The most common way to say 'island' in French is île. You've probably seen it in famous place names like Île de la Cité in Paris. But what if you're talking about a tiny islet, a peninsula that's almost an island, or even a metaphorical island of tranquility? French, with its characteristic precision, has a variety of words to describe these specific types of islands. As you dream of your next seaside vacation or simply want to enrich your French vocabulary, let's explore nine different ways to say 'island' and navigate the nuances of each one!

1. The standard 'island' – une île

The most common and standard French word for 'island' is une île. It's the direct equivalent of the English word and is used in almost all contexts.

A crucial point for learners: the word île is feminine. Therefore, you must use feminine articles with it, such as une île (an island) or l'île / la belle île (the island / the beautiful island). Forgetting the gender is a common mistake.

The spelling features a circumflex accent (ˆ) on the 'i'. This accent historically indicates that a letter (in this case, an 's' from the Old French isle) was dropped. In modern French, it doesn't dramatically alter the pronunciation, which is simply /il/. The 's' in the plural form, îles, is also silent.

You will encounter île in geographical names, travel descriptions, and literature. It can refer to any landmass surrounded by water, regardless of size, from a tiny speck in a river to a massive island nation.

For a very small island, the French often use the specific term un îlot, which means 'islet'. While you could technically call an islet an île, using îlot adds precision and sounds more natural for tiny landmasses. Note that îlot is masculine.

💡 * La Corse est une île magnifique en Méditerranée.

• Nous avons fait un pique-nique sur une petite île au milieu du lac.
• L'Île de Pâques est célèbre pour ses statues mystérieuses.
• Les îles Galápagos abritent une faune unique.
• Le bateau a accosté près d'un îlot rocheux.

The 'islet' or 'small island' – un îlot

The 'islet' or 'small island' – un îlot

The French word for a small island or an islet is un îlot. This term specifically refers to a piece of land that is smaller than a standard island (une île) and is completely surrounded by water. Often, an îlot is uninhabited.

You might notice the similarity to the word for island, une île. Un îlot is a diminutive form, created by adding the suffix -ot to the root word. This suffix often indicates something smaller, which is a helpful pattern to recognize in French.

Beyond its literal geographical meaning, îlot is frequently used figuratively to describe a small, isolated area that stands out from its surroundings. For example, you might hear about an îlot de verdure (a small patch of green) in a concrete city, or an îlot de tranquillité (an island of tranquility) in a noisy environment.

A very common and practical application of the word is in urban planning. In this context, un îlot refers to a city block – a group of buildings bordered by streets. You might hear directions like, 'The bakery is in the middle of the îlot.'

So, whether you're talking about a tiny landmass in the sea, a peaceful park in a bustling city, or a specific block of buildings, un îlot is the word to use. Remember the key distinction: une île is a standard island, while un îlot is its smaller counterpart.

💡 * Nous avons fait un pique-nique sur un petit îlot désert.

• Ce parc est un véritable îlot de verdure au cœur de la ville.
• Le nouveau complexe immobilier occupera tout l'îlot.
• L'hôtel est un îlot de calme dans ce quartier animé.

The 'peninsula' or 'almost an island' – une presqu'île

Let's explore a fascinating geographical term in French: une presqu'île. This word directly translates to 'peninsula' in English.

The beauty of this word lies in its literal meaning. It's a compound word formed from presque, meaning 'almost', and île, meaning 'island'. So, a presqu'île is literally an 'almost island'.

This perfectly describes what a peninsula is: a piece of land that is almost entirely surrounded by water but is connected to the mainland on one side.

It's important to remember that presqu'île is a feminine noun in French. You will always use feminine articles with it, such as une presqu'île (a peninsula) or la presqu'île (the peninsula).

💡 * La Bretagne est une grande presqu'île à l'ouest de la France.

• Nous avons passé nos vacances sur la presqu'île de Giens.
• Le phare est situé à la pointe de la presqu'île.
• Cette presqu'île est célèbre pour ses plages magnifiques.

The 'desert island' – une île déserte

The French phrase for a 'desert island' is une île déserte. This is a direct, literal translation of the English term, referring to an uninhabited or deserted island.

Let's break down the grammar. Île is a feminine noun meaning 'island.' The adjective déserte is the feminine form of désert (deserted/uninhabited). In French, adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they describe, which is why we use the feminine déserte to match the feminine une île.

Just like in English, une île déserte is commonly used in hypothetical questions, stories of survival (like Robinson Crusoe), and to describe a beautifully isolated place. It evokes images of solitude, nature, and adventure.

💡 * Si tu étais sur une île déserte, quel objet emporterais-tu ? (If you were on a desert island, what object would you bring?)

• Le naufragé a survécu seul sur une île déserte. (The castaway survived alone on a desert island.)
• Ils rêvent de vacances sur une île déserte, loin de tout. (They dream of a vacation on a desert island, far from everything.)
• Cette plage est si calme, on se croirait sur une île déserte. (This beach is so quiet, you'd think you were on a desert island.)

1. The 'atoll' (ring-shaped coral island) – un atoll

The French word for an 'atoll' is, conveniently, un atoll. It refers to a ring-shaped coral reef or island.

Un atoll is a specific geographical term used to describe a coral island that encircles a lagoon. The word is used in French just as it is in English, primarily in contexts related to geography, geology, and travel.

It's important to note that atoll is a masculine noun in French. You will always see it preceded by masculine articles like un (a/an) or le/l' (the). For example, you would say un bel atoll (a beautiful atoll).

Interestingly, the word atoll is not originally French. It was borrowed from the Dhivehi language of the Maldives (atholhu). This shared origin is why the word is identical in both French and English.

The pronunciation is quite similar to English, but with a French flair. The 'a' is short and open, and the final 'll' is pronounced as a clear 'l' sound: [a.tɔl].

💡 * Nous avons passé nos vacances sur un atoll en Polynésie française. (We spent our vacation on an atoll in French Polynesia.)

• L'atoll est menacé par la montée des eaux. (The atoll is threatened by rising sea levels.)
• La vie marine autour de cet atoll est incroyablement diverse. (The marine life around this atoll is incredibly diverse.)
• Ils ont construit leur maison sur un motu de l'atoll. (They built their house on a motu of the atoll.)

The 'archipelago' (a chain of islands) – un archipel

The French word for an 'archipelago' or a chain of islands is un archipel. This is a direct cognate, making it easy to remember. Importantly, it is a masculine noun.

The pronunciation is quite straightforward: [ar-shi-pel]. The ch in French is pronounced like 'sh' in English 'shoe', and the final 'l' is pronounced. So, it sounds like ar-she-pel.

Being a masculine noun that starts with a vowel, it uses the articles un (a/an) and l' (the). For example, you would say l'archipel des Canaries (the Canary archipelago). The plural form is des archipels.

This word is primarily used in geographical, scientific, or travel contexts. It's a formal and specific term, not a casual one. You'll encounter it when discussing geography, planning a trip to a place like Japan or Indonesia, or reading about ecosystems.

💡 * L'Indonésie est le plus grand archipel du monde.

• Nous prévoyons un voyage dans l'archipel des Açores.
• Le Japon est un archipel volcanique fascinant.
• Cet archipel est connu pour ses plages de sable blanc.

The 'cay' (a low sandy island) – une caye

To talk about a 'cay,' which is a small, low-lying sandy island typically found on a coral reef, the French word is une caye.

This noun is feminine, so you will always see it preceded by feminine articles like une or la. For example, you would say la caye to refer to a specific cay.

The term une caye is specific to geography and is often used when discussing tropical destinations, marine biology, or sailing. It helps distinguish these small, sandy formations from larger, more diverse islands (une île).

💡 * Nous avons pique-niqué sur une caye déserte. (We had a picnic on a deserted cay.)

• La caye est un habitat important pour les oiseaux marins. (The cay is an important habitat for seabirds.)
• Le bateau navigue entre les cayes des Caraïbes. (The boat is sailing between the cays of the Caribbean.)

The 'floating island' – une île flottante

The 'floating island' – une île flottante

Une île flottante is a classic French dessert. Its name literally translates to 'floating island', which perfectly describes its appearance.

The dessert consists of a soft, light meringue (the 'island') made from whipped egg whites and sugar, which is poached and then set afloat on a pool of vanilla custard, or crème anglaise (the 'sea').

It is often served chilled and garnished with a drizzle of caramel sauce and toasted, slivered almonds, adding a delightful crunch and sweetness to the creamy dessert.

💡 * Pour le dessert, je vais prendre une île flottante. (For dessert, I'll have a floating island.)

• C'est la première fois que je goûte une île flottante, c'est délicieux ! (This is the first time I've tasted a floating island, it's delicious!)
• La recette de l'île flottante de ma mère est la meilleure. (My mother's floating island recipe is the best.)

1. L'Île de Beauté: The 'Island of Beauty'

The most famous nickname for the French island of Corsica (la Corse) is l'Île de Beauté. As you might guess, this translates directly to 'The Island of Beauty.' This name is not a recent invention for tourism but a long-standing epithet that perfectly captures the island's essence.

Corsica earned this nickname due to its exceptionally diverse and stunning natural landscapes. The island boasts a dramatic coastline, rugged mountains (le maquis), pristine beaches with turquoise waters, and dense forests. This concentration of varied, beautiful scenery in one place makes the nickname l'Île de Beauté incredibly fitting.

In France, l'Île de Beauté is used just as commonly as the official name, la Corse. You will hear it in news reports, see it in travel brochures, and use it in everyday conversation when referring to the island. It has become a poetic and universally understood synonym for Corsica.

💡 * On va passer une semaine sur l'Île de Beauté. (We are going to spend a week on the Island of Beauty.)

• L'Île de Beauté est une destination très populaire en été. (The Island of Beauty is a very popular destination in the summer.)
• Avez-vous déjà visité la Corse, l'Île de Beauté ? (Have you already visited Corsica, the Island of Beauty?)
• Les sentiers de randonnée de l'Île de Beauté sont magnifiques. (The hiking trails on the Island of Beauty are magnificent.)

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

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

Our list covers the most essential ways to say “island” in French. However, the French language is rich with geographical and poetic terms, some specific to certain regions or literary contexts, that you might encounter on your journey.

To expand your vocabulary, try an online search for “termes pour une île en ___” followed by a specific Francophone region known for its islands, like la Polynésie française or les Antilles.

You might discover fascinating synonyms for île this way. Always remember to check a new word’s precise definition and observe how it's used in context. For instance, an îlot is a small islet, while an atoll is a very specific type of coral island.

As you read French literature, watch nature documentaries, or explore travel blogs, pay close attention. You'll start to notice the rich and descriptive language used to talk about islands and coastal landscapes.

If you're looking for more technical or related geographical terms in French, exploring the Larousse dictionary entry for île can be an excellent starting point for discovering related concepts like presqu'île (peninsula) or archipel (archipelago).

I hope this guide has helped you navigate the different ways to say 'island' in French. To finish, here’s a perfect quote from Jules Verne's L'Île mystérieuse (The Mysterious Island) that applies just as well to learning a language as it does to exploring new lands: Toutefois, avant de rien entreprendre, il faut tout explorer. (However, before undertaking anything, we must explore everything.)