French subjects vocabulary across common categories, including school subjects, academic disciplines, daily life topics, and more.
This page covers essential French vocabulary for subjects across various contexts, from school disciplines to everyday topics. The goal is to build a solid foundation for discussing subjects in French with confidence.
School Subjects
School subjects in French are used to talk about classes and studies in an educational setting. They often appear in schedules, conversations about homework, and classroom discussions.
| French Singular (Pl.) | English Singular (Pl.) | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| les mathématiques (f. pl.) | mathematics | J’ai des cours de mathématiques. | I have math classes. |
| le français | French | Le français est ma matière préférée. | French is my favorite subject. |
| l’histoire (f.) | history | Nous étudions l’histoire moderne. | We study modern history. |
| la géographie | geography | La géographie est intéressante. | Geography is interesting. |
| les sciences (f. pl.) | science | Je fais un projet en sciences. | I'm doing a project in science. |
| la physique | physics | La physique est difficile pour moi. | Physics is hard for me. |
| la chimie | chemistry | La chimie nécessite des expériences. | Chemistry requires experiments. |
| les arts plastiques (m. pl.) | visual arts | J’aime les arts plastiques. | I like visual arts. |
| l’éducation musicale (f.) | music education | L’éducation musicale est relaxante. | Music class is relaxing. |
| l’EPS (éducation physique et sportive) | physical education (PE) | J’ai EPS le mercredi. | I have PE on Wednesday. |
Nous étudions ___ moderne.
What is the French word for 'history'?
l’histoire
'L’histoire' is the French word for 'history'. The other options are geography, science, and chemistry.
Academic Disciplines
Academic disciplines often appear in higher education and formal contexts. They are used to describe fields of study, research areas, and specialized knowledge.
| French Singular (Pl.) | English Singular (Pl.) | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| la biologie | biology | La biologie étudie les êtres vivants. | Biology studies living organisms. |
| la psychologie | psychology | Elle fait un master en psychologie. | She’s doing a master’s in psychology. |
| la sociologie | sociology | La sociologie analyse les sociétés. | Sociology analyzes societies. |
| la philosophie | philosophy | La philosophie questionne le sens de la vie. | Philosophy questions the meaning of life. |
| l’économie (f.) | economics | L’économie mondiale est complexe. | The global economy is complex. |
| le droit | law | Il étudie le droit international. | He studies international law. |
| l’ingénierie (f.) | engineering | Elle travaille en ingénierie civile. | She works in civil engineering. |
| la médecine | medicine | La médecine sauve des vies. | Medicine saves lives. |
| la littérature | literature | La littérature française est riche. | French literature is rich. |
| l’informatique (f.) | computer science | L’informatique est omniprésente. | Computer science is everywhere. |
Daily Life Topics
These subject areas appear in everyday conversations, media, and general knowledge. They help you talk about hobbies, interests, and current events in French.
| French Singular (Pl.) | English Singular (Pl.) | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| la cuisine | cooking | J’aime la cuisine italienne. | I like Italian cooking. |
| la mode | fashion | La mode change chaque saison. | Fashion changes every season. |
| la technologie | technology | La technologie évolue vite. | Technology evolves quickly. |
| la musique | music | J’écoute de la musique classique. | I listen to classical music. |
| le sport | sports | Le sport est bon pour la santé. | Sports are good for health. |
| le cinéma | cinema | Nous allons au cinéma ce soir. | We're going to the movies tonight. |
| la politique | politics | La politique est un sujet délicat. | Politics is a sensitive topic. |
| l’art (m.) | art | J’admire l’art contemporain. | I admire contemporary art. |
| la littérature | literature | Elle écrit de la littérature jeunesse. | She writes children’s literature. |
| le voyage | travel | Le voyage ouvre l’esprit. | Travel broadens the mind. |
Specialized Fields
Specialized fields are used in professional and technical contexts. They are important for discussing careers, industry topics, and advanced study areas.
| French Singular (Pl.) | English Singular (Pl.) | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| l’architecture (f.) | architecture | L’architecture moderne est innovante. | Modern architecture is innovative. |
| le journalisme | journalism | Le journalisme enquête sur les faits. | Journalism investigates facts. |
| la traduction | translation | La traduction demande de la précision. | Translation requires precision. |
| la finance | finance | La finance gère les investissements. | Finance manages investments. |
| l’agriculture (f.) | agriculture | L’agriculture biologique se développe. | Organic farming is growing. |
| la robotique | robotics | La robotique transforme l’industrie. | Robotics is transforming industry. |
| la biotechnologie | biotechnology | La biotechnologie innove la médecine. | Biotechnology innovates medicine. |
| l’océanographie (f.) | oceanography | L’océanographie étudie les fonds marins. | Oceanography studies the seabed. |
| la météorologie | meteorology | La météorologie prévoit le temps. | Meteorology predicts the weather. |
| la criminologie | criminology | La criminologie analyse les comportements. | Criminology analyzes behaviors. |
La ___ transforme l’industrie.
How do you say 'Robotics is transforming industry' in French?
robotique
'La robotique' means 'robotics'.
Summary
Building subject vocabulary in French spans from basic school subjects to advanced and everyday topics. This prepares you to engage in a wide range of conversations, from classroom settings to professional environments.
| Category | Description | Example | Usage Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| School Subjects | Common classes from primary to high school | les mathématiques, le français, l’histoire | Talking about class schedules and homework |
| Academic Disciplines | Fields of study in higher education | la biologie, la psychologie, le droit | Describing majors and research areas |
| Daily Life Topics | Subjects found in media and conversation | la cuisine, la mode, le sport | Discussing hobbies and current events |
| Specialized Fields | Professional and technical domains | l’architecture, la finance, la robotique | Talking about careers and industry topics |
With this foundation, you can confidently discuss a wide range of subjects in French, whether you’re a student, a professional, or simply exploring new topics.
Flashcards (1 of 40)
- English Singular (Pl.): mathematics
- English Example: I have math classes.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
