Chaise is the most common way to say “chair” in French. But did you know there are several other options and nuances? Whether you're furnishing a home, describing a piece of furniture, or simply expanding your vocabulary, knowing different terms for 'chair' can be incredibly useful. Let’s explore some common and less common ways to say “chair” (and related seating options) in French!

The standard 'chair' – chaise

The standard 'chair' – chaise

The most common and versatile word for 'chair' in French is chaise.

In French, chaise is a feminine noun. This means it takes feminine articles and adjectives. It's une chaise (a chair) in the singular and des chaises (chairs) in the plural.

Chaise refers to a standard chair, typically with a back and four legs, used for sitting. It's your go-to word for chairs in dining rooms, kitchens, offices, or classrooms.

While chaise covers most standard chairs, it's important to differentiate it from other types of seating. A fauteuil is an armchair, usually more comfortable and upholstered, often found in living rooms. A tabouret is a stool, a seat without a back or arms.

You'll often hear chaise in common phrases. For example, prendre une chaise means 'to take a chair' or 'to sit down,' and s'asseoir sur une chaise means 'to sit on a chair.'

Because of its broad applicability, chaise is the essential word to learn when talking about chairs in French. If in doubt, chaise is usually the correct choice.

💡 * J'ai acheté une nouvelle chaise pour mon bureau. (I bought a new chair for my office.)

Il y a quatre chaises autour de la table. (There are four chairs around the table.)

Assieds-toi sur cette chaise. (Sit on this chair.)

Les chaises du jardin sont en plastique. (The garden chairs are made of plastic.)

Elle a renversé sa chaise en se levant. (She knocked over her chair when she stood up.)

The 'armchair' – fauteuil

In French, the word for an 'armchair' is fauteuil. This term specifically refers to a comfortable, often upholstered chair designed for relaxation, typically featuring armrests.

While chaise is the general term for a 'chair', a fauteuil implies a higher degree of comfort and often a more substantial design. Think of it as a plush, inviting seat rather than a basic dining chair.

You'll most commonly find a fauteuil in a living room, study, or library, serving as a focal point for relaxation, reading, or comfortable seating. It's built for settling in.

The term fauteuil also extends to specific types, like a fauteuil roulant (wheelchair), where the core idea of a specialized, often comfortable or supportive seat is maintained. Historically, fauteuils were also significant pieces of royal and aristocratic furniture.

Ultimately, when you hear fauteuil, think comfort, relaxation, and a dedicated spot to unwind. It’s more than just a place to sit; it’s an invitation to settle in.

💡 * J'aime lire un livre confortablement installé dans mon fauteuil. (I like to read a book comfortably settled in my armchair.)

Le salon a deux beaux fauteuils anciens. (The living room has two beautiful antique armchairs.)

Grand-mère a besoin de son fauteuil roulant pour se déplacer. (Grandma needs her wheelchair to get around.)

Ce fauteuil est parfait pour faire une sieste. (This armchair is perfect for taking a nap.)

The 'stool' – tabouret

In French, the common word for 'stool' is tabouret.

A tabouret is essentially a seat that lacks a backrest and often armrests, setting it apart from a standard chaise (chair).

You'll frequently find tabourets in various settings, such as tabourets de bar (bar stools), kitchen islands, or even in art studios and workshops.

Tabouret is a masculine noun. Therefore, you will use masculine articles like un (a/an) and le (the) with it.

To make it plural, you simply add an 's': des tabourets (stools) or les tabourets (the stools).

💡 * J'ai besoin d'un tabouret pour atteindre l'étagère du haut. (I need a stool to reach the top shelf.)

Les tabourets de bar sont très confortables dans ce café. (The bar stools are very comfortable in this cafe.)

Elle s'est assise sur un petit tabouret pour peindre. (She sat on a small stool to paint.)

Combien coûtent ces tabourets de cuisine? (How much do these kitchen stools cost?)

The 'desk chair' – chaise de bureau

The common term for 'desk chair' in French is chaise de bureau.

This phrase literally translates to 'chair of office'. The key noun is chaise (chair), which is a feminine noun in French. Therefore, it will always be preceded by feminine articles (e.g., une chaise, la chaise) and modified by feminine adjectives.

When speaking of a desk chair, the full phrase chaise de bureau is almost always used to specify its function. This distinguishes it from other types of chairs, such as a dining chair (chaise de salle à manger) or an armchair (fauteuil).

💡 * J'ai besoin d'une nouvelle chaise de bureau pour mon télétravail. (I need a new desk chair for my remote work.)

Cette chaise de bureau est très confortable. (This desk chair is very comfortable.)

Peux-tu me passer la chaise de bureau ? (Can you pass me the desk chair?)

Nous avons commandé plusieurs chaises de bureau pour l'entreprise. (We ordered several desk chairs for the company.)

The 'rocking chair' – rocking-chair

A rocking-chair is a type of chair with two curved bands (rockers) attached to the bottom of its legs, allowing the occupant to rock back and forth.

Interestingly, the French language has adopted the English term rocking-chair directly, showcasing how certain foreign words integrate seamlessly into everyday vocabulary.

While some might expect a French equivalent, rocking-chair is the universally understood and preferred term in France, pronounced with a French accent but retaining its English spelling.

It commonly evokes images of comfort, relaxation, and often, a cozy corner in a living room, a nursery for soothing a baby, or a porch.

When pluralized, it typically follows French pluralization rules for compound nouns, becoming des rocking-chairs (adding an 's' to the second element).

💡 * Mon grand-père aime lire dans son vieux rocking-chair. (My grandfather likes to read in his old rocking chair.)

Elle a acheté un rocking-chair pour la chambre de bébé. (She bought a rocking chair for the baby's room.)

Le rocking-chair en bois est très confortable. (The wooden rocking chair is very comfortable.)

Nous avons deux rocking-chairs sur la véranda. (We have two rocking chairs on the porch.)

The 'lounge chair' or 'deckchair' – chaise longue

The French term chaise longue literally translates to 'long chair.' In English, it's commonly known as a 'lounge chair,' 'deckchair,' or sometimes even a 'recliner,' though it specifically refers to a chair long enough to support the legs.

You'll most often encounter a chaise longue in outdoor settings like patios, gardens, or by a swimming pool, where people relax and sunbathe. However, elegant indoor versions also exist, often as a stylish piece of living room furniture for reading or lounging.

Breaking down the term, chaise means 'chair,' and longue means 'long' (feminine form, as chaise is a feminine noun). This straightforward description perfectly captures its function as an elongated chair designed for relaxation.

The pronunciation is [ʃɛz lɔ̃g]. Remember that it's a fixed expression, so always use both words together. It's a versatile piece of furniture, perfect for any relaxed setting, whether soaking up the sun or enjoying a good book indoors.

💡 * Nous avons acheté une nouvelle chaise longue pour le jardin. (We bought a new lounge chair for the garden.)

J'adore me détendre sur ma chaise longue au bord de la piscine. (I love relaxing on my deckchair by the pool.)

Cette chaise longue est très confortable pour lire. (This lounge chair is very comfortable for reading.)

Où as-tu trouvé cette belle chaise longue design ? (Where did you find this beautiful designer chaise longue?)

The 'high chair' (for a baby) – chaise haute

When you need to refer to a high chair specifically designed for a baby, the French term to use is chaise haute.

This term refers exclusively to the specialized chair used to feed infants and toddlers, elevating them to table height. It's not used for a general tall chair.

Since chaise is a feminine noun in French, chaise haute is also feminine. You will always use it with feminine articles and adjectives, such as une chaise haute or la chaise haute.

💡 *Elle a acheté une nouvelle chaise haute pour son bébé. (She bought a new high chair for her baby.)
*N'oublie pas d'attacher le bébé dans la chaise haute. (Don't forget to strap the baby into the high chair.)
*La chaise haute est facile à nettoyer. (The high chair is easy to clean.)
*Nous avons besoin d'une chaise haute pliable pour les voyages. (We need a foldable high chair for travel.)

The 'folding chair' – chaise pliante

The 'folding chair' – chaise pliante introduces the standard French term for a collapsible seat. Literally, chaise means 'chair' and pliante means 'folding'.

This term is commonly used for any chair designed to fold flat, making it easy to store and transport. It's perfect for camping, picnics, or providing extra seating for guests.

Chaise is a feminine noun, so the adjective pliante (from the verb plier, 'to fold') agrees in gender. The plural form is chaises pliantes.

💡 * J'ai acheté deux chaises pliantes pour le balcon. (I bought two folding chairs for the balcony.)

Nous avons besoin de plus de chaises pliantes pour la fête. (We need more folding chairs for the party.)

La chaise pliante est facile à ranger. (The folding chair is easy to store.)

Peux-tu apporter la chaise pliante du garage? (Can you bring the folding chair from the garage?)

1. The 'wheelchair' – fauteuil roulant

The most direct and widely accepted way to say 'wheelchair' in French is fauteuil roulant.

This term literally translates to 'rolling armchair' or 'rolling chair'. Fauteuil means 'armchair' or a more comfortable type of chair, while roulant is the present participle of the verb rouler (to roll).

You will hear fauteuil roulant used in all contexts, from medical settings to everyday conversation. It is the standard and most respectful term.

When referring to a person who uses a wheelchair, the common and respectful phrase is une personne en fauteuil roulant (a person in a wheelchair). Avoid outdated or less sensitive terms.

💡 *Elle a besoin d'un fauteuil roulant pour se déplacer. (She needs a wheelchair to get around.)
*Le stade est accessible aux fauteuils roulants. (The stadium is accessible to wheelchairs.)
*J'ai aidé une personne en fauteuil roulant à monter les escaliers. (I helped a person in a wheelchair go up the stairs.)
*Ce modèle de fauteuil roulant est très léger. (This wheelchair model is very light.)
*Ils ont acheté un nouveau fauteuil roulant électrique. (They bought a new electric wheelchair.)

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

Our list features the most common ways to say 'chair' in French. But there are other terms, from old-fashioned ones, to regional ones, to up-and-coming slang ones this middle-aged author might not even be aware of!

You can also do an online search for 'comment dire chaise en ___' followed by a specific Francophone country or region.

You might find some interesting synonyms for chaise on this list. Of course, make sure to check a word’s definition and try to see it used in context before you use it.

Pay attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — you may discover different ways to talk about chairs.

And if you’re looking for ways to talk about different kinds of chairs, or words related to furniture in French, the WordReference entry for chaise is a great place to start!

I hope you found this article helpful. Learning the specific vocabulary for everyday objects like 'chair' is a great way to deepen your understanding of French. Keep exploring and noticing the world around you in French!

9 ways to say "chair" in French