The most common way to say “cinema” in French is, unsurprisingly, le cinéma (often shortened to le ciné). But the French, famous for their love of film, have more than one way to talk about this beloved pastime.

As you plan a trip to a French-speaking country or simply want to impress your French friends, you might want to know the different ways to refer to the movie theater or the art of filmmaking itself.

Let’s look at some common and interesting ways to say “cinema” in French!

1. The Standard 'Cinema' – Le Cinéma

Le cinéma is the most common and standard French word for both the art of filmmaking and the movie theater itself. It's a masculine noun, so you'll always see it preceded by articles like le or un.

The key to understanding le cinéma is recognizing its two primary meanings, which are usually clear from the context:

• As an Art Form: It refers to the industry, the concept of film, or a specific style of filmmaking (e.g., le cinéma français - French cinema).
• As a Physical Place: It refers to the building where you go to watch films—the movie theater or cinema.

When talking about the action of going to a movie theater, the preposition à is combined with the article le to form au. The phrase aller au cinéma is the direct equivalent of "to go to the movies."

When discussing cinema as a concept or art form, you will typically use le cinéma. For example, you might say, J'étudie le cinéma (I study film) or Le cinéma a beaucoup évolué (Cinema has evolved a lot).

In everyday, informal conversation, French speakers often shorten le cinéma to le ciné. It's very common to hear someone ask, On se fait un ciné ce soir ? (Shall we do a movie tonight?).

💡 * On va au cinéma ce week-end pour voir le nouveau film de science-fiction.

• J'adore le cinéma italien des années 60.
• Tu veux aller au ciné avec nous demain soir ?
• Le cinéma de mon quartier a fermé l'année dernière.
• Elle rêve de travailler dans le monde du cinéma.

The common abbreviation for 'cinema' – le ciné

In everyday French conversation, you'll frequently hear the word cinéma shortened to its more casual and extremely common form: le ciné.

Le ciné is the informal, colloquial abbreviation for le cinéma, meaning 'the cinema' or 'the movies'. It's the standard term used in relaxed, everyday speech among friends and family, much like saying 'the movies' in English.

A key point to remember is that the abbreviation retains the gender of the original word. Since cinéma is masculine, its shortened form is also masculine: it is always le ciné.

You'll use le ciné when making plans or talking about films in a casual context. For instance, asking a friend On va au ciné ce soir ? (Are we going to the movies tonight?) sounds much more natural to a native speaker than using the full word cinéma.

This abbreviation is a building block for other common phrases. You'll often hear aller au ciné (to go to the movies) or se faire un ciné (to catch a movie/to do a movie night).

The existence and widespread use of a casual term like le ciné highlights the central role that cinema plays in French culture. It's not just an activity; it's a common and beloved part of social life, deserving of its own familiar nickname.

💡 *On se fait un ciné ce week-end ? (Shall we go to the movies this weekend?)
*J'adore les soirées ciné à la maison. (I love movie nights at home.)
*Quel film tu as vu au ciné récemment ? (What movie did you see at the cinema recently?)
Le ciné est juste au coin de la rue. (The cinema is just around the corner.)

The 'movie theater' building – la salle de cinéma

When you want to talk specifically about the physical room or auditorium where a movie is shown, the correct French term is la salle de cinéma.

Literally, this translates to 'the room of cinema' or 'the cinema hall'. The word salle by itself means 'room' or 'hall'. Adding de cinéma specifies its function, much like 'concert hall' (salle de concert).

This term is more specific than the general le cinéma, which refers to the entire movie theater complex or the concept of cinema as an art form. You would say On va au cinéma (We're going to the movies), but once inside, you look for your specific salle de cinéma.

In a practical sense, you'll see this on your ticket or on signs inside the building directing you to a specific auditorium, often numbered, like Salle 3.

💡 * La salle de cinéma était pleine pour l'avant-première.

• Veuillez vous diriger vers la salle 4 pour la projection.
• J'aime les grandes salles de cinéma avec un son immersif.
• Il est interdit de filmer à l'intérieur de la salle de cinéma.

The 'big screen' – le grand écran

The 'big screen' – le grand écran

Le grand écran is the direct French equivalent of 'the big screen.' It specifically refers to the cinema or movie theater, distinguishing it from television, which is often called le petit écran (the small screen).

This phrase is commonly used when discussing films intended for theatrical release, a novel's adaptation into a movie, or an actor's career in cinema. For example, you might say a film is 'made for le grand écran.'

The expression is masculine, so it uses the masculine article le. When used with the preposition à (to/on), it contracts to au, as in 'voir un film au grand écran' (to see a film on the big screen).

💡 * J'adore regarder les films de science-fiction sur le grand écran.

• Son roman a finalement été adapté pour le grand écran.
• C'est la première fois que cet acteur apparaît sur le grand écran.
• Le film a été un succès au grand écran avant d'arriver à la télévision.

The 'dark rooms' (a poetic term) – les salles obscures

A beautiful and poetic term, les salles obscures is a literary way to refer to the movie theater or cinema.

Literally translating to 'the dark rooms,' the expression perfectly captures the experience of sitting in a darkened auditorium, focused solely on the illuminated screen.

This is not an everyday expression. You'll typically encounter les salles obscures in film reviews, articles, or more formal discussions about cinema as an art form. For casually asking a friend to the movies, you would stick with le cinéma.

Using this phrase adds a touch of elegance and nostalgia. It evokes the classic, shared experience of watching a film in a theater, distinguishing it from watching at home.

In short, while you wouldn't typically say, 'On va aux salles obscures ?' to a friend, recognizing this term is key to understanding French film criticism and cultural articles about cinema.

💡 * Le nouveau film de ce réalisateur arrive enfin dans les salles obscures. (This director's new film is finally arriving in theaters.)

• Rien ne remplace la magie des salles obscures. (Nothing replaces the magic of the movie theater.)
• C'est un film qui mérite d'être vu dans une salle obscure. (It's a film that deserves to be seen in a dark room/theater.)
• Les critiques célèbrent le retour du public dans les salles obscures. (Critics are celebrating the public's return to the cinemas.)

The 'seventh art' (a formal term) – le septième art

In French, le septième art (literally 'the seventh art') is a formal and poetic expression used to refer to cinema or filmmaking. It's a high-register term that elevates film to the same artistic level as traditional arts like literature, music, or painting.

The phrase was coined by the early 20th-century critic Ricciotto Canudo, who wanted to legitimize cinema as a true art form. He designated it as the 'seventh' art, following the six traditional arts he identified: architecture, sculpture, painting, music, poetry, and dance. For him, cinema was the ultimate art as it synthesized the others.

You will typically encounter le septième art in formal contexts like film criticism, academic essays, journalism, and cultural discussions. It is not used in everyday conversation. For example, to ask someone to the movies, you would say On va au cinéma ? not On va au septième art ?.

Using le septième art signals a serious, appreciative discussion about film as a cultural product. It’s similar to using phrases like 'the silver screen' or 'the cinematic arts' in English. It emphasizes the craft and cultural impact of filmmaking over its role as simple entertainment.

💡 * Le Festival de Cannes est une grande célébration du septième art.

• Ce réalisateur a marqué l'histoire du septième art avec ses films innovants.
• De nombreux critiques le considèrent comme un chef-d'œuvre du septième art.
• Elle a consacré sa vie à l'étude du septième art.

The slang term for 'cinema' – le cinoche

In casual, everyday French, you'll frequently hear the word le cinoche. This is a very common slang term for le cinéma, meaning 'the cinema' or 'the movies'. It's an informal and friendly way to refer to going to see a film.

Just like its formal counterpart le cinéma, le cinoche is a masculine noun. You would use this term in relaxed situations, for example, when making plans with friends. While you might say le cinéma in a professional or academic context, le cinoche is perfect for sounding natural in informal conversations.

💡 * On se fait un cinoche ce soir ? (Are we doing a movie tonight?)

• J'adore aller au cinoche le dimanche après-midi. (I love going to the movies on Sunday afternoons.)
• C'était quoi le dernier bon film que tu as vu au cinoche ? (What was the last good film you saw at the cinema?)

The 'cinema complex' or 'multiplex' – le multiplexe

The 'cinema complex' or 'multiplex' – le multiplexe

The word le multiplexe is the French term for a 'multiplex,' a large, modern cinema complex featuring multiple screens. It's a direct borrowing from English and is used to distinguish these large venues from a traditional single-screen theater, or un cinéma.

Typically, un multiplexe is found in a commercial area or suburb and shows mainstream blockbuster films. This contrasts with smaller, often older cinémas (sometimes called cinémas d'art et d'essai) located in city centers that might show independent or classic films.

Note that le multiplexe is a masculine noun. Therefore, you would say un multiplexe for 'a multiplex' and le multiplexe for 'the multiplex'.

💡 * On se retrouve devant le multiplexe à 20h. (Let's meet in front of the multiplex at 8 PM.)

• Le nouveau multiplexe a des sièges très confortables. (The new multiplex has very comfortable seats.)
• Il y a toujours plus de choix de films dans un multiplexe. (There is always a wider choice of films in a multiplex.)

1. Le Cinéma d'Art et d'Essai: The French 'Art House Cinema'

The French term for 'art house cinema' is le cinéma d'art et d'essai. This phrase literally translates to 'cinema of art and trial' or 'cinema of art and experiment.' It refers to a type of cinema that prioritizes films for their artistic value, originality, and cultural significance over their commercial appeal.

Let's deconstruct the term: cinéma (cinema), art (art), and essai (trial/test/essay). The word essai is crucial; it implies that these cinemas showcase films that are experimental, thought-provoking, or that challenge conventional narrative structures, much like a written essay explores a topic in depth.

In France, cinémas d'art et d'essai are a vital part of the cultural scene. They are officially classified and often receive state support to help promote independent French and international films. They are the primary venues for watching films in their original language with subtitles (version originale sous-titrée, or VOST) and serve as cultural hubs for cinephiles, often hosting festivals and director Q&As.

You use le cinéma d'art et d'essai to talk about the specific venues or the genre of films they screen. It stands in contrast to a mainstream commercial cinema, known as a multiplexe. If you prefer foreign films, documentaries, or independent features, you would say you're a fan of this type of cinema.

💡 * J'ai vu un film japonais magnifique dans un petit cinéma d'art et d'essai.

• Ce réalisateur est considéré comme une icône du cinéma d'art et d'essai.
• Les grands multiplexes passent rarement des films d'art et d'essai.
• Si tu aimes les films qui font réfléchir, je te conseille d'aller plus souvent au cinéma d'art et d'essai.

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

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

Our list features the most common ways to say 'cinema' in French, from the classic le cinéma to the casual le ciné. However, French is a living language with many regional variations and ever-evolving slang that you might encounter.

You can discover more local or specific terms by searching online for phrases like “comment on dit cinéma en québécois” or by exploring French film forums and discussion boards.

When you find a new synonym, always check the context in which it's used. Is it formal, informal, or specific to a certain social group? This will help you use it correctly and sound more like a native speaker.

Pay close attention when you watch French movies, series, or interviews with directors and actors. Listening to how native speakers talk about their work is the best way to pick up authentic vocabulary.

If you want to explore more vocabulary related to film, from genres to technical terms, the Larousse or Le Robert online dictionaries are fantastic resources for Francophiles.

I hope this article has been a useful guide for your French learning journey. To finish, here is a wonderful quote from the legendary French director François Truffaut: “Le cinéma, c'est un art de la femme, c'est-à-dire un art de l'actrice.” (Cinema is an art of the woman, which is to say, an art of the actress.)