Planning a romantic rendezvous in Paris? Or maybe you just need to ask someone for today's date? The English word 'date' is surprisingly versatile, but in French, you'll need a few different words depending on the context.

Whether you're talking about a romantic outing, a specific day on the calendar, or even the sweet fruit, French has a specific term for each.

Let's dive into the nine essential ways to talk about a 'date' in French so you're never lost for words!

1. The standard romantic 'date' – un rendez-vous

The most common and standard way to say you have a 'date' in French is with the phrase un rendez-vous. However, this term is a classic faux ami (false friend) because it doesn't only mean a romantic date.

Primarily, un rendez-vous simply means an appointment or a meeting. It's the word you would use for a doctor's appointment (un rendez-vous chez le médecin), a business meeting, or a planned meetup with friends.

So, how can you tell the difference? Context is everything. The meaning of rendez-vous changes entirely based on who is speaking, the situation, and the tone of voice. You must rely on the surrounding information to know if it's a romantic or platonic/professional engagement.

To make it absolutely clear that you're talking about a romantic date, you can add an adjective. The most common are:

• un rendez-vous amoureux (a romantic date)
• un rendez-vous galant (a gallant/romantic date, a bit more traditional) However, in casual conversation, native speakers often just let the context imply the romantic nature.

In French, you don't 'go on' a date; you 'have' one. The verb to use is avoir (to have). The full phrase is avoir un rendez-vous. For example, J'ai un rendez-vous ce soir means 'I have a date/appointment tonight'.

The ambiguity of un rendez-vous reflects a certain aspect of French dating culture, which can be less formal and structured than in some other cultures. The line between 'hanging out' and 'a date' can be blurry, and the language reflects this flexibility.

💡 * J'ai un rendez-vous avec Sophie ce soir. (I have a date/meeting with Sophie tonight.)

• C'est notre premier rendez-vous amoureux. (It's our first romantic date.)
• Il a un rendez-vous important chez le dentiste. (He has an important dentist appointment.)
• On se donne rendez-vous devant le musée ? (Shall we meet in front of the museum?)
• Elle a un rendez-vous galant demain. (She has a romantic date tomorrow.)

The casual, slangy 'date' – un rencard

If you want to sound like a native French speaker talking about casual plans, you'll want to know the word un rencard.

Un rencard is a very common, informal slang term that means a “date,” “meeting,” or “meet-up.” It’s the casual, laid-back equivalent of the more formal and standard term un rendez-vous.

While un rencard is frequently used for a romantic date, its meaning is broader. It can refer to any informal meeting between friends or acquaintances. The term carries a relaxed, sometimes even slightly secretive or spontaneous, connotation.

You won't just hear the noun. A common expression is donner un rencard à quelqu'un, which means “to arrange to meet someone” or “to set up a date with someone.” You might also hear avoir un rencard, meaning “to have a date/meeting.”

So, when do you use it? You'd say you have un rencard with a friend for coffee or for a casual first date. However, you would use un rendez-vous for a doctor's appointment, a formal business meeting, or a more serious, planned romantic evening.

Using un rencard in the right context is a perfect way to make your spoken French sound more authentic and natural, especially among younger people and in informal social situations.

💡 * J'ai un rencard avec Sophie ce soir, on va au cinéma.

• Il m'a posé un lapin à notre premier rencard ! (He stood me up on our first date!)
• On se donne rencard devant le café à 15h ? (Should we meet up in front of the café at 3 PM?)
• Désolé, je suis occupé, j'ai un rencard important. (Sorry, I'm busy, I have an important meeting.)

The trendy anglicism 'date' – un date

A trendy and increasingly common way to talk about a romantic meeting in French is to simply borrow from English: un date.

Unlike the English word 'date,' which can also refer to a day on the calendar, the French anglicism un date exclusively means a romantic appointment or outing with someone.

It's important to note that this borrowed noun is masculine in French, so you will always see it as un date or le date.

You'll most often hear un date used by younger people in informal situations. It has become a very fashionable and straightforward way to refer to a romantic meet-up, replacing more traditional expressions in certain contexts.

The classic French term for this concept is un rendez-vous, often specified as un rendez-vous amoureux (a romantic meeting). While un rendez-vous can refer to any kind of appointment (like with a doctor), un date is unambiguously romantic.

💡 * J'ai un date ce soir avec une fille que j'ai rencontrée en ligne. (I have a date tonight with a girl I met online.)

• Comment s'est passé ton date avec Marc ? (How did your date with Marc go?)
• Elle cherche des idées originales pour un premier date. (She's looking for original ideas for a first date.)
• On a fixé un date pour la semaine prochaine. (We set a date for next week.)

The old-fashioned, chivalrous 'date' – un rendez-vous galant

Let's break down this charming phrase. Un rendez-vous simply means "an appointment" or "a meeting." The key is the adjective galant, which translates to "gallant," "chivalrous," or "courteous," immediately setting a romantic and traditional tone.

Un rendez-vous galant is not just any date; it's a specifically romantic and old-fashioned one. Think of it as a "courting" date, where traditional gestures like bringing flowers, opening doors, and paying for the meal are often part of the expectation. It implies a more formal and respectful approach to romance.

While the term might sound a bit dated to younger generations, it is still widely understood. Using it today can be a way to be intentionally sweet and romantic, or even slightly ironic. It clearly signals that the invitation is for a true date, not just a casual hangout.

💡 * Il m'a invité à un rendez-vous galant au restaurant. (He invited me on a chivalrous date to the restaurant.)

• Pour notre anniversaire, nous avons eu un vrai rendez-vous galant. (For our anniversary, we had a real old-fashioned date.)
• J'ai préparé un rendez-vous galant pour ma femme ce soir. (I prepared a romantic date for my wife tonight.)
• Oublie les applications, je veux un rendez-vous galant ! (Forget the apps, I want a chivalrous date!)

1. The Verb 'to date' or 'go out with' – Sortir avec quelqu'un

To express the idea of 'dating' or 'going out with' someone in a romantic sense, the most common French phrase is sortir avec quelqu'un.

Literally, this phrase translates to 'to go out with someone.' The verb sortir means 'to go out,' and its meaning is made romantic by the context and the preposition avec (with).

While you can use sortir avec des amis (to go out with friends), saying you sors avec a specific person usually implies a romantic relationship. The context makes the meaning clear.

Remember that sortir is an irregular verb. In the present tense, it's conjugated as: je sors, tu sors, il/elle sort, nous sortons, vous sortez, ils/elles sortent.

This phrase is used for established dating relationships, not just a single date. For a single date, you might use avoir un rendez-vous (to have a date/appointment).

💡 * Ça fait six mois que je sors avec elle. (I've been going out with her for six months.)

• Tu veux sortir avec moi ? (Do you want to go out with me?)
• Ils sont sortis ensemble pendant deux ans avant de se marier. (They went out together for two years before getting married.)
• Je ne savais pas que Paul sortait avec Sophie ! (I didn't know Paul was dating Sophie!)

The verb 'to see' someone regularly – fréquenter quelqu'un

The French verb fréquenter literally means 'to frequent' a place, like a café or a museum. When used with a person (fréquenter quelqu'un), it means to see them or associate with them on a regular basis. It emphasizes the consistency of the interaction, moving beyond a one-time meeting.

In a romantic context, fréquenter quelqu'un is a common way to say you are 'seeing someone' or in the early stages of dating. It's slightly more formal or traditional than the more common sortir avec (to go out with). For platonic relationships, it describes the social circle you regularly interact with.

Be aware that fréquenter can sometimes carry a slightly formal or even judgmental tone. For example, parents might worry about who their children are 'fréquentant'. This is highlighted by the common expression les mauvaises fréquentations, which translates to 'bad company' or 'the wrong crowd'.

While grammatically correct, in casual conversation, especially among younger people, other verbs are often preferred. For dating, sortir avec is more frequent. For spending time with friends, you're more likely to hear voir ses potes (to see one's buddies) or the very informal traîner avec (to hang out with).

💡 * Elle a commencé à fréquenter un nouveau garçon.

• Il fréquente un groupe d'artistes depuis qu'il a déménagé à Paris.
• Attention, ses parents n'aiment pas les gens qu'il fréquente.
• Je ne fréquente plus ce restaurant, la qualité a baissé.

The 'romantic encounter' – une rencontre amoureuse

The phrase une rencontre amoureuse translates to a 'romantic encounter' or 'meeting someone you fall in love with'. It describes the specific moment or event where two people meet and a romantic connection begins. The noun rencontre (encounter/meeting) is feminine, and amoureuse is the feminine adjective for 'romantic' or 'in love'.

This term is more profound than a simple meeting (une rencontre) or a planned date (un rendez-vous). It often implies a significant, sometimes fateful, meeting that leads to a love story. You would use it to describe the beginning of a serious relationship, not just a casual date.

The common expression used with this concept is faire une rencontre amoureuse, which literally means 'to make a romantic encounter'. This is the standard way to say you've met someone special who could become a romantic partner.

💡 * Ce film raconte l'histoire d'une rencontre amoureuse entre deux artistes. (This movie tells the story of a romantic encounter between two artists.)

• Ils se sont mariés un an après leur rencontre amoureuse. (They got married one year after their romantic encounter.)
• Elle espère faire une rencontre amoureuse pendant ses vacances. (She hopes to meet someone special during her vacation.)

The 'evening for two' – une soirée à deux

The “evening for two” – une soirée à deux

This phrase literally translates to “an evening for two.” It describes a private evening spent between two people, often with a romantic implication, similar to a “date night.” The key part is à deux, which means “for two” or “as a pair.”

While it frequently refers to a romantic occasion, une soirée à deux can also describe a special, quiet evening between two close friends or family members. The context determines the exact nature of the relationship, but it always implies an intimate, shared experience away from a larger group.

The structure [activity] à deux is very common in French. You can apply it to other situations, such as un dîner à deux (a dinner for two), un voyage à deux (a trip for two), or une promenade à deux (a walk for two).

💡 * Pour notre anniversaire de mariage, nous prévoyons une soirée à deux.

• Après une semaine chargée, j'ai juste envie d'une soirée à deux avec mon meilleur ami.
• Ils ont décidé d'organiser un dîner à deux pour se retrouver.
• Un week-end à deux à la campagne serait parfait pour se détendre.

1. The Calendar 'Date' – La Date

In French, the word for a calendar date is la date. It is a feminine noun, so it's always preceded by feminine articles like la or une. This is the word you use when asking for or stating the day, month, and year.

To ask for the current date, you can use a couple of common questions. The most direct way is: Quelle est la date aujourd'hui ? (What is the date today?). A slightly more informal but very common alternative is: On est quel jour aujourd'hui ? (What day is it today?).

When stating the date, the structure is different from English. The standard formula is le + [day number] + [month]. For example, to say 'It's July 14th,' you would say C'est le 14 juillet or On est le 14 juillet. Notice there is no 'of' and the month is not capitalized.

There is one major exception to the number rule: the first day of the month. For the first, you must use premier instead of the number un (one). For instance, 'It's May 1st' is C'est le premier mai.

💡 * Quelle est la date de ton anniversaire ? (What is the date of your birthday?)

• La date limite pour s'inscrire est le premier septembre. (The deadline to register is the first of September.)
• On est le 25 décembre, c'est le jour de Noël. (It's December 25th, it's Christmas day.)
• J'ai oublié la date de notre rendez-vous. (I forgot the date of our appointment.)

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

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

Our list features the most common ways to talk about a “date” in French, whether it's a romantic meeting or a calendar day. But like any living language, French has other terms, including modern slang and regional variations you might encounter.

You can also do an online search for “comment dire date en ___” followed by a specific Francophone country or even “en argot” (in slang) to find more specific expressions.

You might find some interesting synonyms for rendez-vous this way. Before you use a new word, always check its definition and try to see it used in context to understand its exact nuance and level of formality.

Pay attention as you watch French movies, listen to podcasts, or read online. You’ll start to notice how native speakers arrange to meet and pick up on the subtle differences in their language.

And if you’re looking for more vocabulary related to dating, appointments, or scheduling, the WordReference entries for date and rendez-vous are fantastic resources to explore.

I hope this article was helpful for your French learning journey. To finish, here is a lovely quote from French author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry that fits the theme of connection: “Aimer, ce n'est pas se regarder l'un l'autre, c'est regarder ensemble dans la même direction.” (Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction.)