A comprehensive guide to the most common types of sports vocabulary in French, organized by category with example sentences
Understanding how to talk about different types of sports is essential for describing your interests, making plans, or following conversations in French. This guide covers the most common sports categories and provides example sentences to help you use the vocabulary naturally.
Ball Sports
Ball sports are among the most popular worldwide, and many French terms are similar to their English counterparts.
| French Singular | French Plural | English Singular | English Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| le football | les footballeurs | football/soccer | footballers | Je joue au football tous les samedis. | I play football every Saturday. |
| le basketball | les basketteurs | basketball | basketball players | Elle fait du basketball au lycée. | She plays basketball at school. |
| le volleyball | les volleyeurs | volleyball | volleyball players | Nous faisons du volleyball à la plage. | We play volleyball on the beach. |
| le tennis | — | tennis | — | Il joue au tennis avec son père. | He plays tennis with his father. |
| le rugby | — | rugby | — | Le rugby est très populaire en France. | Rugby is very popular in France. |
| le handball | — | handball | — | Elle aime regarder le handball à la télé. | She likes watching handball on TV. |
| le golf | — | golf | — | Mon oncle joue au golf le dimanche. | My uncle plays golf on Sundays. |
| le baseball | — | baseball | — | Le baseball est moins courant en France. | Baseball is less common in France. |
| le cricket | — | cricket | — | Le cricket est populaire dans certains pays. | Cricket is popular in some countries. |
| la pétanque | — | pétanque | — | Ils jouent à la pétanque au parc. | They play pétanque in the park. |
Individual Sports
These are sports that are typically practiced alone, focusing on personal skill and endurance.
| French Singular | French Plural | English Singular | English Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| la course | — | running | — | Je fais de la course tous les matins. | I go running every morning. |
| la natation | — | swimming | — | La natation est un sport complet. | Swimming is a complete workout. |
| le cyclisme | — | cycling | — | Il fait du cyclisme en montagne. | He does cycling in the mountains. |
| la gymnastique | — | gymnastics | — | Elle pratique la gymnastique depuis l’enfance. | She has practiced gymnastics since childhood. |
| la boxe | — | boxing | — | La boxe demande beaucoup de discipline. | Boxing requires a lot of discipline. |
| l’escalade | — | climbing | — | Nous faisons de l’escalade en salle. | We go climbing indoors. |
| le ski | — | skiing | — | Le ski est populaire dans les Alpes. | Skiing is popular in the Alps. |
| le snowboard | — | snowboarding | — | Il fait du snowboard chaque hiver. | He snowboards every winter. |
| le taekwondo | — | taekwondo | — | Elle suit des cours de taekwondo. | She takes taekwondo classes. |
| le judo | — | judo | — | Le judo enseigne le respect et la discipline. | Judo teaches respect and discipline. |
Je fais de la ___ tous les matins.
I go running every morning.
course
'Course' means running in French, so 'faire de la course' is the correct expression.
Water Sports
These sports take place on or in the water, often requiring special skills and equipment.
| French Singular | French Plural | English Singular | English Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| le surf | — | surfing | — | Il fait du surf à Biarritz. | He surfs in Biarritz. |
| la voile | — | sailing | — | La voile demande de la patience. | Sailing requires patience. |
| le kayak | — | kayaking | — | Nous faisons du kayak sur la rivière. | We go kayaking on the river. |
| la plongée | — | diving | — | La plongée explore les fonds marins. | Diving explores the seabed. |
| le paddle | — | paddleboarding | — | Le paddle est très tendance cet été. | Paddleboarding is very trendy this summer. |
| le ski nautique | — | water skiing | — | Il pratique le ski nautique en été. | He does water skiing in the summer. |
| le canoë | — | canoeing | — | Le canoë est idéal pour les balades calmes. | Canoeing is ideal for leisurely trips. |
| la planche à voile | — | windsurfing | — | La planche à voile demande de l’équilibre. | Windsurfing requires balance. |
| le bateau | — | boating | — | Ils font du bateau tous les week-ends. | They go boating every weekend. |
| l’aviron | — | rowing | — | L’aviron est un sport très physique. | Rowing is a very physical sport. |
Winter Sports
Winter sports are popular in colder regions and often involve snow or ice.
| French Singular | French Plural | English Singular | English Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| le ski alpin | — | alpine skiing | — | Le ski alpin se pratique en montagne. | Alpine skiing is done in the mountains. |
| le ski de fond | — | cross-country skiing | — | Le ski de fond est très exigeant. | Cross-country skiing is very demanding. |
| le snowboard | — | snowboarding | — | Elle fait du snowboard avec ses amis. | She snowboards with her friends. |
| le patinage | — | skating | — | Le patinage artistique est élégant. | Figure skating is graceful. |
| le bobsleigh | — | bobsled | — | Le bobsleigh est une course spectaculaire. | Bobsledding is a spectacular race. |
| la luge | — | sledding | — | Les enfants adorent faire de la luge. | Children love sledding. |
| le hockey sur glace | — | ice hockey | — | Le hockey sur glace est très rapide. | Ice hockey is very fast-paced. |
| le curling | — | curling | — | Le curling demande de la précision. | Curling requires precision. |
| le ski acrobatique | — | freestyle skiing | — | Le ski acrobatique est impressionnant à voir. | Freestyle skiing is impressive to watch. |
| le télémark | — | telemark skiing | — | Le télémark est une technique ancienne. | Telemark skiing is an old technique. |
Racquet & Paddle Sports
These sports involve hitting a ball with a racket or paddle, often played on courts.
| French Singular | French Plural | English Singular | English Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| le tennis | — | tennis | — | Je joue au tennis après l'école. | I play tennis after school. |
| le badminton | — | badminton | — | Le badminton est très populaire en Asie. | Badminton is very popular in Asia. |
| le squash | — | squash | — | Le squash est un sport intense. | Squash is an intense sport. |
| le ping-pong | — | table tennis | — | Le ping-pong est un jeu rapide. | Table tennis is a fast-paced game. |
| le paddle | — | paddle | — | Nous jouons au paddle en soirée. | We play paddle in the evening. |
| le tennis de plage | — | beach tennis | — | Le tennis de plage est très amusant. | Beach tennis is a lot of fun. |
| la pelote basque | — | Basque pelota | — | La pelote basque est un sport traditionnel. | Basque pelota is a traditional sport. |
| le squash | — | squash | — | Elle joue au squash trois fois par semaine. | She plays squash three times a week. |
| le frontenis | — | frontenis | — | Le frontenis se joue sur un mur. | Frontenis is played against a wall. |
| le padel | — | padel | — | Le padel gagne en popularité en France. | Padel is gaining popularity in France. |
Je joue au ___ après l'école.
I play tennis after school.
tennis
In French, 'jouer au tennis' means 'play tennis.'
Combat & Martial Arts
These sports focus on fighting techniques, discipline, and self-defense.
| French Singular | French Plural | English Singular | English Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| la boxe | — | boxing | — | La boxe est un sport de combat très connu. | Boxing is a well-known combat sport. |
| le judo | — | judo | — | Il pratique le judo depuis dix ans. | He has practiced judo for ten years. |
| le karaté | — | karate | — | Le karaté enseigne le respect et la maîtrise. | Karate teaches respect and control. |
| le taekwondo | — | taekwondo | — | Elle suit des cours de taekwondo le soir. | She takes taekwondo classes in the evening. |
| le kickboxing | — | kickboxing | — | Le kickboxing est très physique. | Kickboxing is very physical. |
| le krav maga | — | krav maga | — | Le krav maga est une méthode de self-défense. | Krav Maga is a self-defense method. |
| le muay thaï | — | Muay Thai | — | Le muay thaï vient de Thaïlande. | Muay Thai comes from Thailand. |
| la lutte | — | wrestling | — | La lutte est un sport de prise. | Wrestling is a grappling sport. |
| le sambo | — | sambo | — | Le sambo est un art martial russe. | Sambo is a Russian martial art. |
| le kung-fu | — | kung fu | — | Le kung-fu combine force et souplesse. | Kung Fu combines strength and flexibility. |
Gym & Fitness
These activities are often done in gyms or fitness centers to improve strength, flexibility, and overall health.
| French Singular | French Plural | English Singular | English Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| la musculation | — | weight training | — | Je fais de la musculation trois fois par semaine. | I do weight training three times a week. |
| le pilates | — | Pilates | — | Le Pilates améliore la posture. | Pilates improves posture. |
| le yoga | — | yoga | — | Le yoga aide à la relaxation. | Yoga helps with relaxation. |
| le crossfit | — | CrossFit | — | Le CrossFit est très intensif. | CrossFit is very intensive. |
| l’aérobic | — | aerobics | — | L’aérobic est bon pour le cardio. | Aerobics is good for cardio. |
| le spinning | — | spinning | — | Le spinning se fait en salle. | Spinning is done indoors. |
| le stretching | — | stretching | — | Le stretching évite les blessures. | Stretching prevents injuries. |
| le bodypump | — | BodyPump | — | Le BodyPump tonifie les muscles. | BodyPump tones the muscles. |
| le cardio | — | cardio | — | Je fais du cardio tous les matins. | I do cardio every morning. |
| le step | — | step aerobics | — | Le step est un exercice dynamique. | Step aerobics is dynamic exercise. |
Adventure & Extreme Sports
These sports are for thrill-seekers and often involve a high level of risk and excitement.
| French Singular | French Plural | English Singular | English Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| le parachutisme | — | skydiving | — | Le parachutisme offre une vue incroyable. | Skydiving offers an incredible view. |
| le base jump | — | BASE jumping | — | Le base jump est très dangereux. | BASE jumping is very dangerous. |
| le VTT | — | mountain biking | — | Le VTT est idéal pour les sentiers. | Mountain biking is ideal for trails. |
| le trail | — | trail running | — | Le trail se fait en pleine nature. | Trail running is done in the wild. |
| le wingsuit | — | wingsuit flying | — | Le wingsuit permet de "voler". | The wingsuit allows you to "fly." |
| l’escalade libre | — | free climbing | — | L’escalade libre demande du courage. | Free climbing requires courage. |
| le kitesurf | — | kitesurfing | — | Le kitesurf est très spectaculaire. | Kitesurfing is very spectacular. |
| le skate | — | skateboarding | — | Il fait du skate au skatepark. | He skateboards at the skatepark. |
| le BMX | — | BMX | — | Le BMX est populaire chez les jeunes. | BMX is popular among young people. |
| l’ultramarathon | — | ultramarathon | — | L’ultramarathon dépasse le marathon traditionnel. | The ultramarathon goes beyond the traditional marathon. |
Team Sports (Non-Ball)
These team sports do not primarily involve a ball but focus on teamwork and strategy.
| French Singular | French Plural | English Singular | English Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| le rugby | — | rugby | — | Le rugby se joue à quinze joueurs. | Rugby is played with fifteen players. |
| le handball | — | handball | — | Le handball est très rapide. | Handball is very fast-paced. |
| le hockey sur glace | — | ice hockey | — | Le hockey sur glace est intense. | Ice hockey is intense. |
| le water-polo | — | water polo | — | Le water-polo se joue en piscine. | Water polo is played in a pool. |
| le ultimate frisbee | — | ultimate frisbee | — | L’ultimate frisbee combine vitesse et stratégie. | Ultimate frisbee combines speed and strategy. |
| le dodgeball | — | dodgeball | — | Le dodgeball est un jeu très dynamique. | Dodgeball is a very dynamic game. |
| le handball de plage | — | beach handball | — | Le handball de plage a gagné en popularité. | Beach handball has gained popularity. |
| le rugby à sept | — | rugby sevens | — | Le rugby à sept est plus rapide que le rugby traditionnel. | Rugby sevens is faster than traditional rugby. |
| le hockey sur gazon | — | field hockey | — | Le hockey sur gazon se joue en été. | Field hockey is played in the summer. |
| le floorball | — | floorball | — | Le floorball est un sport d’intérieur. | Floorball is an indoor sport. |
This comprehensive guide covers the most common types of sports vocabulary in French, organized by category with example sentences for context. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to expand your vocabulary, this list will help you talk about sports with confidence.
Le water-polo se joue en ___.
Water polo is played in a pool.
piscine
Water polo is played in a swimming pool ('piscine').
Flashcards (1 of 90)
- English Singular: football/soccer
- English Plural: footballers
- English Example: I play football every Saturday.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
