Thinking of "computer" in French? Your first thought might be l'ordinateur, and you'd be right – it's the most common term. But just like in English, where we might say "PC," "laptop," or "machine," French also offers a variety of words to describe these essential devices.

Whether you're chatting with friends, reading tech articles, or navigating a professional setting, knowing these different terms will make your French sound much more natural and precise.

Let's dive into 9 different ways to say "computer" in French, ranging from everyday slang to more formal expressions!

The most common 'computer' – ordinateur

The most common 'computer' – ordinateur

Ordinateur is the standard and most widely used word for 'computer' in French.

This noun is masculine. Therefore, you'll use it with masculine articles and adjectives, such as un ordinateur (a computer) or le vieil ordinateur (the old computer).

The word ordinateur comes from the verb ordonner, meaning 'to order' or 'to organize'. This reflects its primary function: to process and organize information.

It's a versatile term that can refer to any type of computer, from a personal computer to a server, making it your go-to word in most situations.

To form the plural, you simply add an 's': des ordinateurs (computers).

While ordinateur is general, you can specify the type of computer with common phrases: un ordinateur portable (a laptop) and un ordinateur de bureau (a desktop computer).

💡 * J'ai acheté un nouvel ordinateur pour le travail. (I bought a new computer for work.)

Mon ordinateur portable est très léger et rapide. (My laptop is very light and fast.)

Elle passe beaucoup de temps devant son ordinateur. (She spends a lot of time in front of her computer.)

Nous avons plusieurs ordinateurs dans le bureau. (We have several computers in the office.)

L'ordinateur de bureau est plus puissant que le portable. (The desktop computer is more powerful than the laptop.)

The 'personal computer' – PC

Just like in English, the abbreviation PC is widely used in French to refer to a 'personal computer'.

The acronym PC stands for personal computer, and its meaning is identical in French. It refers to a computer designed for general use by a single person.

In everyday conversation, French speakers frequently use PC as a shorthand for ordinateur personnel. You'll hear phrases like mon PC (my PC) or un PC portable (a laptop PC).

While PC is often used interchangeably with ordinateur (the general French word for 'computer'), it can sometimes carry a more specific connotation, particularly when differentiating from Apple products.

Culturally, particularly in discussions about operating systems or brands, PC often implies a computer running Windows or Linux, distinguishing it from an Apple Macintosh (Mac) computer. So, if someone says J'ai un PC, they usually mean a non-Mac computer.

You'll often hear verbs like utiliser son PC (to use one's PC), allumer le PC (to turn on the PC), or acheter un nouveau PC (to buy a new PC). It's a very versatile and commonly understood term.

💡 * J'ai besoin d'acheter un nouveau PC, le mien est trop lent. (I need to buy a new PC, mine is too slow.)

Est-ce que tu préfères travailler sur PC ou sur Mac ? (Do you prefer working on a PC or a Mac?)

Mon PC portable est en panne, je dois le faire réparer. (My laptop PC is broken, I need to get it repaired.)

Il a passé toute la soirée devant son PC à jouer. (He spent the whole evening in front of his PC playing games.)

The 'laptop' (short for 'ordinateur portable') – portable

In French, when you want to refer to a laptop, the most common and concise term you'll hear is portable.

This word is actually a shortened version of ordinateur portable, which literally means 'portable computer'. While ordinateur portable is grammatically correct and understood, portable is used far more frequently in everyday conversation.

As a noun referring to a laptop, portable is masculine: un portable (a laptop) or le portable (the laptop). Remember to use the masculine articles.

It's important to note that while 'portable' is an adjective in English, in French, portable acts as a standalone noun for a laptop. If you want to say something is portable (adjective), you would use portable as an adjective, but the context would make the meaning clear, e.g., Ce sac est portable (This bag is portable).

You'll often hear phrases like acheter un portable (to buy a laptop), mon nouveau portable (my new laptop), or travailler sur son portable (to work on one's laptop).

💡 * J'ai acheté un nouveau portable pour mes études. (I bought a new laptop for my studies.)

Mon portable est tombé en panne. (My laptop broke down.)

Tu peux utiliser mon portable si tu veux. (You can use my laptop if you want.)

Il faut recharger le portable avant de partir. (You need to charge the laptop before leaving.)

Où est ton portable ? (Where is your laptop?)

The 'Apple computer' – Mac

In French, just like in English, Mac is the common, informal term used to refer to an Apple Macintosh computer. It's a widely recognized abbreviation for any computer produced by Apple.

In French, Mac is masculine. You would say un Mac (a Mac) or mon Mac (my Mac).

It's used in everyday conversation to refer to any Apple computer, whether it's a desktop (iMac, Mac mini, Mac Pro) or a laptop (MacBook Air, MacBook Pro). It's a direct, casual substitute for the longer "ordinateur Apple" or "ordinateur Macintosh".

💡 * J'ai acheté un nouveau Mac. (I bought a new Mac.)

Mon Mac est très rapide. (My Mac is very fast.)

Tu préfères PC ou Mac ? (Do you prefer PC or Mac?)

Il travaille sur son Mac toute la journée. (He works on his Mac all day.)

Mon vieux Mac a rendu l'âme. (My old Mac died.)

The 'workstation' or 'computer station' – poste (or poste informatique)

The 'workstation' or 'computer station' – poste (or poste informatique)

In French, the word poste can refer to a 'workstation' or 'computer station,' especially in a professional or administrative setting.

When you hear someone talk about their poste in an office, they are often referring to their desk, computer, and overall workspace. It implies a dedicated spot for work.

To be more specific and avoid ambiguity, particularly when explicitly referring to a computer setup, the term poste informatique (computer workstation) is commonly used. This clarifies that the focus is on the computer and its peripherals.

It's important to note that poste has several other common meanings, such as 'post' (as in a job position), 'mail' (as in La Poste), or a 'radio station.' Context is key to understanding its usage.

So, if you're talking about a general workspace, poste is fine. For a clear reference to a computer setup, opt for poste informatique.

💡 * J'ai besoin de configurer mon nouveau poste. (I need to set up my new workstation.)

Ton poste informatique est prêt ? (Is your computer station ready?)

Tous les postes sont occupés ce matin. (All workstations are occupied this morning.)

Je vais vérifier ça depuis mon poste. (I'll check that from my workstation.)

Il faut redémarrer tous les postes informatiques après la mise à jour. (We need to restart all computer stations after the update.)

The general term 'machine' (often used for computers) – machine

The French word machine literally translates to 'machine' in English. While it refers to any mechanical device, it's very commonly used in informal contexts to mean 'computer' or 'PC', especially among younger generations or in a tech-savvy environment.

When discussing technology, if someone says 'ma machine' (my machine), they are almost always referring to their computer. This usage is similar to how English speakers might say 'my rig' or 'my box' for a computer.

You'll often hear phrases like 'Ma machine est lente' ('My computer is slow') or 'J'ai acheté une nouvelle machine' ('I bought a new computer'). It's a versatile, informal substitute for ordinateur (computer).

Of course, machine still retains its broader meaning for other devices, such as a machine à laver (washing machine) or a machine à café (coffee machine). The context usually makes it clear which type of 'machine' is being discussed.

So, next time you hear a French speaker casually refer to their machine in a conversation about work or gaming, chances are they're talking about their beloved computer!

💡 * Ma machine plante tout le temps, je dois la redémarrer. (My computer crashes all the time, I have to restart it.)

J'ai installé un nouveau logiciel sur ma machine. (I installed new software on my computer.)

Cette machine est très puissante pour le jeu. (This computer is very powerful for gaming.)

Tu as vu la nouvelle machine de Paul ? Elle est géniale ! (Have you seen Paul's new computer? It's awesome!)

La machine à laver est en panne. (The washing machine is broken.)

The 'desktop tower' (the main box of a desktop computer) – tour

When talking about the main box of a desktop computer in French, the word you'll most often hear is la tour.

This term specifically refers to the computer case or chassis – the upright box that houses the motherboard, CPU, and other internal components. It's a very common and practical way to describe this part of a desktop setup.

It's important to note that tour in this context is always feminine (une tour). This can sometimes cause confusion as un tour (masculine) means 'a turn' or 'a trick'. However, for the computer component, it's definitively la tour.

💡 * J'ai besoin d'une nouvelle tour pour mon PC gaming. (I need a new tower for my gaming PC.)

La tour est trop bruyante. (The tower is too noisy.)

Peux-tu déplacer la tour sous le bureau, s'il te plaît? (Can you move the tower under the desk, please?)

Il a monté sa propre tour d'ordinateur. (He built his own computer tower.)

The 'tablet computer' – une tablette

In French, the word tablette (a feminine noun) is the standard term used to refer to a 'tablet computer' or simply a 'tablet'.

While tablette has other meanings, such as 'shelf' or 'bar' (like a chocolate bar), in the technological context, it clearly denotes the electronic device. For added clarity, you might hear une tablette numérique (digital tablet) or une tablette tactile (touchscreen tablet), but une tablette alone is perfectly understood.

This term is very common and directly parallels the English usage of 'tablet' for devices like iPads, Android tablets, etc. It's a straightforward and widely recognized word.

💡 * J'ai acheté une nouvelle tablette pour le travail. (I bought a new tablet for work.)

Peux-tu me prêter ta tablette pour regarder un film ? (Can you lend me your tablet to watch a movie?)

Les enfants adorent jouer sur la tablette. (The children love playing on the tablet.)

Ma tablette a une excellente autonomie de batterie. (My tablet has excellent battery life.)

The 'server' (a type of computer) – serveur

The most straightforward way to say "server" (referring to a computer) in French is serveur.

The word serveur is a masculine noun. It is used in the same way as its English counterpart, referring to a computer or program that manages access to a centralized resource or service in a network. For example, a serveur web (web server) or a serveur de données (data server).

It's important to note that serveur can also mean "waiter" in French. However, the context usually makes the meaning clear. When discussing technology, serveur almost exclusively refers to the computer or software. If ambiguity arises, you can specify by saying serveur informatique (IT server) or serveur d'ordinateur (computer server), though serveur alone is often sufficient.

Other related terms include hébergeur (host/hosting provider) for a company that provides server space, and client-serveur (client-server) architecture, which describes the relationship between a client program and a server program.

💡 * Le site web est hébergé sur un nouveau serveur. (The website is hosted on a new server.)

Nous devons redémarrer le serveur pour appliquer les mises à jour. (We need to restart the server to apply the updates.)

Il y a un problème de connexion avec le serveur de messagerie. (There is a connection problem with the email server.)

L'entreprise utilise des serveurs puissants pour gérer ses données. (The company uses powerful servers to manage its data.)

La plupart des applications modernes fonctionnent sur une architecture client-serveur. (Most modern applications run on a client-server architecture.)

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

Our list covers the most common ways to say 'computer' in French. However, the French language, especially in technical fields, is rich with specific terms, historical variations, and even regional preferences you might encounter.

To broaden your understanding, you can search online for 'comment dire ordinateur en ___' followed by a specific Francophone country or region to uncover local or specialized terminology.

While you might discover other terms for 'computer,' it's always important to verify their precise meaning and observe how they are used in different contexts before adding them to your active vocabulary.

As you engage with French content — whether reading tech blogs, watching documentaries, or listening to news — pay close attention to how 'computer' and related technological concepts are expressed. This will help you identify nuances and specialized vocabulary.

For a comprehensive exploration of French technical vocabulary, including synonyms and related terms for ordinateur, the WordReference entry is an excellent resource to consult.

I hope this article has illuminated the various ways to talk about 'computers' in French. The world of technology and language is always evolving, so keep exploring and expanding your vocabulary! Bonne continuation in your French learning journey!

9 ways to say "computer" in French