When you first learn French, you probably come across the word bateau for 'boat'. And that's a great start! But the French, with their rich maritime history, have a whole fleet of words for different types of vessels. Whether you're picturing a tiny dinghy, a majestic ship, or a simple ferry, there's a specific word for it. Ready to expand your nautical vocabulary? Let's set sail and explore 9 different ways to say 'boat' in French!

1. The general term for 'boat' – un bateau

The most common and general word for 'boat' in French is un bateau. It is a masculine noun, so you always use masculine articles and adjectives with it, such as un bateau (a boat) or le bateau bleu (the blue boat).

Bateau is a highly versatile, catch-all term. It can refer to almost any type of watercraft, from a small rowboat (une barque, which is also a type of bateau) to a large cruise ship (un bateau de croisière). When in doubt about the specific name of a vessel, bateau is always the correct and safe word to use.

The plural of un bateau is des bateaux. This follows a common French grammar rule where nouns ending in -eau take an -x in the plural form instead of an -s. For example, le bateau (the boat) becomes les bateaux (the boats).

While bateau is general, French also has more specific terms. For instance, a very large ship, especially for cargo or military purposes, is often called un navire. A sailboat is un voilier. However, both a navire and a voilier can be referred to more generally as a bateau.

The word bateau also appears in a common idiom: monter un bateau à quelqu'un. This literally translates to 'to build a boat for someone,' but it actually means 'to tell someone a tall tale,' 'to trick someone,' or 'to pull someone's leg'.

💡 * Le bateau est amarré au quai. (The boat is moored at the dock.)

• Nous avons fait une excursion en bateau pour voir les dauphins. (We took a boat trip to see the dolphins.)
• Le port de Marseille est rempli de magnifiques bateaux. (The port of Marseille is full of magnificent boats.)
• Il m'a raconté une histoire incroyable, mais je pense qu'il me monte un bateau. (He told me an incredible story, but I think he's pulling my leg.)
• Quel type de bateau préférez-vous : un voilier ou un bateau à moteur ? (What type of boat do you prefer: a sailboat or a motorboat?)

The large ship – un navire

The large ship – un navire

When you need to talk about a large, sea-going vessel in French, the word you're looking for is un navire. While un bateau is a general term for 'boat', un navire specifically refers to a ship, implying significant size and capacity, typically used for sea travel.

The term navire is used to distinguish large vessels from smaller boats. Think of container ships (navires porte-conteneurs), cruise ships (navires de croisière), or naval vessels (navires de guerre). It evokes a sense of scale and purpose, such as commerce, long-distance travel, or military might.

The key distinction between un bateau and un navire is size and function. You would never call a small sailboat or a fishing dinghy un navire. This word is reserved for substantial ships that navigate open waters like oceans and seas.

To remember it, think of the English words 'navy' and 'navigate'. They all share a common root related to large ships and maritime journeys, which can help you associate navire with its proper context.

💡 * Le port du Havre accueille des navires du monde entier. (The port of Le Havre welcomes ships from all over the world.)

• Un navire de croisière peut transporter des milliers de passagers. (A cruise ship can carry thousands of passengers.)
• Le navire a quitté le quai à l'aube. (The ship left the dock at dawn.)
• C'est un énorme navire de commerce. (It's a huge merchant ship.)

The small boat or rowboat – une barque

The French word for a small, simple boat, often a rowboat, is une barque. This term specifically refers to an open boat typically used on calm waters like lakes, ponds, or slow-moving rivers.

While un bateau is the general word for 'boat' or 'ship', une barque is much more specific. Think of it as a subcategory. For example, you would take une barque out on a park lake, but you would cross the ocean on un bateau. All barques are bateaux, but not vice-versa.

A barque is usually characterized by its small size and flat bottom, and it is most often propelled by oars (rames). It's the perfect word for a classic fishing boat or a recreational rowboat.

It is important to remember that barque is a feminine noun. Therefore, it is always preceded by feminine articles, such as une barque (a rowboat) or la barque (the rowboat).

A very common expression associated with this word is faire de la barque, which means 'to go boating' or 'to go for a row'. It's a useful phrase for describing leisure activities.

💡 * Nous avons loué une barque pour explorer le lac.

• Le vieux pêcheur ramait lentement dans sa barque.
• C'est très relaxant de faire de la barque le dimanche après-midi.
• La barque en bois était amarrée au quai.

1. The sailboat – un voilier

The French word for a sailboat is un voilier. As a masculine noun, it is always preceded by masculine articles such as un (a/an) or le (the).

The word voilier comes from la voile, which means 'the sail.' This connection makes it easy to remember: a voilier is a boat that uses voiles (sails).

You can use un voilier to refer to any type of sailboat, whether it's for racing, cruising, or a leisurely day on the water. It's the general, all-purpose term.

💡 * J'ai toujours rêvé d'avoir un voilier.

• Le voilier navigue gracieusement sur la mer.
• Nous allons faire une excursion en voilier ce week-end.
• Regarde tous les voiliers dans le port !

The cruise ship or liner – un paquebot

The cruise ship or liner – un paquebot

Un paquebot is the French word for a large passenger ship, specifically an ocean liner or a cruise ship. It conveys a sense of scale and is used for vessels designed for long-distance travel.

While un bateau is the general term for 'a boat,' un paquebot is much more specific. You would use it to describe a massive ship like the Titanic or a modern cruise liner, not a small fishing boat or a ferry.

It's important to note that paquebot is a masculine noun. Therefore, you would say un paquebot (a liner) or le paquebot (the liner).

In contemporary French, un paquebot is the go-to term for the enormous cruise ships that are popular for vacations, often described as floating cities (villes flottantes).

💡 * Le paquebot est entré dans le port ce matin. (The liner entered the port this morning.)

• Nous avons réservé une croisière sur un immense paquebot. (We booked a cruise on a huge liner.)
• Le Titanic était un paquebot qui a fait naufrage en 1912. (The Titanic was a liner that sank in 1912.)
• Regarde la taille de ce paquebot ! (Look at the size of that cruise ship!)

The ferry – un ferry

The French word for 'ferry' is, conveniently, un ferry. It's a direct loanword from English, which makes it very easy for learners to remember. The spelling is identical, though the pronunciation will have a French accent.

An important detail to remember is that ferry is a masculine noun in French. Therefore, you must use masculine articles like un (a/an) or le (the). For example, you would say le ferry arrive (the ferry is arriving).

The word is used just like in English to describe a boat that transports passengers, vehicles, and goods across a body of water. The most common verb paired with it is prendre (to take), as in prendre le ferry pour la Corse (to take the ferry to Corsica).

When discussing the journey itself, you might use the noun la traversée (the crossing) or the verb traverser (to cross). For example, la traversée en ferry dure deux heures (the ferry crossing takes two hours).

💡 * Nous avons pris le ferry de Douvres à Calais.

• Le prochain ferry pour la Sardaigne part à 18h00.
• Est-ce que ce ferry transporte aussi des voitures ?
• La mer était agitée pendant la traversée en ferry.

The barge or canal boat – une péniche

The French word une péniche refers to a specific type of long, flat-bottomed boat, commonly known in English as a barge or a canal boat. You'll often see these navigating the rivers and canals of France.

Originally designed for transporting goods, many péniches have been converted into charming houseboats (péniche-habitation), floating restaurants, or even hotels, especially along the Seine River in Paris.

The word péniche is a feminine noun. Always use the feminine article with it, such as une péniche (a barge) or la péniche (the barge).

💡 * Ils ont transformé une vieille péniche en une maison flottante. (They transformed an old barge into a floating house.)

• J'adorerais passer des vacances sur une péniche et naviguer sur les canaux de Bourgogne. (I would love to spend a vacation on a canal boat and navigate the canals of Burgundy.)
• La péniche était amarrée près du Pont Neuf. (The barge was moored near the Pont Neuf.)
• Le dîner sur la péniche offrait une vue magnifique sur la ville. (The dinner on the barge offered a magnificent view of the city.)

The luxury vessel – un yacht

For a luxury vessel, the French use the word un yacht. This word is a direct borrowing from the English language, but it has a distinctly French pronunciation.

The pronunciation is a key point of difference. In French, yacht is pronounced roughly as /jɔt/ (yot). The 'ch' is silent, and the 'a' sound is short and open, unlike in English.

The term un yacht is exclusively used for large, luxurious, and often expensive private boats used for pleasure cruising or racing. It evokes images of wealth and the French Riviera.

While un yacht is a type of boat, the general term for 'boat' is un bateau. Using yacht specifies the vessel's size and luxury, whereas un bateau can refer to any boat, from a small fishing vessel to a ferry.

💡 * Le milliardaire a amarré son yacht dans le port de Monaco.

• Nous avons aperçu un magnifique yacht naviguant le long de la Côte d'Azur.
• Rêver d'avoir un yacht est une chose, l'entretenir en est une autre.

1. The General Term for a Boat: Une Embarcation

The French noun une embarcation is a general term for a small boat or watercraft. As a feminine noun, it broadly covers any vessel used for navigating on water, especially smaller ones. Think of it as the equivalent of 'watercraft' or 'vessel' in English.

You will most often encounter une embarcation in more formal or official contexts, such as in news reports about maritime incidents, safety regulations, or rental agreements. In everyday casual conversation, French speakers are more likely to use a more specific word like un bateau (a boat) or une barque (a small rowboat).

Use une embarcation when you want to refer to a small boat in a general sense without specifying its type. It's the perfect word if you see a vessel on the water and aren't sure if it's a dinghy, a skiff, or a small motorboat. It encompasses all of them under the umbrella of 'light watercraft'.

💡 * Le port était rempli de petites embarcations de pêche. (The harbor was full of small fishing boats.)

• Une embarcation légère a chaviré à cause des vagues. (A light watercraft capsized because of the waves.)
• La location d'une embarcation pour la journée coûte cinquante euros. (Renting a small boat for the day costs fifty euros.)
• Les garde-côtes ont secouru les passagers de l'embarcation. (The coast guard rescued the passengers of the vessel.)

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

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

Our list covers the most common and useful ways to say “boat” in French. However, French is a language rich with maritime history, so you'll find many other terms, from highly specific nautical vocabulary to regional slang you might only hear in coastal towns!

You can also do an online search for “comment dire bateau en ___” followed by a specific Francophone region known for its coast, like Brittany (Bretagne) or Quebec.

You might discover some fascinating synonyms for bateau this way. Of course, remember to check a word’s specific definition and see how it's used in context. A péniche (a barge) is very different from a voilier (a sailboat)!

Pay close attention as you read French literature, watch films, or listen to songs, especially those with maritime themes. You're sure to discover even more nuanced ways to talk about boats.

And if you’re looking for more technical terms or words related to different parts of a boat, the WordReference entry for bateau is an excellent starting point!

I hope this guide has helped you navigate the many French words for 'boat'. To finish, here’s a beautiful quote from Jules Verne's Captain Nemo: La mer est le véhicule d'une existence prodigieuse et surnaturelle; c'est le mouvement et l'amour; c'est l'infini vivant. (The sea is the vehicle of a prodigious and supernatural existence; it is movement and love; it is living infinity.)