Dreaming of a sunny getaway to a French-speaking destination? The word you probably know for 'beach' is la plage. It's the most common and useful term, but the French language is rich with other words to describe the beautiful coastline.

Knowing different ways to talk about the beach will not only impress the locals but also help you better understand descriptions of different seaside spots, from the sandy shores of the Riviera to the rocky coasts of Normandy.

Let’s dive in and explore 9 ways to say 'beach' in French!

1. The standard 'beach' – la plage

The most common and straightforward word for 'beach' in French is la plage. It's the word you'll hear and use in almost any context, from casual conversation about a holiday to official signs directing you to the coast.

A crucial point for learners is that plage is a feminine noun. This means it's always preceded by feminine articles like la ('the') or une ('a'/'an'). You will always say la plage for 'the beach' and une plage for 'a beach'.

La plage is a versatile term that can refer to any type of beach. This includes a sandy beach (une plage de sable), a pebble beach (une plage de galets), or even a private beach (une plage privée). Its meaning is broad and universally understood across the French-speaking world.

You'll frequently find la plage embedded in essential vocabulary for seaside activities. Key phrases to know include:

• aller à la plage: to go to the beach
• sur la plage: on the beach
• une serviette de plage: a beach towel
• un sac de plage: a beach bag

The plural form follows the standard rule: les plages. This is used when referring to multiple beaches. For example, you might say, Les plages de la Côte d'Azur sont magnifiques (The beaches of the French Riviera are magnificent).

💡 * On va à la plage cet après-midi ? (Are we going to the beach this afternoon?)

• J'ai passé toute la journée sur la plage à lire un livre. (I spent the whole day on the beach reading a book.)
• Il y a beaucoup de belles plages en Corse. (There are many beautiful beaches in Corsica.)
• N'oublie pas ta crème solaire et ta serviette de plage ! (Don't forget your sunscreen and your beach towel!)

The 'seaside' or 'coast' – le bord de mer

A quintessential French expression for a coastal getaway is le bord de mer, which translates directly to 'the seaside' or 'the coast'.

The phrase is composed of le bord (the edge, the side) and la mer (the sea). Literally, it means 'the edge of the sea,' a picturesque and accurate description of the coastal area.

Le bord de mer is used to refer to the general coastal region as a destination for leisure or vacation. It's less specific than la plage (the beach) and evokes the entire seaside atmosphere—the towns, the air, the promenades, and the beaches combined.

You will most often encounter this phrase in the construction au bord de la mer, meaning 'at the seaside' or 'to the seaside'. This is the standard way to express being in that location.

While similar to la côte (the coast), le bord de mer often has a more personal and leisurely feel. La côte can be more geographical, referring to a larger stretch of coastline (like la Côte d'Azur), whereas le bord de mer describes the experience of being there.

💡 * Nous avons passé nos vacances au bord de la mer.

• J'aime la sensation de l'air frais du bord de mer.
• Il y a beaucoup de bons restaurants de fruits de mer au bord de la mer.
• Une promenade au bord de la mer est parfaite pour se détendre.

The 'shoreline' or 'coastline' – le littoral

When referring to the entire stretch of land along the sea, particularly in a geographical or formal sense, the French use the word le littoral. This term translates directly to 'the coastline' or 'the shoreline'.

Le littoral is a masculine noun that describes the entire coastal region as an ecosystem or administrative zone. It encompasses beaches, cliffs, dunes, and the immediate inland area influenced by the sea.

While la côte also means 'the coast,' le littoral is often more technical or official. You might say on va à la côte (we're going to the coast) for a holiday, but news reports on environmental issues would discuss la protection du littoral (the protection of the coastline).

This term is frequently used in discussions about geography, tourism, environmental policy, and real estate. For example, you might hear about le littoral atlantique (the Atlantic coastline) or le littoral méditerranéen (the Mediterranean coastline).

Remember that le littoral is a masculine singular noun. Even though it describes a vast area, it is treated as a single entity. For instance: Le littoral français est magnifique (The French coastline is magnificent).

💡 * La loi sur la protection du littoral est très stricte. (The law on coastline protection is very strict.)

• Nous avons parcouru tout le littoral de la Normandie en voiture. (We drove along the entire coastline of Normandy.)
• L'érosion est un problème majeur pour le littoral. (Erosion is a major problem for the coastline.)
• De nombreuses espèces d'oiseaux vivent sur le littoral. (Many species of birds live on the shoreline.)

The 'coast' – la côte

The 'coast' – la côte

La côte is the primary French word for 'the coast' or 'the seashore.' It refers to the strip of land where it meets the sea or ocean.

Be careful, as la côte is a versatile word. It can also mean 'a rib' (as in food, like côte de bœuf) or 'a hill/slope' (la côte est raide - the hill is steep). The context will always clarify the intended meaning.

You will often hear it used in famous place names, most notably the Côte d'Azur, the French term for the French Riviera, a world-renowned coastal region.

💡 * Nous avons loué une maison sur la côte pour l'été.

• Le cycliste a eu du mal à monter la côte.
• Pour le dîner, je vais préparer une côte de porc.
• J'adore les paysages de la Côte d'Azur.

The 'sandy shore' or 'riverbank' – la grève

First, let's look at the original meaning. La grève is a feminine noun that literally refers to a flat expanse of sand and gravel along the edge of a body of water, like a sea or a river. You can think of it as a 'shore,' 'beach,' or 'riverbank.'

However, in contemporary French, la grève almost always means 'a strike'—as in a work stoppage organized by employees. This is by far the most common usage you will encounter today.

So, how did a word for 'shore' come to mean 'strike'? The connection comes from the Place de Grève in Paris, a gravelly square on the bank of the Seine. Unemployed workers used to gather there looking for jobs. Over time, it also became a place for public protests and worker demonstrations, forever linking the word grève to organized labor action.

To talk about the action of striking, you'll use the phrase faire la grève (to go on strike). Someone on strike is a gréviste.

Because of its dual meaning, context is crucial. If someone is talking about a vacation by the sea, they might mean the shore. But in a news report or a discussion about work, la grève will undoubtedly refer to a strike.

💡 * Nous avons marché le long de la grève au coucher du soleil. (We walked along the shore at sunset.)

• Les syndicats ont appelé à une grève générale la semaine prochaine. (The unions have called for a general strike next week.)
• Beaucoup d'employés ont décidé de faire la grève pour de meilleurs salaires. (Many employees decided to go on strike for better wages.)
• Les enfants ramassaient des galets sur la grève. (The children were collecting pebbles on the gravelly shore.)

The 'sandy beach' – la plage de sable

When you want to specifically talk about a 'sandy beach' in French, the most direct and accurate translation is la plage de sable. This phrase literally means 'the beach of sand'.

Let's break it down: la plage means 'the beach', and de sable means 'of sand'. In French, it's common to use the preposition de + a noun to describe what something is made of or its main characteristic. This construction is very useful for describing many things, not just beaches.

You use la plage de sable to be specific, especially when you want to contrast it with other types of beaches. For example, you might be distinguishing it from a plage de galets (a pebble beach) or a côte rocheuse (a rocky coast). It adds important detail.

While la plage de sable is precise, in everyday conversation, if you say on va à la plage (we're going to the beach), people will often assume it's a sandy beach unless you are in a region known for its rocky shores. The specific phrase is best used for clarity or emphasis.

💡 * J'adore me promener sur la longue plage de sable.

• Les enfants construisent un château sur la plage de sable.
• Est-ce que tu préfères une plage de sable ou une plage de galets ?
• Nous avons trouvé une petite crique avec une magnifique plage de sable.

The 'pebble beach' – la plage de galets

The French term for a 'pebble beach' is la plage de galets. This is a specific and descriptive way to talk about a beach covered in smooth stones rather than sand.

Let's break down the phrase. La plage means 'the beach,' and les galets are 'pebbles.' The preposition de links the two, literally meaning 'the beach of pebbles.' This construction is common in French for describing the material something is made of.

This is the direct opposite of a sandy beach, which is called une plage de sable. Knowing both terms is useful when describing different types of coastlines you might encounter in France, such as the famous pebble beaches of Nice.

💡 * J'adore me promener sur la plage de galets le soir. (I love walking on the pebble beach in the evening.)

• Nous avons trouvé une magnifique plage de galets près de Nice. (We found a magnificent pebble beach near Nice.)
• Attention, les enfants ! Marcher sur une plage de galets peut être difficile. (Be careful, children! Walking on a pebble beach can be difficult.)

The 'seaside resort' – la station balnéaire

The 'seaside resort' – la station balnéaire

The most common and precise term for a 'seaside resort' in French is la station balnéaire. This term refers specifically to a town or resort on the coast that is developed and equipped for tourism, particularly for vacationers wanting to enjoy the beach and sea activities.

The adjective balnéaire is key here. It derives from the Latin balneum (bath) and means 'related to sea bathing' or simply 'seaside.' It clearly distinguishes this type of resort from others, such as a station de ski (ski resort) or a station thermale (spa town).

You will encounter la station balnéaire on road signs, in travel brochures, and on weather reports. It's the standard term used to describe famous coastal destinations like Biarritz, Deauville, or Saint-Malo.

💡 * Nice est une station balnéaire célèbre sur la Côte d'Azur.

• Nous cherchons une petite station balnéaire familiale pour nos vacances.
• En été, cette station balnéaire attire des milliers de touristes.
• Les stations balnéaires de la côte atlantique sont réputées pour le surf.

1. The 'cove' or 'small inlet' – la crique

The French word for a 'cove' or 'small inlet' is la crique. It is a feminine noun that specifically refers to a small, sheltered indentation in a coastline. Think of a hidden, often rocky, natural harbor.

You will most often hear la crique used when describing the jagged coastlines of places like the Mediterranean, Corsica, or Brittany in France. It evokes an image of clear water, rocks, and a sense of seclusion, making it a desirable spot for swimming or anchoring a small boat.

It's important not to confuse une crique with une plage (a beach) or une baie (a bay). A plage is typically a larger, sandier area. A baie is a much larger geographical feature, like the Bay of Biscay. A crique, in contrast, is small, intimate, and often more rugged.

💡 * Nous avons découvert une crique secrète pendant notre randonnée. (We discovered a secret cove during our hike.)

• Le bateau est ancré dans une petite crique pour la nuit. (The boat is anchored in a small inlet for the night.)
• J'adore nager dans les eaux calmes de cette crique. (I love swimming in the calm waters of this cove.)
• La côte est découpée en de nombreuses criques magnifiques. (The coast is carved into many magnificent coves.)

Are there other ways to say 'beach' in French?

Are there other ways to say “beach” in French?

This list covers the most common and essential ways to say “beach” in French. However, the French language is rich with regional variations and specific terms. You might encounter words for a small cove (crique), a pebbly shore (grève), or even a sandy riverbank that didn't make our main list.

To discover local terms, try an online search for something like “plage en créole” or “crique en breton” to explore the vocabulary of specific French-speaking regions.

When you find a new synonym for plage, always check its specific meaning. For example, a grève is often a pebbly or gravelly beach, which is quite different from a sandy plage in the south of France. Context is key!

As you explore French films, books, or travel blogs, pay attention to how different coastal areas are described. You'll naturally pick up more nuanced vocabulary for different types of shorelines.

For a deeper dive into related vocabulary, like words for 'coast' (côte), 'sand' (sable), or 'dune' (dune), the WordReference entry for plage is an excellent resource to explore.

I hope this guide has prepared you for your next seaside adventure in a French-speaking country. To leave you with the right mindset, here’s a wonderful quote from French author Jules Renard: Ajouter aux plaisirs de la plage : ne rien faire, et le faire bien. (Add to the pleasures of the beach: doing nothing, and doing it well.)