Temperature vocabulary in French, including words and phrases for describing weather, body temperature, and everyday expressions.
This guide covers essential French vocabulary related to temperature, from talking about the weather to describing how you feel. Plus, you’ll learn common expressions that French speakers use every day.
Weather Temperature
Weather temperature vocabulary helps you talk about how hot or cold it is outside, which is a common topic in French conversation.
| French Singular/Plural | English Singular/Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| la température / les températures | temperature / temperatures | La température est de 20 degrés aujourd’hui. | The temperature is 20 degrees today. |
| un degré / des degrés | degree / degrees | Il fait 5 degrés ce matin. | It’s 5 degrees this morning. |
| chaud / chauds / chaude / chaudes | hot | Il fait chaud en été. | It’s hot in summer. |
| froid / froids / froide / froides | cold | Il fait froid en hiver. | It’s cold in winter. |
| tiède | lukewarm / mild | Le temps est tiède cet après-midi. | The weather is mild this afternoon. |
| gelée / gelées | frost / frosts | Il y a une gelée ce matin. | There is frost this morning. |
| canicule | heatwave | La canicule dure toute la semaine. | The heatwave lasts all week. |
| météo | weather forecast | La météo annonce de la pluie. | The forecast predicts rain. |
| soleil | sun | Le soleil réchauffe l’air. | The sun warms the air. |
Body Temperature
This vocabulary is useful for talking about how warm or cold you feel, especially if you’re describing symptoms or checking if someone is sick.
| French Singular/Plural | English Singular/Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| la fièvre | fever | J’ai de la fièvre ce soir. | I have a fever tonight. |
| chaud / chaude | hot (to the touch) | Il a le front chaud. | His forehead is hot. |
| froid / froide | cold (to the touch) | J’ai les mains froides. | My hands are cold. |
| transpirer | to sweat | Je transpire quand il fait chaud. | I sweat when it’s hot. |
| frisson / frissons | shiver / chills | J’ai des frissons. | I have chills. |
| sueur | sweat | La sueur coule sur son front. | Sweat is running down his forehead. |
| prendre la température | to take the temperature | Je vais prendre ta température. | I’m going to take your temperature. |
| thermomètre | thermometer | Le thermomètre indique 38 degrés. | The thermometer shows 38 degrees. |
Heating and Cooling
These words are handy for talking about how we control temperature indoors with heaters, air conditioners, or fans.
| French Singular/Plural | English Singular/Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| chauffage | heating | Le chauffage est allumé. | The heating is on. |
| climatisation / clim | air conditioning | La climatisation est trop forte. | The air conditioning is too strong. |
| ventilateur | fan | J’allume le ventilateur quand il fait chaud. | I turn on the fan when it’s hot. |
| radiateur | radiator | Le radiateur chauffe la pièce. | The radiator heats the room. |
| chauffer | to heat | Je chauffe la soupe au micro-ondes. | I heat the soup in the microwave. |
| refroidir | to cool | Le frigo refroidit les boissons. | The fridge cools the drinks. |
| aérer | to air out | Il faut aérer la chambre. | You need to air out the bedroom. |
J’allume le ___ quand il fait chaud.
What is the French word for 'fan'?
ventilateur
The French word for 'fan' is 'ventilateur', used in 'J’allume le ventilateur quand il fait chaud.'
La ___ est trop forte.
How do you say 'air conditioning' in French?
climatisation
'Climatisation' means 'air conditioning' in French, as in 'La climatisation est trop forte.'
Temperature Expressions
These common French expressions use temperature vocabulary to describe situations or feelings, even beyond literal temperature.
| French Expression | English Translation | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| avoir chaud | to be hot | J’ai chaud, je vais ouvrir une fenêtre. | I’m hot, I’m going to open a window. |
| avoir froid | to be cold | Elle a froid, elle met un pull. | She’s cold, she’s putting on a sweater. |
| ça me brûle la gorge | it burns my throat | Ce médicament me brûle la gorge. | This medicine burns my throat. |
| tomber comme une pierre | to drop like a stone (temperature or energy) | La température est tombée comme une pierre. | The temperature dropped like a stone. |
| être gelé | to be frozen | Je suis gelé après être sorti. | I’m frozen after going outside. |
| un froid de canard | extremely cold | Ce matin, il faisait un froid de canard. | This morning, it was extremely cold. |
| avoir la chair de poule | to have goosebumps | J’ai la chair de poule, il fait froid. | I have goosebumps, it’s cold. |
Flashcards (1 of 31)
- English Singular/Plural: temperature / temperatures
- English Example: The temperature is 20 degrees today.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
