Common French Words Beginning With O, P, Q, and R

Improve your French vocabulary by studying common words starting with letters O, P, Q, and R. Hear the pronunciation of these words and try saying them in context. French Words That Start With O               Word  Ã‚                                               Ã‚     Translation                                                Category O the letter O French alphabet sobstiner to insist, persist, continue to do stubbornly MdJ - O obturation obvier to take precautions against, overcome MdJ - O une occasion chance, opportunity; second-hand MdJ - O occasionner to cause, bring about MdJ - O occuper to occupy, take up, fill MdJ - O Ocane French names octobre October Calendar octroyer to grant, bestow MdJ - O Odette French names un oeil eye Body un oeuf egg Dairy des oeufs eggs Dairy oh lala un oignon onion, bulb, bunion MdJ - O Olivie Olivia French names Olivier Oliver French names une ombre shadow, shade; darkness, obscurity MdJ - O on we All about On un oncle uncle Family ondoyer to undulate, ripple, wave MdJ - O ondul (adj) - wavy Descriptions un ongle fingernail Body ont-ils do they have Liaisons onze 11 Numbers orageux (adj) - stormy Weather orange orange Colors une orange orange Fruit un ordi (inf) - computer MdJ - O un ordinateur computer Office une oreille ear Body un oreiller pillow Furniture orgueil (m) pride, arrogance MdJ - O un orteil toe Body orthographe (fem noun) spelling MdJ - O oser to dare, venture MdJ - O ou or Basic vocab o where Basic vocab ouest west Directions O est ... ? Where is...? Travel oui yes Basic vocab O se trouve ... ? Where is...? Travel un outil tool MdJ - O outrer to outrage MdJ - O ouvert (adj) - outgoing, open Personality, Travel ouvrez la bouche Open your mouth French Words That Start With P               Ã‚   Word  Ã‚                                               Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Translation     Ã‚  Ã‚                                         Ã‚  Category P the letter P French alphabet paillard (inf adj) - bawdy, coarse, lewd MdJ - P le pain bread Food le pain grill toast Food un paletot cardigan MdJ - P pallier to overcome, get round, compensate for MdJ - P un pamplemousse grapefruit Fruit une panne breakdown; failure MdJ - P le panpan spanking Baby talk un pantalon pants Clothing pantouflard (inf adj) - uneventful, quiet MdJ - P un pantouflard (inf) stay-at-home person MdJ - P la papatte paw Baby talk le papier paper Office papoter to chat MdJ - P le pappy grampa, gramps Baby talk parages (m) area, vicinity MdJ - P un parapluie umbrella Accessories le parc park Directions pardon pardon me, I beg your pardon Politeness un pare-brise windshield Driving parer to fend off, prepare for; to dress, deck out, embellish MdJ - P paresseux (adj) - lazy, idle, sluggish MdJ - P parfaire to perfect, complete MdJ - P parfois (adv) - sometimes MdJ - P le parfum perfume Love language parier to bet, wager MdJ - P parlerais speak, will speak Parlez-vous anglais ? Do you speak English? Basic vocab la parole word, speech, lyrics MdJ - P un parrain godfather; sponsor; christener MdJ - P partout everywhere; (sports) all, tie score MdJ - P parvenir to reach, achieve, manage to MdJ - P Pascal French names pas de quoi dont mention it Politeness Pas grand-chose No big deal Greetings Pas mal Not bad Greetings passager passenger le passeport passport Travel une pastque watermelon Fruit un pataqus malapropism; (slang) - muddle MdJ - P et patati et patata (inf interj) - and so on and so forth MdJ - P les ptes pasta Food patient (adj) - patient Personality le patio patio Home la ptisserie pastry shop Shopping Patrice Patrick French names Patricia Patricia French names Patrick Patrick French names le patrimoine inheritance, heritage MdJ - P patriotique (adj) - patriotic Personality Paul Paul French names Paulette French names Pauline Pauline French names paum (inf adj) lost, bewildered; poor MdJ - P paupieres eyelids payer to pay un page toll Driving la pche fishing; peach Hobbies, Fruit pdaler to pedal, (inf) - to hurry MdJ - P le peigne comb Toiletries peinard (fam adj) - cushy, easy MdJ - P la peine sorrow, sadness, trouble, effort, penalty MdJ - P peiner to comb peintre to paint peler to peel MdJ - P la pelle shovel MdJ - P la pelouse lawn, field, track MdJ - P pencher to tilt, slope, bend, lean, incline (fig and literally) MdJ - P un pendentif pendant Jewelry Pnlope Penelope French names le pp grampa, gramps Baby talk ppre (inf adj) - quiet, easy, uneventful, cushy MdJ - P un ppre (inf, baby talk) - grandad; (inf) - cute child MdJ - P percuter to strike, crash into; (fam) - to get it (e.g., a joke) MdJ - P perdre to lose un pre father Family prim (adj) - expired, out of date, invalid, outdated MdJ - P peser to weigh (lit + fig); to consider, be worth something MdJ - P ptillant (adj) - bubbly, sparkling MdJ - P petit (adj) - short Descriptions un petit ami boyfriend Liaisons le petit-djeuner breakfast Food une petite-fille granddaughter Family un petit-fils grandson Family les petits pois (m) peas Vegetables peu little les phares headlights Driving la pharmacie pharmacy Shopping pharmacien pharmacist pharmacienne pharmacist Philippe Philip French names Philippine French names photocopier to photocopy un photocopieur copy machine Office piauler to cheep, sing, whimper MdJ - P la pice room Home un pied foot MdJ - P Cest le pied ! Its great! MdJ - P un pige trap, pit, pitfall MdJ - P Pierre Peter French names piger (fam) - to twig, get it, understand MdJ - P pile (inf adv) - just, exactly, dead MdJ - P une pile pile, stack, battery, tails (on a coin toss) MdJ - P pilote pilot pinailleur (inf adj) - persnickety, fussy MdJ - P le pinard (fam) - cheap wine, plonk MdJ - P pince plier la pince ongles nail clippers Toiletries la pince fine tweezers Toiletries Pinot le pipi pee pee, urine Baby talk piqure to sting, bite; give a shot; stick, jab; prickle MdJ - P un placard cupboard, cabinet, closet; poster, notice; galley proof MdJ - P le plafond ceiling Furniture planete planet le plat dish Dishes le plat principal main course Food pleut rain pleut averse raining hard; downpour plier to fold, bend MdJ - P le plomb lead (literal and fig); lead shot, sinker (fishing) MdJ - P plombage plumbing un plombier plumber Professions plouc (adj) - dowdy MdJ - P un plouc (inf, pej) - country bumpkin, hick MdJ - P Plus lentement More slowly Basic vocab plus ou moins more or less Liaisons pluton pluto plutt (adv) - rather, sooner MdJ - P poignarder to stab, knife (literally and fig) MdJ - P le poignet wrist Body pointer to check off, clock in, aim MdJ - P se pointer (inf) - to turn up MdJ - P une poire pear Fruit un poisson fish MdJ - P la poissonerie fish store Shopping la poitrine chest Body le poivre pepper Food polmique (adj) controversial, contentious MdJ - P un policier police officer Professions la politesse politeness Politeness Polonais(e), le polonais Polish Lang + Nat Pomerol une pommade ointment, cream MdJ - P une pomme apple Fruit la pomme de terre potato Vegetables pompier firefighter le porc pork Meat le porche porch Home un portable cell phone Office une porte door Furniture un porte-documents briefcase Accessories un portefeuille wallet Accessories Portugais(e), le portugais Portuguese Lang + Nat poser to put down, to ask (a question) MdJ - P la poste post office Directions un pot jar, pot, tin, can; (inf) - drink, luck MdJ - P le potage soup Food potager (adj) - edible, vegetable MdJ - P potasser (inf) - to cram, bone up, swot MdJ - P un pote (inf) - mate, buddy, chum MdJ - P pou louse le pouce thumb, inch Body, Q + M poule hen le poulet chicken Meat la poupe stern (of a ship) MdJ - P le pourboire tip Restaurant pourquoi why Basic vocab Pourrais-je parler ... ? May I speak to ...? On the phone pouss (adj) - advanced, intensive, exhaustive MdJ - P Pouvez-vous lecrire Could you write to him/her? Pouvez-vous maider ? Can you help me? Travel pralable (adj) - preliminary, prior, previous, preceding MdJ - P un prdicateur preacher MdJ - P prejug prejudice premiere classe le premier tage 2nd floor (US), 1st floor (BR) Accommodations prendun prs (de) near (to) Directions une prsentation introduction Introductions press (adj) - in a hurry, urgent; freshly-squeezed MdJ - P le pressing dry cleaner Shopping prestations (f) benefits MdJ - P prvisible (adj) - foreseeable MdJ - P prevu (adj) - forseen, anticipated, expected, planned MdJ - P printemps spring Calendar le prix price Transportation un/e prof (inf) - teacher (short for professor) MdJ - P un professeur teacher Professions profiter to benefit, be profitable to MdJ - P profiter de to make the most of, take advantage of Verbs w/ prepositions un projet plan, draft MdJ - P un/e proprio (fam) - landlord, landlady (short for propritaire) MdJ - P prosaque (adj) - mundane, prosaic MdJ - P le prout gas, fart Baby talk provisoire (adj) - temporary, provisional, interim MdJ - P prudent (adj) - careful, cautious; wise, sensible MdJ - P une prune plum Fruit psychologie psychology la psychose psychosis; obsession MdJ - P pu could la publicit advertising, advertisement, bad publicity MdJ - P puce flea la pudeur sense of modesty, decency, propriety MdJ - P puis-je Can I puis on est arriv then we arrived Optional liaisons un pull sweater Clothing un pupitre student desk School pur pure un pyjama pajamas Clothing French Words That Start With Q                     Ã‚  Ã‚     Word  Ã‚                                                  Ã‚  Ã‚  Translation     Ã‚  Ã‚                                      Category Q the letter Q French alphabet le quai platform Transportation quand when Basic vocab Quand est-ce que When + question Liaisons quand on dcidera when we decide Liaisons quant (prep) - as for, regarding MdJ - Q quart a quarter quarante 40 Numbers quarante et un 41 Numbers quasiment (adv) - almost, nearly MdJ - Q quatorze 14 Numbers quatre 4 Numbers quatre-vingt-deux 82 Numbers quatre-vingt-dix 90 Numbers quatre-vingt-onze 91 Numbers quatre-vingt-un 81 Numbers quatre-vingts 80 Numbers Quel idiot ! What an idiot! Accent affectif Quel jour est-il ? What day is it? Dates Quel jour sommes-nous ? What day is it? Dates Quelle est la date ? Whats the date? Dates Quelle heure est-il ? What time is it? Telling time Quelle ide extraordinaire ! What an incredible idea! Accent affectif quelque part (indefinite adv) - somewhere MdJ - Q quel temps fait il What is the weather? la quenotte tooth Baby talk Que prenez-vous ? What are you having? Restaurant quest ce que je vous sers What can I get you? Que veut dire ... ? What does ... mean? Basic vocab Que voudriez-vous ? What would you like? Restaurant qui who Basic vocab Qui est lappareil ? Who is calling? On the phone quinze 15 Numbers quitter to leave MdJ - Q quoi what Basic vocab Quoi de neuf ? Whats new? Greetings French Words That Start With R                   Word  Ã‚                                               Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Translation     Ã‚  Ã‚                                         Ã‚  Category R the letter R French alphabet rabais (pej adj) - third-rate, cheap MdJ - R un rabais reduction, discount MdJ - R rabioter (inf) - to beg, mooch, scrounge, wangle, swindle MdJ - R un raccourci short cut; turn of phrase; summary MdJ - R raccrocher to hang up On the phone raconter to tell, recount MdJ - R la rade harbor MdJ - R radier to cross off, strike off MdJ - R radin (informal adj) stingy, (UK) mean MdJ - R le radis radish Vegetables raffin (adj) - refined, sophisticated, polished MdJ - R raffoler de to be keen on, wild about MdJ - R un ragot (inf) - piece of gossip (usually plural) MdJ - R ragotant (adj) - appetizing, savory (ironic) MdJ - R raide (adj) - straight Descriptions raidir to stiffen, harden, tighten, tense MdJ - R un raisin grape Fruit rlant (adj) - infuriating MdJ - R rler to moan, groan MdJ - R une rancune grudge, rancor MdJ - R une randonne drive, ride, hike MdJ - R ranger to tidy, arrange, order, put away MdJ - R rappeler to call back On the phone se rappeler to remember, recollect MdJ - R le rasage shaving Toiletries se raser to shave Toiletries le rasoir razor Toiletries le rasoir lectrique shaver Toiletries rassasier to satisfy MdJ - R rater to misfire, miss, fail, bungle, miscarry, mess up MdJ - R ravi (adj) - delighted MdJ - R ray (adj) - striped, scratched MdJ - R Raymond Raymond French names rebarbatif (adj) - forbidding, daunting MdJ - R rebours wrong way, against the nap, backwards MdJ - R un(e) rceptionniste receptionist Professions la recette recipe, formula; takings MdJ - R une rcidive second offense, recurrence, repetition MdJ - R recu recieved un recul retreat, recoil, decline, (temporal) distance MdJ - R la rdaction drafting, editing, writing, drawing up MdJ - R rdiger to write, compose, draft MdJ - R la redite needless repetition MdJ - R redoubler to increase, intensify, double, do s.t. more MdJ - R redouter to dread, fear MdJ - R un rfrigrateur refrigerator Furniture rgaler to treat, regale MdJ - R rgl (adj) - regular, stable, settled; menstruating; lined MdJ - R un rejeton descendant; (inf) - kid(botany) - shoot MdJ - R un reliquat remainder, outstanding amount, balance MdJ - R reluquer (inf) - to eye, ogle MdJ - R remarquable remarkable Bon synonyms remplacer replace remuer to move, twitch, stir, shift, shake MdJ - R Rmy French names rencler to snort; to complain, grumble MdJ - R le rendement yield, output, return MdJ - R se rendre compte to realize, be aware MdJ - R Ren (reborn) French names Rene Renee French names le renfort help, helpers MdJ - R les renforts reinforcements, supplies MdJ - R renfrogn (adj) - sullen, scowling, sulky MdJ - R renseigner to give information to; to fill in MdJ - R rentable (adj) - profitable, worthwhile MdJ - R la rente annuity, allowance; government stock/loan/bond MdJ - R le repas meal Food un repre line, marker, indicator, landmark, reference point MdJ - R reprer to spot, pick out, find; to be found out, get caught MdJ - R Rptez, sil vous plat. Repeat, please. Basic vocab un rpondeur enregistreur answering machine which takes messages MdJ - R un rpondeur tlphonique answering machine On the phone reposer to put back down, put back; rest; ask again MdJ - R les reprsailles (fem plural) - reprisal, retaliation MdJ - R rsolu (adj) resolute, resolved, determined MdJ - R le restaurant restaurant Food rsumer to summarize, sum up, epitomize MdJ - R retirer remove retors (adj) - sly, underhanded, wily MdJ - R la retraite retreat, retirement, pension MdJ - R russir to succeed, to manage to, to pass (a test) MdJ - R la revanche revenge (figurative), revenge match, return game/fight MdJ - R rvasser to daydream, let ones mind wander. MdJ - R un rveil alarm clock, waking up MdJ - R revendiquer to claim, demand, take responsibility for MdJ - R le rez-de-chausse 1st floor (US), ground floor (BR) Accommodations un rhume cold (illness) MdJ - R Richard Richard French names un rideau curtain Furniture Rien de nouveau Nothing new Greetings rigoler (inf) - to laugh, have fun, joke MdJ - R la rigueur (adv) - or even, if need be MdJ - R rincer to rinse ringard (inf adj) - corny, rinky-dink, old-fashioned MdJ - R une riposte retort, counter-attack, (fencing) - riposte MdJ - R la rise mockery, ridicule; light breeze MdJ - R le riz rice Food une robe dress Womens clothing Robert Robert French names rder to loiter, lurk, prowl MdJ - R Roger Roger French names Roland Roland French names romanesque (adj) - fabulous, fantastical, storybook, romantic MdJ - R le romanesque romantic side, romance MdJ - R un roman policier detective story, whodunit MdJ - R rompre to break (off, up) MdJ - R ronchon (adj) - grumpy, grouchy MdJ - R un ronchon grumbler, grouch MdJ - R rondement (adv) - briskly, frankly MdJ - R ronfler to snore, hum, roar MdJ - R ronronner to purr, hum (literally and fig) MdJ - R le rosbif roast beef Meat rose pink Colors ros un rosier rosebush MdJ - R roue wheel rouge red Colors le rouge lvres lipstick Toiletries rougir to turn red, to blush MdJ - R rouler to drive, be moving (traffic) Driving rouspter (inf) - to moan, groan MdJ - R rousse (informal) redhead route road un routier truck driver; truckstop MdJ - R roux (adj) - red (hair) Descriptions un ruban ribbon Accessories la rubrique (news) colum, heading, rubric MdJ - R rudement (adv) - roughly, hard, harshly; (inf) - very, terribly MdJ - R la rue street Driving Russe, le russe Russian Lang + Nat