let’s use a couple of these words in a sample paragraph:

Au printemps, les oiseaux retournent du sud. Il fait frais et il y a beaucoup de pluie. Je porte un imperméable et j’adore toutes les fleurs.

During the spring, the birds return from the south. It is cool, and there is a lot of rain. I wear a raincoat, and I love all the flowers.

Vocabulary for  l’été  (summer)

L’été  typically consists of the months of  juillet, août  and  septembre  (July, August and September). Like in North America,  l’été  is the hottest part of the year. As such, students are often on summer holidays, and people are social with lots of outdoor activities and parties.

Let’s look at some common vocabulary to celebrate  l’été:

Le soleil:  sun

La chaleur:  heat

Il fait chaud:  it is hot

J’ai chaud:  I am hot

La canicule:  heatwave

La tempête:  storm

La plage:  beach

La crème solaire:  sunscreen

La piscine:  pool

Nager:  to swim

Les lunettes de soleil:  sunglasses

Le maillot de bain:  swimsuit

La pastèque:  watermelon

Le short:  shorts

Les sandales:  sandals

Les tongs:  flip-flops

Le parasol:  beach umbrella

Les vacances:  vacation (Note that this is always plural when talking about taking time off work or school for a vacation.)

Now, let’s set the scene for a hot and relaxing summer day:

En été, je vais souvent à la plage. Je porte mon maillot de bain, mes tongs et mes lunettes de soleil. J’aime nager et manger de la pastèque.

During the summer, I often go to the beach. I wear my swimsuit, my flip flops and my sunglasses. I like to swim and eat watermelon.

Vocabulary for  l’automne  (fall)

L’automne  typically consists of the months of  octobre, novembre  and  décembre  (October, November and December). During this time of year, the leaves on the trees begin to change colors and fall, and the weather becomes cool again.

Some common vocabulary associated with  l’automne  is:

Un arbre:  tree

La feuille:  leaf

Un tas de feuilles:  a pile of leaves

Le changement de couleur des feuilles:  the changing colour of the leaves

La citrouille:  pumpkin

Tailler une citrouille:  to carve a pumpkin

Le vent:  wind

La rentrée:  return to school

Un pull:  sweater

La récolte:  harvest

Un râteau:  rake

Un coupe-vent:  a windbreaker

La tarte aux pommes:  apple pie

Le maïs:  corn

During the autumn, you might say the following:

En automne, on voit le changement de couleur des feuilles. Je mange la tarte aux pommes et du maïs. Je porte un coupe-vent et je taille une citrouille.

During the autumn, we see the changing of the leaves. I eat an apple pie and some corn. I wear a windbreaker, and I carve a pumpkin.

A good base of French vocabulary is always in season. Now go forth and use your newly-acquired vocabulary to talk about any season in French!

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