French subjects are the names of the different classes you might take in school. Knowing these words will help you talk about your schedule, ask questions, and understand what people are studying.
Common Subjects
These are the most common subjects you’ll find in French schools.
Core Subjects
Core subjects are the main subjects that most students take.
| French Subject | English Subject |
|---|---|
| le français | French |
| les mathématiques (les maths) | mathematics (math) |
| l’histoire | history |
| la géographie | geography |
| les sciences | science |
| l’anglais | English |
Example Sentences
| French | English |
|---|---|
| J’ai français le lundi. | I have French on Monday. |
| Les maths sont difficiles. | Math is difficult. |
Additional Subjects
These are other subjects you might encounter as you progress in school.
Languages
More language options beyond French and English.
| French Subject | English Subject |
|---|---|
| l’espagnol | Spanish |
| l’allemand | German |
| l’italien | Italian |
| le latin | Latin |
Sciences
More specific science subjects.
| French Subject | English Subject |
|---|---|
| la biologie | biology |
| la physique | physics |
| la chimie | chemistry |
Arts and Physical Education
Subjects focusing on creativity and movement.
| French Subject | English Subject |
|---|---|
| les arts plastiques | visual arts |
| la musique | music |
| l’éducation physique (le sport) | physical education (PE/sports) |
What is music in French?
la musique
"la musique" is feminine singular and takes "la." Spelling must be correct.
Technology and Social Sciences
Other common subjects in higher grades.
| French Subject | English Subject |
|---|---|
| la technologie | technology |
| l’informatique | computer science |
| l’économie | economics |
| la philosophie | philosophy |
Talking About Your Schedule
Here are some useful verbs and phrases for talking about subjects and classes.
Verbs
| French Verb | English Verb | Example (French) | Example (English) |
|---|---|---|---|
| étudier | to study | J’étudie les maths. | I study math. |
| apprendre | to learn | Elle apprend l’anglais. | She is learning English. |
| avoir | to have (classes) | Nous avons histoire aujourd’hui. | We have history today. |
| aimer | to like | J’aime la musique. | I like music. |
Fill in the blank: I study math.
J’étudie les maths.
"J’étudie les maths" correctly uses the subject pronoun J’ (je) with the verb étudier in the present tense and the plural article les for maths.
Phrases
| French Phrase | English Phrase |
|---|---|
| Quelle matière préfères-tu ? | What subject do you prefer? |
| Je suis nul en … | I’m bad at … |
| Je suis fort en … | I’m good at … |
| À quelle heure as-tu … ? | What time do you have … ? |
Summary
French subjects help you talk about school and learning. From core subjects like le français and les maths to more specialized ones like la biologie or la philosophie, these words cover the main areas of study. Use the verbs étudier, apprendre, and avoir to describe your schedule, and try asking “Quelle matière préfères-tu ?” to get a conversation started.
Flashcards (1 of 30)
- English Subject: French
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
