Learning a new language is an adventure, and one of the first steps is mastering basic vocabulary. When learning French, this includes shapes!
Understanding basic shapes gives you a foundation for more descriptive and nuanced conversations.
This article is your guide to understanding and using French shape vocabulary. We will cover basic shapes, pronunciation, and how to use them in context. If you’re ready to learn all about the french shape names, let’s get started!
Basic Shapes in French: Les Formes
Learning the names of shapes is a great way to build your vocabulary in French. Here are some of the most common shapes, along with a little extra information to help you sound like a native speaker.
Core Geometric Shapes
- un carré – a square. Listen to the pronunciation of carré carefully. It can also mean “squared,” “honest,” or “upright.” For example, you might say, “Son père est très carré” (His father is very straightforward and organized).
- un cercle/un rond – a circle. There’s a subtle difference between these two words. Cercle is often used in more formal or abstract contexts, while rond is more commonly used for physical, round objects. For example, “une table ronde” is “a round table.”
- un rectangle – a rectangle. Be sure to get the pronunciation of rectangle right. The adjective form is rectangulaire.
- un triangle – a triangle. Again, pay attention to the pronunciation of triangle. The adjective form is triangulaire.
- un ovale – an oval. Practice the pronunciation of ovale.
Three-Dimensional Shapes
- un cube – a cube. Listen carefully to the pronunciation of cube.
- un cylindre – a cylinder. Practice the pronunciation of cylindre.
- une sphère – a sphere. Note that sphère is a feminine noun.
Expanding Your Shape Vocabulary
Here are some more shapes you might find useful:
- un hexagone – a hexagon. Pronounced “ex-a-gone,” without sounding the ‘h.’ Fun fact: Because of its shape, the French often refer to mainland France as l’Hexagone. Example: Le miroir dans son dressing est en forme d’hexagone. (The mirror in her walk-in closet is hexagon-shaped.)
- un losange – a diamond. Pronounced “lo-zahnge,” with a soft ‘g’ sound.
- un pentagone – a pentagon. Pronounced “pan-ta-gone.”
- un octogone – an octagon. Pronounced “oc-toe-gone.”
- une étoile – a star. Note that étoile is a feminine noun.
- un cœur – a heart. Example: Elle a une bouche en forme de cœur. (She has a heart-shaped mouth.)
Using shapes as adjectives and describing shapes
You can use the French names for shapes as adjectives to describe objects.
French shapes as adjectives
For example, you can say rectangulaire (rectangular) or triangulaire (triangular) to describe something. As with all adjectives in French, you have to make sure the adjective agrees with the noun it’s describing: masculine or feminine, singular or plural.
How to say “-shaped” in French
There are a couple of easy ways to say something is “-shaped.”
- en forme de (in the shape of)
- la forme d’un/une (the shape of a)
Here are a few examples:
- Derrière la maison se trouve une grande piscine en forme de cercle. (Behind the house is a large, circle-shaped swimming pool.)
- La piscine avait la forme d’un cercle. (The pool was circle-shaped.)
- Les ballons peuvent varier en taille mais ils ont tous la une forme d’une sphère. (Balls can vary in size but they’re all sphere-shaped.)
Key Takeaways
Learning the vocabulary for shapes is essential for communicating effectively in French. Knowing the names of shapes and how to use them will help you in everyday conversations.
If you want to keep learning and practicing, there are lots of resources available. You could check out YouTube videos or take a French class.
Finally, remember that some shape words, like rond and ronde, have cultural nuances. So pay attention to the context and how native speakers use them.