The most common way to say "insect" in French is, unsurprisingly, un insecte. But what about all the other creepy-crawlies you might encounter? French has a variety of words for bugs, critters, and pests.

Whether you're camping in the Alps or just trying to describe that moth in your Parisian apartment, knowing the right word can be incredibly useful!

Let's dive into nine ways to say "insect" in French, from the scientific to the everyday slang!

The standard, scientific term – un insecte

The most direct, common, and scientific word for 'insect' in French is un insecte.

Un insecte is the standard, all-encompassing term used in both everyday conversation and formal scientific contexts. It covers everything from ants and beetles to butterflies and bees.

It's essential to remember that the word insecte is always a masculine noun in French. You always say un insecte or l'insecte, even if the specific insect you're referring to is female (like a queen ant, la reine des fourmis).

Because it is a neutral and precise term, un insecte is the perfect word to use in any situation. It works whether you're talking to a child about a ladybug (une coccinelle) or reading a biology textbook.

The plural form is regular and simple: des insectes. For example, Il y a beaucoup d'insectes en été (There are a lot of insects in the summer).

While English speakers might informally call any creepy-crawly an 'insect', French speakers often use un insecte with more scientific precision. For example, a spider (une araignée) is technically not un insecte but an arachnid. For a general term for 'bug' or 'critter,' you might hear une bestiole or une bête instead.

💡 * J'ai une peur bleue des insectes.

• Un insecte s'est posé sur la fleur.
• L'étude des insectes s'appelle l'entomologie.
• Les moustiques sont des insectes très agaçants.
• Les fourmis sont des insectes sociaux.

The general 'bug' or 'critter' – une bestiole

The general 'bug' or 'critter' – une bestiole

When you encounter a small, unidentifiable creature—be it an insect, a spider, or some other creepy-crawly—the perfect catch-all French term is une bestiole. It’s a colloquial word that wonderfully translates to 'critter,' 'bug,' or 'little creature.'

The strength of une bestiole lies in its vagueness. You don't need to know the specific species. It’s used for any small living thing that you might find unexpectedly, for instance, a strange insect in your kitchen, a tiny spider on the wall, or an unknown bug in your garden.

This word has a very informal and familiar tone. It isn't a scientific term like un insecte. Calling something une bestiole often conveys a slight sense of surprise or mild aversion, but it's not typically a word of genuine fear. It’s what you’d mutter upon finding something crawling in your salad.

While you could use more specific words like un moucheron (a gnat) or un cafard (a cockroach), une bestiole is your go-to when you either can't or don't care to identify the creature more precisely. It covers the entire category of 'small, scurrying things.'

In everyday French conversation, you will hear une bestiole far more often than more formal or scientific classifications. It's a practical, descriptive word that perfectly captures the feeling of encountering a random 'little bugger' in daily life.

💡 * J'ai trouvé une drôle de bestiole dans ma soupe !

• N'aie pas peur, ce n'est qu'une toute petite bestiole.
• Le soir, la lumière attire toutes sortes de bestioles volantes.
• Mon chat a attrapé une bestiole et joue avec.

The 'little creature' (often for children) – une petite bête

The phrase une petite bête literally translates to 'a little beast' or 'a little animal.' It's a very common, informal, and often affectionate term used in French to refer to small creatures, especially insects and bugs.

Think of une petite bête as the French equivalent of 'a little bug,' 'a critter,' or a 'creepy-crawly.' It’s a general, non-scientific catch-all term for any small invertebrate you might find in a garden or in the house.

This expression is most frequently used when speaking to or about children. It's a gentler and less alarming way to point out a spider, a beetle, or a caterpillar, making the world of insects more approachable and less scary.

The word bête is a feminine noun in French. Therefore, the expression is always feminine: une petite bête. This holds true even if the specific bug is grammatically masculine (like un scarabée, a beetle).

Almost any small creature without a backbone can be called a petite bête. This includes spiders (araignées), ladybugs (coccinelles), caterpillars (chenilles), worms (vers), and various other insects.

💡 * Regarde, il y a une petite bête sur la fleur ! (Look, there's a little bug on the flower!)

• N'aie pas peur, c'est juste une petite bête inoffensive. (Don't be afraid, it's just a harmless little critter.)
• Mon fils adore observer les petites bêtes dans le jardin. (My son loves watching the little creatures in the garden.)
• J'ai trouvé une drôle de petite bête dans ma salade. (I found a funny little bug in my salad.)

The 'pest' or 'vermin' – la vermine

The 'pest' or 'vermin' – la vermine

La vermine directly translates to 'vermin.' It is used both literally for pests like rats and insects, and figuratively as a powerful insult for a despicable person or group of people, akin to 'scum' or 'scoundrel'.

This term is highly pejorative and expresses deep disgust and contempt. When used against a person, it dehumanizes them, implying they are parasitic and harmful to society. It is not a light or common insult.

La vermine is a feminine noun. Even when referring to a man, it remains grammatically feminine. For example, you would say 'cette vermine' (this vermin) regardless of the person's gender.

💡 Ce vieil immeuble est infesté de vermine. (This old building is infested with vermin.)
C'est une véritable vermine, ne lui faites pas confiance. (He's a real scoundrel, don't trust him.)
Il a traité ses adversaires de vermine. (He called his opponents vermin.)
Débarrassez-moi de cette vermine ! (Get this scum away from me!)

The 'creepy-crawly' – une sale bête

The French expression une sale bête is a common and colorful way to refer to what English speakers would call a 'creepy-crawly'.

Literally, it translates to 'a dirty beast' (sale = dirty, bête = beast/animal). This combination creates a strong image of something unpleasant and unwanted, perfectly capturing the feeling of seeing a bug indoors.

This is an informal term used to express disgust, fear, or general annoyance towards insects, spiders, or any other small, unpleasant creature. It’s the perfect phrase to shout when you spot a centipede in your bathroom.

A key point for learners: bête is a feminine noun. Therefore, the expression is always in the feminine form, une sale bête, regardless of the specific creature. You use it for un moustique (masculine) just as you would for une araignée (feminine).

In short, une sale bête is your go-to, informal phrase for any bug that gives you the shivers. It effectively communicates that something is small, unwelcome, and a bit gross.

💡 * Beurk, il y a une sale bête dans l'évier ! (Yuck, there's a creepy-crawly in the sink!)

• J'ai une phobie des sales bêtes, surtout les araignées. (I have a phobia of creepy-crawlies, especially spiders.)
• Ouvre la fenêtre pour laisser sortir cette sale bête. (Open the window to let that creepy-crawly out.)

The Canadian French 'bug' – une bibitte

In Canadian French, especially in Quebec, the common word for a small bug, insect, or any general creepy-crawly is une bibitte. This is a classic Quebecois term that replaces the more standard French words un insecte or une bestiole in everyday, informal conversation.

Bibitte is a broad, catch-all term. It can refer to anything from an ant or a spider to an unidentifiable little creature you find in your basement. It's the perfect word to use when you don't know or care about the specific type of bug you're seeing. For example, you'd say, "Il y a une bibitte sur le mur!" ("There's a bug on the wall!").

Beyond its literal sense, bibitte has a wonderful figurative meaning. The expression 'avoir des bibittes' (literally, 'to have bugs') means to have strange ideas, anxieties, or worries bugging you. If someone is acting strangely or seems preoccupied, a Quebecer might say, "Il a des bibittes dans la tête" ("He's got some weird ideas in his head").

It's crucial to remember that bibitte is highly regional. While it's perfectly understood and widely used in Quebec and other parts of French-speaking Canada, it will likely not be understood in France. Using this word is a clear marker that you're familiar with Canadian French, making it a great term to add to your vocabulary if you plan to visit or live in Quebec.

💡 * Aie! Une bibitte m'a piqué! (Ouch! A bug bit me!)

• Ferme la porte moustiquaire, les bibittes vont rentrer. (Close the screen door, the bugs will get in.)
• Depuis son accident, il a toutes sortes de bibittes. (Since his accident, he's had all sorts of anxieties/strange thoughts.)
• C'est quoi cette bibitte-là sur la feuille? (What's that little critter on the leaf?)

The 'parasite' – un parasite

The French word un parasite is a direct cognate of the English 'parasite'. Its primary meaning is biological, referring to an organism that lives off a host. However, its colloquial usage is much more common in everyday conversation.

Metaphorically, un parasite describes a person who lives off others without contributing anything in return—a freeloader, a mooch, or a hanger-on. It's a strongly negative term used to criticize someone for taking advantage of others' generosity.

The noun parasite is always masculine in French when referring to a person, regardless of their gender. You will always use un parasite or le parasite.

💡 * Son cousin vit chez lui sans payer de loyer, c'est un vrai parasite. (His cousin lives with him without paying rent, he's a real parasite.)

• Elle en a marre d'être entourée de parasites qui profitent de sa gentillesse. (She is tired of being surrounded by freeloaders who take advantage of her kindness.)
• Arrête d'être un parasite et trouve-toi un travail ! (Stop being a mooch and find a job!)

The 'flying bug' – un insecte volant

The most straightforward and literal way to say 'flying bug' in French is un insecte volant. This is a general, descriptive term used for any insect that flies.

This phrase combines un insecte (an insect/a bug) with volant. Volant is the present participle of the verb voler (to fly) and functions as an adjective here, literally meaning 'flying'.

This is a very useful catch-all phrase. You would use un insecte volant when you don't know or don't need to specify the exact type of insect, much like saying 'a flying bug' in English.

While un insecte volant is correct, French speakers will typically use a more specific name if they know it, such as une mouche (a fly), un moustique (a mosquito), or une guêpe (a wasp). Use this term when the specific name is unknown or irrelevant.

💡 * Il y a un gros insecte volant dans la cuisine ! (There is a big flying bug in the kitchen!)

• J'ai été piqué par un insecte volant non identifié. (I was bitten by an unidentified flying insect.)
• Ouvre la fenêtre pour laisser sortir cet insecte volant. (Open the window to let that flying bug out.)

1. The 'crawling thing' – une bestiole rampante

First, let's look at the base noun: une bestiole. This is a colloquial and very common French word used to describe any small creature, bug, or insect, especially when you don't know its specific name. Think of it as the equivalent of saying 'a little critter' or 'a bug' in English. It's a feminine noun.

To specify that this 'critter' is crawling, you add the adjective rampante. The verb ramper means 'to crawl,' and its present participle rampant is used as an adjective. Because bestiole is feminine, the adjective must agree, becoming rampante. Together, une bestiole rampante literally means 'a crawling critter'.

This phrase is perfect for informal, everyday situations. You would use une bestiole rampante when you see an unidentified insect on the floor or a strange bug in the garden. It often conveys a sense of mild disgust or unfamiliarity, perfectly capturing the essence of a 'creepy-crawly'.

While bestiole is informal and common, you could use a more neutral masculine noun like un insecte (an insect). In this case, the adjective would be in its masculine form: un insecte rampant (a crawling insect). The choice depends on the tone you want to set.

💡 * J'ai vu une horrible bestiole rampante dans la cuisine ce matin.

• Fais attention où tu mets les pieds, il y a plein de bestioles rampantes ici.
• Mon chat adore chasser n'importe quelle bestiole rampante.
• Beurk, enlève cette bestiole rampante de mon bras !

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

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

Our list features the most common ways to say “insect” in French. But the language is full of variety! You'll also hear informal terms like bestiole (critter/bug) or affectionate ones like petite bête (little creature), especially when talking to children.

You can expand your vocabulary by doing an online search for “comment dire [insect name] en français” to find the specific name for a ladybug (coccinelle) or a grasshopper (sauterelle).

When you learn a new word like bestiole, try to observe how it's used. Notice if it's in a casual conversation or a formal text. Context is key to using these synonyms correctly and sounding like a native speaker.

Pay attention when you watch French nature documentaries or read French literature. You'll discover a rich world of words used to describe the tiny creatures that inhabit our world, giving you a deeper connection to the language.

For those who are truly curious, exploring the entomology section of a French dictionary like Le Robert or Larousse online can be a fascinating adventure into scientific and descriptive vocabulary.

I hope this guide has helped you understand the nuances of talking about insects in French. To finish, here is a fitting quote from French poet Francis Ponge's work Le Parti Pris des Choses, where he gives voice to the unspoken world: “Le papillon...virevoltant, il vagabonde.” (The butterfly...flitting, it wanders.) Happy language learning!