La couverture is the most common way to say “blanket” in French, and it's the one you'll likely learn first. But what if you're looking for a cozy throw for the sofa, a thick quilt for winter, or a baby's comforter?

As you get cozy with the French language, you'll discover there are many different words for the things that keep you warm!

Let's snuggle up and explore nine different ways to say “blanket” in French, so you'll always have the right word at your fingertips.

1. The standard 'blanket' – une couverture

Une couverture is the most common and standard French word for a blanket, the kind you would typically find on a bed for warmth while sleeping.

This noun comes directly from the verb couvrir, which means 'to cover'. This connection makes it easy to remember: a couverture is the object that covers you.

It's important to distinguish une couverture from similar items. A smaller, decorative blanket you'd use on a couch is called un plaid (a throw blanket). A child's small, treasured security blanket is often called un doudou. Use couverture specifically for the main, functional blanket on a bed.

Be aware that couverture is a versatile word with other common meanings. Context will tell you if someone is talking about a bed blanket, la couverture d'un livre (a book cover), la couverture médiatique (media coverage), or even la couverture réseau (cell phone reception/network coverage).

💡 * J'ai froid, peux-tu me passer la couverture s'il te plaît ? (I'm cold, can you please pass me the blanket?)

• En hiver, nous dormons avec une grosse couverture en laine. (In winter, we sleep with a thick wool blanket.)
• La couverture de ce roman est très intrigante. (The cover of this novel is very intriguing.)
• Le bébé s'est endormi avec sa petite couverture bleue. (The baby fell asleep with his little blue blanket.)

The 'comforter' or 'duvet' – une couette

When talking about bedding in French, the word for a 'comforter' or 'duvet' is une couette. This is the most common and essential term you'll need for this thick, warm bed covering.

A couette is a soft quilt, typically filled with down (duvet), feathers (plumes), or a synthetic alternative. It serves as the main blanket on a bed, providing warmth and comfort.

Crucially, a couette is almost always used with a protective, decorative cover called a housse de couette (duvet cover). Unlike some comforters where the pattern is part of the quilt itself, the French couette is typically plain white and is meant to be inserted into this washable cover.

In France, using a couette with its housse is the modern standard. This system often replaces the more traditional layering of a top sheet (drap plat) and separate blankets (couvertures). Many people sleep directly under the covered couette without a top sheet, which simplifies making the bed.

So, if you're shopping for bedding in France, you'll look for une couette for the filling and une housse de couette for the cover. They are sold separately or as part of a set (parure de lit).

💡 * J'ai acheté une nouvelle couette pour l'hiver, elle est très chaude.

• Peux-tu m'aider à changer la housse de couette ?
• En été, je préfère une couette légère.
• Sur le lit, il y a une grande couette blanche et deux oreillers.

The 'throw blanket' – un plaid

In French, the common word for a 'throw blanket'—that cozy blanket you keep on your sofa or armchair—is un plaid.

Un plaid is a masculine noun. This word is borrowed directly from English, referring to the Scottish tartan pattern, but its meaning in French has evolved to mean the blanket itself, regardless of pattern.

You'll typically use un plaid when talking about a smaller, often decorative blanket used for snuggling on a couch or for extra warmth while relaxing. It's the perfect accessory for a cozy evening (une soirée cocooning).

It's important to distinguish un plaid from une couverture. While une couverture is the general term for a blanket, it usually refers to the larger, heavier blankets you use on a bed for sleeping. Un plaid is specifically for the living room or as an extra decorative layer.

The plural form is regular: des plaids. For example, you might say, Nous avons plusieurs plaids sur notre canapé en hiver (We have several throw blankets on our sofa in the winter).

💡 * Il fait froid, je vais chercher un plaid pour mettre sur mes genoux.

• J'adore le motif de ce plaid écossais.
• Le chat dort toujours sur le plaid du fauteuil.
• Pourrais-tu me passer le plaid qui est sur le canapé ?

The 'quilt' or 'bedspread' – un couvre-lit

The French term for a decorative 'quilt' or 'bedspread' is un couvre-lit.

This compound noun is quite literal. It combines couvre (from the verb couvrir, meaning 'to cover') and lit (meaning 'bed'). Together, it simply means 'bed cover'.

A couvre-lit is primarily the top, decorative layer you put on a made bed. It's not typically used for sleeping under, unlike a couette (duvet) or couverture (blanket).

Because the main noun lit is masculine, the entire term un couvre-lit is also masculine. You will always refer to it using masculine articles like un or le.

💡 * J'ai acheté un nouveau couvre-lit pour ma chambre. (I bought a new bedspread for my room.)

• Ce couvre-lit en velours est très doux. (This velvet bedspread is very soft.)
• Le matin, elle remet le couvre-lit sur le lit. (In the morning, she puts the bedspread back on the bed.)
• Ma grand-mère a cousu ce magnifique couvre-lit. (My grandmother sewed this magnificent quilt.)

The thick 'quilt' or 'eiderdown' – un édredon

Un édredon is a thick, puffy quilt, traditionally filled with down feathers. The name itself comes from the Eider duck, whose feathers were famously used for their exceptional warmth. It's placed on top of other bedding for extra insulation.

Don't confuse an édredon with a couette (duvet). A couette is a large, all-purpose bed covering that you put inside a decorative cover (housse de couette). An édredon, however, is typically smaller, often doesn't use a cover, and serves as an additional, decorative layer on top of sheets and blankets.

Using the word édredon can sound slightly traditional or even a bit luxurious, evoking images of cozy, classic bedrooms. It's the perfect term for a thick, decorative quilt used for warmth and style, especially during cold winter months.

It's important to remember that édredon is a masculine noun. Therefore, you always say un édredon or le vieil édredon (the old eiderdown).

💡 * En hiver, j'adore me blottir sous mon vieil édredon en plumes.

• Elle a acheté un édredon en velours pour décorer sa chambre.
• Cet édredon est si chaud que je n'ai plus besoin d'autre couverture.
• La différence entre une couette et un édredon est principalement la taille et l'usage.

The 'electric blanket' – une couverture chauffante

The French term for 'electric blanket' is a straightforward and literal translation: une couverture chauffante.

Let's break down the phrase. Une couverture means 'a blanket'. The word chauffante is the feminine form of the adjective chauffant, which comes from the verb chauffer (to heat). So, the term literally means 'a heating blanket'.

This is the standard and universally understood term. You will find it used in stores, online, and in everyday conversations about home comfort during the colder months. There isn't really a slang or alternative term for it.

When discussing its features, you might talk about the réglages de température (temperature settings) or the minuterie (timer). It's a common household item, especially in colder regions of France or Canada.

💡 * J'ai branché ma couverture chauffante car j'ai froid ce soir.

• Penses-tu qu'une couverture chauffante est un bon cadeau de Noël ?
• Il y a une promotion sur les couvertures chauffantes au magasin.
• N'oublie pas d'éteindre la couverture chauffante avant de quitter la maison.

The 'fleece blanket' – une couverture polaire

The French term for a 'fleece blanket' is une couverture polaire. This phrase is composed of two parts: une couverture, which means 'a blanket', and the adjective polaire, which means 'fleece' (literally 'polar', as in polar fleece).

The noun couverture is feminine, which is why it is preceded by the feminine article une. Consequently, you will always refer to it as la couverture polaire (the fleece blanket) or une couverture polaire (a fleece blanket).

This term is the standard way to refer to a fleece blanket in everyday French conversation, whether you're shopping for one or just looking for it at home. A related term is un plaid, which often refers to a smaller throw blanket that can also be made of fleece.

💡 * J'ai besoin d'une couverture polaire pour le canapé. (I need a fleece blanket for the sofa.)

• En hiver, je dors toujours avec une couverture polaire. (In the winter, I always sleep with a fleece blanket.)
• Cette couverture polaire est très douce et chaude. (This fleece blanket is very soft and warm.)
• N'oublie pas de prendre la couverture polaire pour le pique-nique ! (Don't forget to take the fleece blanket for the picnic!)

1. The 'baby blanket' – une couverture pour bébé

The 'baby blanket' – une couverture pour bébé

The most direct and common translation for 'baby blanket' is une couverture pour bébé. The word couverture means 'blanket' or 'cover,' and pour bébé literally means 'for baby.' This is the standard term you'll hear and see in shops across France.

It's important to remember that couverture is a feminine noun, which is why it's preceded by une. Any adjectives describing it must also be in the feminine form, such as une couverture douce et chaude (a soft and warm blanket).

For a smaller, often decorative or lighter blanket, you might also hear the term un plaid (pour bébé). A plaid is similar to a 'throw blanket' and is often used in strollers or as an extra layer.

💡 * J'ai acheté une jolie couverture pour bébé comme cadeau de naissance.

• N'oublie pas la couverture pour bébé, il commence à faire frais.
• Cette couverture pour bébé est incroyablement douce au toucher.

1. The Decorative 'Coverlet' – Un Dessus-de-lit

The French term for a decorative coverlet or bedspread is un dessus-de-lit. This is a masculine noun and a compound word that literally translates to 'on-top-of-the-bed' (dessus = on top, de = of, lit = bed). It perfectly describes its primary function as a covering layer placed over the main bedding.

Unlike a duvet (une couette) or a blanket (une couverture) which are used for warmth, un dessus-de-lit is mainly for decoration. It's placed over the bed during the day to give the room a tidy, finished look and to protect the sheets from dust. It is typically removed before sleeping at night.

You might also encounter the term un couvre-lit, which is a very close synonym and often used interchangeably with un dessus-de-lit. Another similar item is un jeté de lit (a bed throw), which is generally smaller and draped more casually over the foot of the bed or a piece of furniture.

💡 * Le dessus-de-lit en velours est parfait pour l'hiver.

• J'ai trouvé un joli dessus-de-lit assorti aux rideaux.
• Chaque matin, elle remet le dessus-de-lit sur son lit bien fait.
• N'oublie pas d'enlever le dessus-de-lit avant de dormir ce soir.

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

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

Our list has covered the most common ways to say “blanket” in French, from the standard une couverture to the cozy un plaid. However, French is full of specific vocabulary for home goods. You may still encounter regional terms, old-fashioned words, or names for very specific types of blankets you won't find on our list.

If you're curious about what people say in a particular Francophone region, you can do an online search for “comment dire blanket en français ___” followed by the name of a country or region, like Québec or Switzerland.

When you discover a new synonym, be sure to check its precise definition and see it used in context. A word you find might refer specifically to a quilt (un édredon), a comforter (une couette), or a baby blanket (une gigoteuse), so it’s important to understand the nuance before using it.

The best way to expand your vocabulary is through immersion. Pay attention as you read, watch movies, or even shop online in French. You’ll naturally pick up on the different words used to describe the cozy coverings on beds and sofas.

If you want to explore more vocabulary related to bedding and comfort, the WordReference entry for couverture is a fantastic resource. You can find many related terms and example sentences to guide you.

I hope this article has helped you get comfortable with this cozy vocabulary. While there isn't a famous French quote about blankets, we can end with a simple, warm thought: Il n'y a rien de tel qu'une bonne couverture pour se sentir chez soi, où que l'on soit. (There’s nothing like a good blanket to feel at home, wherever you are.)