Ready to learn?

Pick up a language to start

How to talk about the seasons in French in color & vibrant detail

Seasons mark the pace of our lives. They are a reassuring reminder that in nature, everything is always renewed and always works out as planned despite obstacles along the way.

It is no surprise that seasons have a significant importance and symbolism in many cultures around the globe. This article will help you learn seasons in French, from Québec to France and everything in between. You’ll also learn some useful vocab around the four seasons in French, and discover cool seasonal songs.

Recommended playlist while reading: Les quatre saisons from Vivaldi. Bonne lecture !

The seasons in French

In French, “season” is saison — plural saisons. Pretty easy, right? You can learn the seasons of the year in French in the table below. Combine it with our articles on:

English French IPA
Summer Été ete
Autumn / Fall Automne otɔmnə
Winter Hiver ivεɾ
Spring Printemps pɾɛ̃tɑ̃
The rainy season La saison des pluies la sɛzõde plɥjə
The dry season La saison sèche la sɛzõ sɛʃə

Summer in French

Sur la plage abandonnée… Coquillages et crustacés…

Quand vient la fin de l’été… sur la plage…

Voilà l’été, voilà l’été…

Summer in French is L’été and is an endless source of inspiration. Below is a little Francophone world tour of this beautiful season!

Summer in French.

Countries Summer months range Additional notes
France, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Monaco June-September Some small variations between North and South.
Canada June- September
Été indien : Octobre
Some significant variations between North and South Québec.
Haiti April-October More of a rainy season than summer as temperatures never drop (tropical climate).
Vanuatu November-April (Southern hemisphere) More of a rainy season than summer as temperatures never drop (tropical climate).
Most of the French-speaking African countries — Around the equator July-September with some variations More of a rainy season than summer as temperatures never drop (tropical climate).
Most of the French-speaking African countries — Southern hemisphere November-March with some variations Rainy season with hot temperatures.

Notable summer holidays in French

  • Le 21 juin, la Fête de la Musique: Not a bank holiday but a really cool nationwide event. In every French city, town and village, both famous and unknown musicians play on the street or in bars all night.
  • Le 14 juillet, la Fête nationale: France celebrates Bastille Day, its national day, with fireworks.
  • Le 15 août, l’Assomption: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

French summer words

Brighten your French vocab with these summer words! You’ll find more weather-related vocab in this article.

English French
Hot Chaud
Sunny Ensoleillé
Dry Sec
Thirsty Assoiffé
Gelato Glace
Swimming Baignade
Beach Plage
Vacation Vacances
Flip flops Tongs
Heat Chaleur

Fall in French

Fall might be my favorite season. Beautiful colors, cozy hot French drinks by the fireplace, mushrooms, berries and cool, rainy days. Too bad I leaf, errr, live by the Mediterranean sea!

Autumn or Fall in French.

Countries Fall months range Additional notes /facts
France, Belgium,
Switzerland, Luxembourg, Monaco
September-December Some small variations between North and South.
Canada September-December
Beautiful fall colors during the “Été indien” (October)
Some significant variations between North and South Québec.
Haiti No fall, per say Tropical climate.
Vanuatu No fall, per say Tropical climate.
Most of the French-speaking African countries — Around the equator No fall, per say Tropical climate.
Most of the French-speaking African countries — Southern hemisphere No fall, per say A few transition days between the rainy and dry season.

Notable Fall holidays in French

  • Le 1er novembre, la Toussaint: All Saints.
  • Le 31 octobre, Halloween: Not a bank holiday and relatively new in France. Well celebrated in Québec.

French Fall words

As Yves Montand would say, “Les feuilles mortes se ramassent à la pelle.“ To describe a stunning fall landscape, you might want to learn colors in French as well. C’est si beau !

English French
Leaves Feuilles
Orange Orange
Cooling down Rafraîchir
Harvest Moisson
Pumpkin Citrouille, potiron
Mushrooms Champignons
Forest Forêt
Wind Vent

Winter in French

From an Alpine winter wonderland to an exotic Christmas at the beach, you’re spoiled for a choice. Just remember to bring the right clothes!

Winter in French.

Countries Winter months range Additional notes /facts
France, Belgium,
Switzerland, Luxembourg, Monaco
December-March Some small variations between North and South.
Canada December-March (later in Northern Québec) Some significant variations between North and South Québec.
Haiti November-March More of a dry season than winter as temperatures never drop (tropical climate).
Vanuatu May-October (Southern hemisphere) More of a dry season than winter as temperatures never drop (tropical climate).
Most of the French-speaking African countries — Around the equator October-June with some variations More of a dry season than winter as temperatures never drop (tropical climate).
Most of the French-speaking African countries — Southern hemisphere April-October with some variations Dry season with cool temperatures.

Notable Winter holidays in French

  • Le 24 décembre, le Réveillon de Noël: Not a bank holiday, but some companies will let their staff leave early for Christmas Eve.
  • Le 25 décembre, Noël: Christmas.
  • Le 31 décembre, le Réveillon de la Saint-Sylvestre: Not a bank holiday, but some companies will let their staff leave early for New Year’s Eve.
  • Le 1er janvier, le Nouvel An: New Year.
  • Le 6 janvier, l'Épiphanie: Not a bank holiday, but time to eat the delicious Galette des rois.
  • Février à mars (47 days before Easter, Mardi gras): Not a bank holiday, but it’s Carnaval time in France and many other francophone countries — Even in Louisiana!

French winter words

The cold never bothered me anyway. I shall agree with Elsa!

English French
Cold Froid
Snowing Neige
Freezing Gèle
Ice Glace
Frost Givre, gel
Scarf Écharpe
Gloves Gants
Snowman Bonhomme de neige
Christmas tree Sapin de Noël
Fireplace Cheminée
Snowshoes Raquettes

Spring in French

Le printemps est un symbole de renouveau. Spring is a symbol of renewal. Flowers are blooming, birds are humming, trees are “greening”… What, I can’t make up words?

Spring in French.

Countries Spring months range Additional notes /facts
France, Belgium,
Switzerland, Luxembourg, Monaco
March-June Some small variations between North and South.
Canada March-June Some significant variations between North and South Québec.
Haiti No spring, per say Tropical climate.
Vanuatu No spring, per say Tropical climate.
Most of the French-speaking African countries — Around the equator No spring, per say Tropical climate.
Most of the French-speaking African countries — Southern hemisphere No spring, per say A few transition days between the dry and rainy season.

Notable Spring holidays in French

  • Le 1er avril, Poisson d’avril: April Fools, not a bank holiday but it’s time for pranks and jokes!
  • Mars ou avril, Pâques: Easter.
  • Le 1er mai, la Fête du travail: Labor Day. It’s also customary to offer un brin de muguet — learn more flowers in French here.
  • Le 8 mai, Jour de la Victoire 45: World War II Victory Day
  • 40 days after Easter, l’Ascension: Ascension Day
  • 7th Monday after Easter, lundi de Pentecôte: Whit Monday or Pentecost Monday

French spring words

Nature in full spring! Nature lovers will also appreciate these beautiful words in French, with a section dedicated to Mother Earth.

English French
Flowers Fleurs
New life Nouvelle ville
Birds Oiseaux
Gardening Faire le jardin
Sunny, but cool Ensoleillé mais frais
Green Vert
Breeze Brise
Renewal Renouveau

Examples of sentences using the four seasons in French

L’été (summer)

Dans ma région, l’été est chaud et humide.

In my region, summer is hot and humid.

L’été est ma saison préférée. J’adore la plage !

Summer is my favorite season. I just love the beach!

L’automne (fall/autumn)

En automne, je vais souvent ramasser des champignons.

In fall, I often go mushroom picking.

Manges-tu des châtaignes en automne ?

Do you eat chestnuts in fall?

L’hiver (winter)

Je trouve que la neige embellit toujours le paysage.

I think snow always makes the landscape nicer.

Habille-toi bien, l’hiver québécois est rude !

Dress warmly, the Québecois winter is harsh!

Le printemps (spring)

Quelle est ta fleur printanière préférée ?

What’s your favorite spring flower?

J’adore me réveiller avec le chant des oiseaux au printemps.

I love waking up to birds chirping in spring.

Seasons are one of the most beautiful natural phenomenons and will never cease to fascinate those who observe them.

With what you’ve learned in this article, you’ll be able to explain better where you are from and describe seasons in your home country.

Like every season, this article is coming to an end. Let’s top it off a bit of wisdom:

À Noël je n'ai pas plus envie de rose que je ne voudrais de neige au printemps. J'aime chaque saison pour ce qu'elle apporte.

“At Christmas I no more desire a rose
Than wish a snow in May's new-fangled mirth;
But like of each thing that in season grows.”

-William Shakespeare-

Keep up the fun, free French vocabulary lessons on our French blog here.

Call Us

1-866-423-7548


Find out more

Fill in the form below and we’ll contact you to discuss your learning options and answer any questions you may have.