The most common way to say 'hat' in French is chapeau. You might already know this word, perhaps from the expression chapeau! which means 'well done!' or 'hats off to you!'.

But the world of French headwear is vast and stylish, with specific names for everything from a simple cap to a classic beret. As you dive into the French language, you'll discover that knowing the right word for the right hat can add a touch of authenticity to your vocabulary.

Let's explore nine different ways to talk about hats in French, so you'll be ready for any occasion, from a sunny day at the beach to a chic Parisian outing!

1. The standard 'hat' – un chapeau

The most common and general word for 'hat' in French is un chapeau.

Un chapeau is your go-to, all-purpose word for a hat, especially one with a brim (like a fedora, a sun hat, or a top hat). If you only learn one word for headwear, this is the most essential one.

It's important to remember that chapeau is a masculine noun. Its plural form is irregular, following a common pattern for words ending in -eau:

• un chapeau - a hat (singular)
• des chapeaux - hats (plural)

While chapeau is general, it's not used for every type of headwear. For a baseball cap, you would use une casquette, and for a winter beanie, you would use un bonnet. Using chapeau for these would sound incorrect to a native speaker.

Beyond its literal meaning, chapeau is famously used in a common expression to show admiration or respect: Chapeau ! or Chapeau bas !. This is the direct equivalent of saying 'Hats off to you!' or 'Well done!' in English.

This expression originates from the old custom of tipping or removing one's hat as a sign of respect. When you say Chapeau ! to someone, you are acknowledging an impressive achievement, a clever remark, or a great skill. It’s a very common and friendly way to give a compliment.

💡 * J'ai acheté un nouveau chapeau pour l'été.

• N'oublie pas ton chapeau, il y a beaucoup de soleil aujourd'hui.
• Le magicien a sorti un lapin de son chapeau.
• Elle a réussi son examen avec la meilleure note. Chapeau !
• Ce magasin vend toutes sortes de chapeaux.

The 'beanie' or 'winter hat' – un bonnet

The primary French word for a 'beanie' or 'winter hat' is un bonnet.

When discussing winter clothing, un bonnet refers specifically to the soft, close-fitting, brimless hat worn for warmth. It's the direct equivalent of a beanie, tuque, or knit cap in English. This is the most common term you'll hear and use in everyday conversation.

It's crucial to distinguish un bonnet from un chapeau. The word chapeau is the general term for 'hat', but it almost always implies a hat with a structured shape and a brim, such as a fedora, a sun hat, or a top hat. If you ask for un chapeau in a store, you won't be shown a beanie.

Interestingly, the word bonnet has other specific uses. For example, a swimming cap is un bonnet de bain. In a completely different context, it also refers to the cup size of a bra (e.g., un bonnet C means a 'C cup'). However, without any other descriptors, un bonnet defaults to meaning a winter hat.

Just like in many cold climates, wearing un bonnet in France is both a practical necessity and a fashion statement during autumn and winter. You will see them everywhere, on everyone from children to adults, in a multitude of styles, colors, and materials.

💡 * Il fait très froid dehors, mets ton bonnet ! (It's very cold outside, put on your beanie!)

• J'ai perdu mon bonnet gris dans le bus. (I lost my grey winter hat on the bus.)
• Elle a acheté un joli bonnet avec un pompon. (She bought a pretty beanie with a pom-pom.)
• Pour la natation, le port du bonnet de bain est obligatoire. (For swimming, wearing a swimming cap is mandatory.)

The 'cap' – une casquette

When talking about casual headwear, especially the type with a visor like a baseball cap, the French word you need is une casquette.

Une casquette specifically refers to a soft cap with a stiff peak. This distinguishes it from other types of hats. Think of a baseball cap, a snapback, or a flat cap—these are all types of casquettes.

It's essential to remember that casquette is a feminine noun in French. You will always see it preceded by feminine articles, such as une casquette (a cap) or la casquette (the cap).

The verb most commonly associated with une casquette is porter (to wear). For example, you might hear someone say, Il porte une casquette à l'envers, which means 'He is wearing a cap backwards'.

To avoid confusion, remember that une casquette is different from un chapeau (a hat, typically with a brim all the way around) and un bonnet (a beanie or knit cap for winter).

💡 * Il fait soleil, je vais mettre ma casquette.

• Elle a acheté une nouvelle casquette de son équipe préférée.
• Enlève ta casquette à l'intérieur, s'il te plaît.
• J'ai perdu ma casquette bleue au parc.

The iconic 'beret' – un béret

The iconic 'beret' – un béret

Un béret is a soft, round, flat-crowned cap, traditionally made of wool felt. As the article 'un' suggests, it is a masculine noun.

While worn worldwide, the béret is famously stereotyped as a quintessential piece of French attire, often associated with artists, intellectuals, and traditional French life.

The word is used like any other noun for clothing. The plural form is des bérets. You can describe it with adjectives, such as un béret rouge (a red beret).

💡 * J'ai acheté un béret rouge à Paris. (I bought a red beret in Paris.)

• Le peintre porte toujours un béret noir. (The painter always wears a black beret.)
• Mon grand-père ne sort jamais sans son vieux béret. (My grandfather never goes out without his old beret.)
• Les touristes aiment acheter des bérets comme souvenirs. (Tourists like to buy berets as souvenirs.)

The 'sun hat' or 'wide-brimmed hat' – une capeline

The 'sun hat' or 'wide-brimmed hat' – une capeline

Une capeline is a specific term for a woman's wide-brimmed hat, often worn for sun protection. Think of it as the classic, elegant 'sun hat' you'd wear to the beach or a summer event.

This word is primarily used in the context of fashion and summer activities. It evokes a sense of style, vacation, and sunny weather. It's more specific than the general word for hat, un chapeau.

It's important to note that capeline is a feminine noun. Therefore, you always say une capeline (a sun hat) or la capeline (the sun hat), and any accompanying adjectives must also be in the feminine form.

Using une capeline instead of just un chapeau de soleil (a sun hat) will make your French sound more natural and precise, especially when describing fashion or preparing for a sunny day out.

💡 * J'ai besoin d'une nouvelle capeline pour mes vacances à la mer. (I need a new sun hat for my beach vacation.)

• Elle portait une magnifique capeline en paille. (She was wearing a magnificent straw sun hat.)
• N'oublie pas ta capeline, le soleil est très fort aujourd'hui. (Don't forget your wide-brimmed hat, the sun is very strong today.)
• La capeline est un accessoire de mode très chic pour l'été. (The wide-brimmed hat is a very chic fashion accessory for the summer.)

The 'top hat' – un haut-de-forme

The French term for a 'top hat' is un haut-de-forme. This is the standard and widely understood term for this type of formal hat.

The name literally breaks down into haut (high/tall), de (of), and forme (shape). So, un haut-de-forme is a 'hat of high shape,' which is a very descriptive name for its tall, flat-topped cylindrical shape.

While not a common sight today, the haut-de-forme is culturally associated with extreme formal wear (like at a traditional, high-society wedding), 19th-century gentlemen, and the classic image of a stage magician.

It's important to note that haut-de-forme is a masculine, compound noun. The plural form is des hauts-de-forme. The main components of the word do not change in the plural form.

💡 * Le magicien a sorti un lapin de son haut-de-forme.

• Il portait un haut-de-forme et une queue-de-pie pour la cérémonie.
• Les hauts-de-forme étaient très populaires à l'époque victorienne.

The 'boater hat' – un canotier

The French word for a 'boater hat' is un canotier. This term specifically refers to the classic flat-topped straw hat.

The canotier is an iconic piece of French fashion, often associated with summer, rowing (canotage, from which it gets its name), and the style of the early 20th century. It was famously worn by cultural figures like Maurice Chevalier and Coco Chanel.

The word canotier is a masculine noun. Therefore, you always use the masculine articles un (a) or le (the) before it. For example, you would say J'ai acheté un canotier.

💡 * Pour le mariage en plein air, il portait un élégant canotier.

• Le canotier est souvent décoré d'un ruban noir ou bleu marine.
• Ce chapeau me fait penser aux guinguettes au bord de la Marne.

The formal 'headwear' – un couvre-chef

The formal 'headwear' – un couvre-chef

Un couvre-chef is a formal and generic French term for any item worn on the head. It literally translates to 'head cover' and functions as an umbrella term for hats, caps, beanies, helmets, and more.

You'll most often encounter this term in formal or administrative contexts, such as on signs stating rules ('Le port du couvre-chef est interdit' - 'The wearing of headwear is forbidden') or in descriptive texts. In everyday conversation, French speakers will almost always use the specific name for the item, like un chapeau (a hat), une casquette (a cap), or un bonnet (a beanie).

The word is a compound of couvre (from the verb couvrir, meaning 'to cover') and chef (an old word for 'head', from the Latin caput). While chef today almost always means 'chief' or 'boss', its original meaning is preserved in this term and a few expressions like un chef-d'œuvre (a masterpiece).

💡 * Le port du couvre-chef est interdit à l'intérieur du bâtiment. (Wearing headwear is forbidden inside the building.)

• Le musée présente une collection de couvre-chefs du monde entier. (The museum presents a collection of headwear from around the world.)
• Un béret est un couvre-chef typiquement français. (A beret is a typically French piece of headwear.)

1. The 'Chef's Hat' – Une Toque

In French, the specific term for a chef's hat is une toque. While you could say chapeau de chef (chef's hat) and be understood, the proper and more professional term for the iconic tall, white, pleated hat is une toque.

It's important to remember that toque is a feminine noun. Therefore, it is always preceded by feminine articles like une (a/an) or la (the). For example, you would refer to la toque blanche (the white chef's hat).

The toque blanche is a symbol of expertise and hierarchy in the kitchen. A popular legend suggests that the 100 pleats on a traditional toque represent the 100 ways a master chef can prepare an egg. The height of the hat can also signify the chef's rank.

💡 * Le grand chef portait une toque blanche et impeccable.

• Pour mon cours de cuisine, j'ai besoin d'acheter une toque.
• La hauteur de la toque indique le rang du cuisinier dans la brigade.
• On reconnaît un grand chef à sa toque.

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

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

Our list features the most common ways to say “hat” in French, from the general term chapeau to more specific words like béret and casquette. But French is rich with vocabulary, and you'll find other terms, including old-fashioned, regional, and slang words for headwear.

To dive deeper, you can do an online search for “comment dire chapeau en ___” followed by a specific Francophone country or region, like Quebec or Senegal. You might discover some unique local terms!

You'll find many interesting synonyms and related words on lists of French hat vocabulary. Before using a new word, always check its specific meaning and context. For example, you wouldn't use bob (bucket hat) in a formal setting where a haut-de-forme (top hat) is required.

Pay attention as you watch French films, read fashion magazines, or browse online shops. You’ll start to notice the wide variety of hats and the specific words used to describe them, connecting vocabulary to French style and culture.

If you’re looking for more words related to hats or fashion in French, the WordReference entry for chapeau is an excellent starting point. It provides context, examples, and discussions.

I hope this guide was helpful for topping off your French vocabulary. To finish, here’s a fitting French expression: Chapeau bas! It literally means “hats off” and is used to show admiration and respect. So, chapeau bas to you for learning more about the French language!