Disasters vocabulary in French, including common types of natural and man-made disasters, essential nouns, adjectives, and verbs to describe and discuss emergency situations.
Natural and man-made disasters are important topics in any language, and French is no exception. This vocabulary set will help you talk about various types of disasters, describe what’s happening, and understand news reports or warnings. We’ll cover common nouns for different disasters, adjectives to describe the situation, and verbs used when discussing what to do or what has happened.
Disaster Types
Here are the most common types of disasters you’ll encounter in French, along with example sentences.
| French Disaster | English Disaster | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| tremblement de terre | earthquake | Un tremblement de terre a secoué la ville. | An earthquake shook the city. |
| inondation | flood | L’inondation a détruit plusieurs maisons. | The flood destroyed several houses. |
| incendie | fire | Un incendie s’est déclaré dans la forêt. | A fire broke out in the forest. |
| tempête | storm | Une tempête violente approche. | A violent storm is approaching. |
| ouragan | hurricane | L’ouragan a causé de nombreux dégâts. | The hurricane caused a lot of damage. |
| éruption volcanique | volcanic eruption | L’éruption volcanique a recouvert la région de cendres. | The volcanic eruption covered the area with ash. |
| glissement de terrain | landslide | Le glissement de terrain a bloqué la route. | The landslide blocked the road. |
| avalanche | avalanche | Une avalanche a enseveli le village. | An avalanche buried the village. |
| tsunami | tsunami | Le tsunami a dévasté la côte. | The tsunami devastated the coast. |
| séisme | earthquake | Le séisme a duré environ 30 secondes. | The earthquake lasted about 30 seconds. |
Un ___ s’est déclaré dans la forêt.
What is the French word for 'fire'?
incendie
The French term for 'fire' is 'incendie'.
Descriptive Adjectives
When talking about disasters, these adjectives will help you describe the situation more vividly.
| French Adjective | English Adjective | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| violent | violent | Le vent était très violent. | The wind was very violent. |
| dévastateur / dévastatrice | devastating | L’incendie a été dévastateur. | The fire was devastating. |
| soudain / soudaine | sudden | Le tremblement de terre a été soudain. | The earthquake was sudden. |
| dangereux / dangereuse | dangerous | La rivière est dangereuse après la pluie. | The river is dangerous after the rain. |
| massif / massive | massive | Une inondation massive a eu lieu. | A massive flood occurred. |
| incontrôlable | uncontrollable | Le feu est devenu incontrôlable. | The fire became uncontrollable. |
| imprévisible | unpredictable | Les tempêtes sont de plus en plus imprévisibles. | Storms are becoming more and more unpredictable. |
| destructeur / destructrice | destructive | Le vent destructeur a abattu des arbres. | The destructive wind knocked down trees. |
| fatal / fatale | fatal | L’accident a eu des conséquences fatales. | The accident had fatal consequences. |
| catastrophique | catastrophic | Les dégâts ont été catastrophiques. | The damage was catastrophic. |
Essential Verbs
These verbs are commonly used when describing disasters, talking about causes or effects, and explaining what people do in emergencies.
| French Verb | English Verb | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| détruire | to destroy | L’incendie a détruit plusieurs bâtiments. | The fire destroyed several buildings. |
| provoquer | to cause | La tempête a provoqué des inondations. | The storm caused flooding. |
| évacuer | to evacuate | Les habitants ont été évacués à temps. | The residents were evacuated in time. |
| alerter | to alert | Les autorités ont alerté la population. | The authorities alerted the population. |
| se réfugier | to take shelter | Les gens se sont réfugiés dans les abris. | People took shelter in the shelters. |
| survivre | to survive | Plusieurs personnes ont survécu à la catastrophe. | Several people survived the disaster. |
| s’effondrer | to collapse | La maison s’est effondrée après le séisme. | The house collapsed after the earthquake. |
| inonder | to flood | La rivière a inondé les champs. | The river flooded the fields. |
| brûler | to burn | Des hectares de forêt ont brûlé. | Acres of forest burned. |
| secourir | to rescue | Les équipes de secours ont secouru les blessés. | Rescue teams helped the injured. |
Emergency Situations
Here’s vocabulary for talking about the immediate aftermath of a disaster, including damage, warnings, and the response.
| French Noun | English Noun | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| dégâts | damage | Les dégâts sont importants dans ce quartier. | The damage is significant in this neighborhood. |
| victime | victim | Il y a plusieurs victimes à déplorer. | There are several victims to report. |
| blessé / blessée | injured person | Les blessés ont été transportés à l’hôpital. | The injured were taken to the hospital. |
| évacuation | evacuation | L’évacuation s’est déroulée sans incident. | The evacuation went smoothly. |
| alerte | alert / warning | Une alerte météo a été émise. | A weather alert has been issued. |
| abri | shelter | Les sinistrés ont trouvé un abri temporaire. | The disaster victims found temporary shelter. |
| secouriste | rescuer | Les secouristes travaillent sans relâche. | Rescue workers are working tirelessly. |
| urgence | emergency | C’est une situation d’urgence absolue. | This is an absolute emergency situation. |
| sinistré / sinistrée | disaster victim | Les sinistrés attendent une aide rapide. | The disaster victims are waiting for quick aid. |
| catastrophe | disaster | La catastrophe a touché toute la région. | The disaster affected the entire region. |
Les sinistrés ont trouvé un ___ temporaire.
What is the French word for 'shelter'?
abri
The French noun for 'shelter' is 'abri'.
Conclusion
Understanding disaster-related vocabulary in French is essential for following the news, staying safe while traveling, and discussing global events. Review these lists to build confidence in describing and responding to emergency situations in French. Stay safe and stay informed!
Flashcards (1 of 40)
- English Disaster: earthquake
- English Example: An earthquake shook the city.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
