This page covers the French vocabulary for conversions, including how to talk about changing one unit to another, converting currencies, and other common types of conversion.
Common Conversion Verbs
These are the key French verbs used when talking about conversions, along with their English translations and examples.
| French Pronoun | Example in French | English Example | French Example | French Example Meaning | English Example Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| conjugation stem | j’/je + verb | I verb | je + verb | French meaning | English meaning |
| je | je convertis | I convert | Je convertis des euros en dollars. | Je change des euros en dollars. | I convert euros to dollars. |
| tu | tu convertis | you convert | Tu convertis des pouces en centimètres. | Tu changes des pouces en centimètres. | You convert inches to centimeters. |
| il/elle/on | il convertit | he/she/one converts | Elle convertit des litres en millilitres. | Elle change des litres en millilitres. | She converts liters to milliliters. |
| nous | nous convertissons | we convert | Nous convertissons des devises en ligne. | Nous changeons des monnaies sur Internet. | We convert currencies online. |
| vous | vous convertissez | you convert (formal/plural) | Vous convertissez des unités rapidement. | Vous changez des unités rapidement. | You convert units quickly. |
| ils/elles | ils convertissent | they convert | Ils convertissent des grammes en kilogrammes. | Ils changent des grammes en kilogrammes. | They convert grams to kilograms. |
Weight Conversion
Here are the French vocabulary words for weight units and conversion processes.
| French Word | English Word | French Example | English Example | French Meaning | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| poids | weight | Le poids est en kilogrammes. | The weight is in kilograms. | La mesure de combien quelque chose pèse. | The measure of how much something weighs. |
| kilogramme (kg) | kilogram | kilogramme = 1000 grammes. | kilogram = 1000 grams. | Unité de poids plus grande que le gramme. | Weight unit larger than the gram. |
| gramme (g) | gram | Le sucre pèse 200 grammes. | The sugar weighs 200 grams. | Unité de poids plus petite. | A smaller weight unit. |
| milligramme (mg) | milligram | milligrammes de vitamine C. | milligrams of vitamin C. | Très petite unité de poids. | Very small weight unit. |
| tonne (t) | tonne | Une tonne = 1000 kilogrammes. | One tonne = 1000 kilograms. | Grande unité de poids pour les grosses charges. | Large weight unit for heavy loads. |
| convertir | to convert | Je convertis des grammes en kilogrammes. | I convert grams to kilograms. | Changer d’une unité à une autre. | Change from one unit to another. |
| mesurer | to measure | On mesure le poids avec une balance. | We measure weight with a scale. | Déterminer la quantité. | Determine the quantity. |
Length Conversion
These French terms cover length units and common phrases for conversion.
| French Word | English Word | French Example | English Example | French Meaning | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| longueur | length | La longueur est de 2 mètres. | The length is 2 meters. | La distance d’un objet. | The distance of an object. |
| mètre (m) | meter | mètre = 100 centimètres. | meter = 100 centimeters. | Unité de longueur de base. | Basic unit of length. |
| centimètre (cm) | centimeter | Le crayon fait 15 centimètres. | The pencil is 15 centimeters long. | /100 de mètre. | /100 of a meter. |
| millimètre (mm) | millimeter | millimètres d’épaisseur. | millimeters thick. | Très petite unité de longueur. | Very small length unit. |
| kilomètre (km) | kilometer | kilomètres à pied. | kilometers on foot. | Grande unité de distance. | Large distance unit. |
| pouce (in) | inch | pouce = 2,54 centimètres. | inch = 2.54 centimeters. | Unité de mesure anglo-saxonne. | Anglo-Saxon unit of measure. |
| pied (ft) | foot | Il mesure 6 pieds de haut. | He is 6 feet tall. | Unité de longueur utilisée aux États-Unis. | Length unit used in the US. |
What is the French word for "inch"?
pouce
"Pouce" means "inch." "Pied" means "foot," "mètre" means "meter," and "centimètre" means "centimeter."
Volume Conversion
These are the French vocabulary terms for volume units and conversion.
| French Word | English Word | French Example | English Example | French Meaning | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| volume | volume | Le volume du liquide est de 1 litre. | The volume of the liquid is 1 liter. | Quantité d’espace occupée. | Amount of space occupied. |
| litre (l) | liter | litre d’eau. | liter of water. | Unité de volume de base. | Basic unit of volume. |
| millilitre (ml) | milliliter | millilitres de jus. | milliliters of juice. | /1000 de litre. | /1000 of a liter. |
| centilitre (cl) | centiliter | centilitres de vin. | centiliters of wine. | /100 de litre. | /100 of a liter. |
| convertir | to convert | Je convertis des litres en millilitres. | I convert liters to milliliters. | Changer d’une unité à une autre. | Change from one unit to another. |
What is the French word for "volume"?
volume
"Volume" is the French word for "volume." "Longueur" means "length," "poids" means "weight," and "temps" means "time."
Temperature Conversion
Here are the French terms for talking about temperature and converting between Celsius and Fahrenheit.
| French Word | English Word | French Example | English Example | French Meaning | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| température | temperature | La température est de 25 degrés. | The temperature is 25 degrees. | Mesure du chaud ou du froid. | Measure of hot or cold. |
| degré Celsius (°C) | degree Celsius | Il fait 20 degrés Celsius. | It’s 20 degrees Celsius. | Unité de température métrique. | Metric temperature unit. |
| degré Fahrenheit (°F) | degree Fahrenheit | degrés Fahrenheit = 20 degrés Celsius. | °F = 20°C. | Unité de température anglo-saxonne. | Anglo-Saxon temperature unit. |
| convertir | to convert | Je convertis Celsius en Fahrenheit. | I convert Celsius to Fahrenheit. | Changer d’une unité de température. | Change between temperature units. |
| formule | formula | La formule de conversion est (°C × 9/5) + 32. | The conversion formula is (°C × 9/5) + 32. | Calcul pour changer d’échelle. | Calculation to change scale. |
Currency Conversion
These French terms help you talk about exchanging money and converting between currencies.
| French Word | English Word | French Example | English Example | French Meaning | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| devise | currency | L’euro est une devise européenne. | The euro is a European currency. | Monnaie utilisée dans un pays. | Money used in a country. |
| taux de change | exchange rate | Le taux de change est favorable. | The exchange rate is favorable. | Valeur pour convertir une devise. | Value to convert one currency. |
| convertir | to convert | Je convertis des euros en dollars. | I convert euros to dollars. | Changer une devise en une autre. | Change one currency to another. |
| changer de l’argent | to exchange money | Je change de l’argent à la banque. | I exchange money at the bank. | Échanger des devises. | Exchange currencies. |
| portefeuille | wallet | Je garde mes devises dans mon portefeuille. | I keep my currencies in my wallet. | Sac pour l’argent. | Bag for money. |
Time Conversion
These are the French terms used for converting time units.
| French Word | English Word | French Example | English Example | French Meaning | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| temps | time | Le temps est précieux. | Time is precious. | Durée d’un événement. | Duration of an event. |
| seconde (s) | second | secondes = 1 minute. | seconds = 1 minute. | Plus petite unité de temps. | Smallest time unit. |
| minute (min) | minute | minutes plus tard. | minutes later. | Unité de temps. | Unit of time. |
| heure (h) | hour | heures de travail. | hours of work. | Unité de temps. | Unit of time. |
| jour | day | Un jour dure 24 heures. | A day lasts 24 hours. | Unité de temps plus longue. | Longer time unit. |
| convertir | to convert | Je convertis des minutes en heures. | I convert minutes to hours. | Changer d’une unité de temps. | Change from one time unit. |
Summary
- Use convertir to talk about converting or changing units.
- Add the unit (gramme, mètre, litre, degré, euro, etc.) before or after to specify what you’re converting.
- Use standard French plural forms (grammes, mètres, litres) when talking about quantities.
- Common prepositions for conversion are de… en… (from … to …).
- taux de change is key for currency conversion.
- Formules and calculs are often used in scientific or temperature conversions.
Flashcards (1 of 42)
- English Example: I verb
- English Example Meaning: English meaning
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
