"Long" is a word you'll use frequently, but how do you say "long" in French? While the direct translation 'long' (or 'longue' for feminine) is a good start, the French language offers a rich tapestry of words to express duration, length, or even height. As you continue your French learning journey, expanding your vocabulary beyond the most obvious choices will make your conversations more precise and natural. Let's dive in and discover 9 different ways to say "long" in French, adding nuance and flair to your vocabulary!

The standard 'long' (masculine/feminine) – long/longue

In French, long (masculine singular) and longue (feminine singular) are the fundamental adjectives used to describe something as 'long'.

Like many French adjectives, long/longue must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies: long - masculine singular (e.g., un chemin long - a long path) longue - feminine singular (e.g., une journée longue - a long day) longs - masculine plural (e.g., des cheveux longs - long hair) longues - feminine plural (e.g., des jupes longues - long skirts)

Generally, long/longue follows the noun it describes. For example, you would say une robe longue (a long dress), not une longue robe.

The most straightforward use of long/longue is to describe physical extent or measurement. It can apply to objects, distances, or even body parts.

Beyond physical length, long/longue is very commonly used to talk about duration or time. It can describe a long period, a long wait, or a lengthy task.

When referring to time or a process, long/longue can also imply that something is tedious, drawn-out, or takes a significant, perhaps even undesirable, amount of time. For example, C'est long à expliquer (It's long/takes a long time to explain).

A very common expression is C'est long ! which can mean 'It's long!' (referring to an object) or 'It's taking a long time!' / 'It's tedious!' (referring to a duration or process). Another is une histoire longue (a long story).

Long/longue is also used in comparative structures: plus long(ue) (longer) and moins long(ue) (less long). For example, Ce chemin est plus long que l'autre (This path is longer than the other).

💡 * C'est une rue longue. (It's a long street.)

Elle a les cheveux longs. (She has long hair.)

Le voyage était très long. (The journey was very long.)

Nous avons eu une longue discussion. (We had a long discussion.)

C'est long d'attendre le bus. (It's long/takes a long time to wait for the bus.)

The 'extended' or 'stretched out' – étendu/étendue

The “extended” or “stretched out” – étendu/étendue

The French adjective étendu (masculine) and étendue (feminine) originates from the verb étendre, meaning “to stretch,” “to spread,” or “to extend.” Consequently, its primary meaning is “extended,” “stretched out,” or “spread out.”

Like all French adjectives, étendu must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. For instance, you would say une couverture étendue (a stretched-out blanket) but des bras étendus (extended arms).

You'll frequently encounter étendu/étendue when describing something physically spread out or lengthened. This could be a vast landscape stretching into the distance, a person lying “stretched out” on a sofa, or an item of clothing “extended” on a drying rack.

Beyond physical objects, étendu/étendue is also used for abstract concepts that are broad, extensive, or widespread. Examples include des connaissances étendues (extensive knowledge), un réseau étendu (a widespread network), or une gamme étendue (an extensive range of products).

While often straightforward, étendu/étendue can convey a sense of breadth or scope. For example, une famille étendue means “an extended family,” referring to relatives beyond the immediate household. It can also be paired with phrases like à perte de vue to describe something stretching “as far as the eye can see.”

💡 * Le linge est étendu sur la corde. (The laundry is stretched out on the line.)

Il était étendu sur l'herbe, profitant du soleil. (He was stretched out on the grass, enjoying the sun.)

Ils ont une connaissance étendue de l'histoire romaine. (They have an extensive knowledge of Roman history.)

Le désert s'étendait à perte de vue. (The desert stretched out as far as the eye could see.)

Elle a une famille étendue qui vit partout en France. (She has an extended family living all over France.)

The 'lengthened' or 'stretched' – allongé/allongée

The adjective allongé (masculine singular) or allongée (feminine singular) literally means 'lengthened' or 'stretched' in French. It comes from the verb allonger, meaning 'to lengthen' or 'to stretch out'.

Like most French adjectives, allongé must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. So, you'll see allongé for masculine singular, allongée for feminine singular, allongés for masculine plural, and allongées for feminine plural.

One of the most common contexts you'll encounter allongé is when ordering coffee. A café allongé is essentially an espresso 'lengthened' or 'stretched' with hot water, making it similar to an Americano, but typically with less water and a slightly different preparation.

Beyond coffee, allongé can describe something that has been physically lengthened or stretched. This could refer to a body position (like a dancer's pose), a piece of fabric, or even a silhouette that appears elongated.

While primarily literal, allongé can also describe a state of being reclined or lying down. For instance, être allongé sur le canapé means 'to be stretched out/lying on the sofa', indicating a relaxed, horizontal position.

💡 * Je voudrais un café allongé, s'il vous plaît. (I would like a long coffee, please.)

Elle est allongée sur l'herbe, profitant du soleil. (She is stretched out on the grass, enjoying the sun.)

Le chat est allongé devant la cheminée. (The cat is stretched out in front of the fireplace.)

Ses cheveux sont longs et allongés. (Her hair is long and straightened/lengthened.)

The 'prolonged' or 'extended' (in time or space) – prolongé/prolongée

The adjective prolongé/prolongée translates to 'prolonged' or 'extended' in English, indicating something that has been lengthened in duration or space.

As an adjective, prolongé must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. Use prolongée for feminine singular nouns, prolongés for masculine plural, and prolongées for feminine plural.

It is frequently used to describe something that lasts longer than expected or usual, such as a 'prolonged stay' (un séjour prolongé) or 'prolonged illness' (une maladie prolongée).

While less common than temporal usage, prolongé can also refer to something extended in space, like a 'prolonged street' (une rue prolongée), meaning a street that has been extended or lengthened.

💡 * Un silence prolongé s'est installé dans la pièce. (A prolonged silence settled in the room.)

Elle a pris une absence prolongée du travail pour voyager. (She took an extended absence from work to travel.)

Nous avons eu un week-end prolongé grâce au jour férié. (We had an extended weekend thanks to the public holiday.)

Les discussions ont été prolongées jusqu'à tard dans la nuit. (The discussions were prolonged until late into the night.)

La route a été prolongée pour faciliter l'accès à la nouvelle zone. (The road was extended to facilitate access to the new area.)

The 'long-lasting' or 'of long duration' – de longue durée

The phrase de longue durée directly translates to 'of long duration' or 'long-lasting' in French.

It's used to describe something that extends over a significant period, emphasizing its duration or permanence rather than just its length.

This phrase functions as an adjectival modifier, consistently placed after the noun it describes. It provides a specific detail about the expected lifespan or continuity of something.

You'll frequently encounter de longue durée when discussing things like contracts, illnesses, projects, or any situation that implies a prolonged commitment or period of time.

Its use highlights that the item or event in question is not temporary or fleeting, but rather has a significant, often planned, length of existence, making it distinct from simply 'long'.

💡 * Nous avons signé un contrat de longue durée. (We signed a long-term contract.)

Elle souffre d'une maladie de longue durée. (She is suffering from a long-lasting illness.)

C'est un projet de longue durée qui demande beaucoup de patience. (It's a long-term project that requires a lot of patience.)

Il faut un investissement de longue durée pour voir des résultats. (A long-term investment is needed to see results.)

The 'tall' or 'large' (sometimes 'long') – grand/grande

The French adjective grand/grande is incredibly versatile, primarily translating to 'tall' or 'large' in English. Its meaning often depends on the context and what it's describing, making it a crucial word for expressing size and dimension.

When referring to people, grand(e) almost always means 'tall'. For example, un homme grand means 'a tall man', and une femme grande means 'a tall woman'. It can also describe tall structures like buildings, towers, or trees, emphasizing their vertical height.

For objects, places, or abstract ideas, grand(e) typically means 'large' or 'big'. Think of une grande maison ('a big house'), une grande ville ('a large city'), or un grand projet ('a big project'). It emphasizes overall size, scale, or even importance, rather than just height.

While not its primary meaning, grand(e) can sometimes imply 'long' when describing things like roads, rivers, or distances, where 'large' or 'big' implicitly includes significant length. For instance, une grande rue might be translated as 'a long street' or 'a main street', highlighting its extensive reach.

Remember that grand is the masculine singular form, and grande is the feminine singular form. It must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. For plural, you would add an -s: grands (masculine plural) and grandes (feminine plural), ensuring correct grammatical usage.

💡 *Il est très grand. (He is very tall.)
*J'habite dans une grande maison. (I live in a big house.)
*Paris est une grande ville. (Paris is a large city.)
*C'est un grand arbre. (It's a tall tree.)
*Elle porte une grande robe. (She's wearing a large dress.)

The 'endless' or 'interminable' – interminable

The French adjective interminable directly translates to "endless" or "interminable" in English. It describes something that seems to go on forever, without an apparent end.

This word is often used to express a sense of tedium, boredom, or frustration, implying that something is excessively long, drawn-out, or annoying. It's rarely used in a positive context.

As an adjective, interminable is notable because it is invariant. This means it does not change its form to agree in gender (masculine/feminine) or number (singular/plural) with the noun it modifies. It always stays as interminable.

💡 * L'attente pour le bus était interminable. (The wait for the bus was interminable.)

Nous avons eu une discussion interminable sur le projet. (We had an endless discussion about the project.)

Le film était si ennuyeux qu'il semblait interminable. (The movie was so boring it seemed interminable.)

Les journées d'été peuvent sembler interminables quand il fait très chaud. (Summer days can seem endless when it's very hot.)

Elle a raconté une histoire interminable sur ses vacances. (She told an endless story about her vacation.)

The 'long and slender' – longiligne

The “long and slender” – longiligne

As an adjective, longiligne describes someone or something that is long and slender, often in an elegant or graceful way.

This term is frequently used to describe a person's physique, suggesting a tall, slim, and graceful build. It can also apply to objects, emphasizing their elongated and sleek form.

Longiligne is an adjective that agrees in number with the noun it modifies. It is invariable in gender, meaning it stays the same for both masculine and feminine nouns.

💡 * Elle a une silhouette longiligne. (She has a long and slender figure.)

Les danseuses classiques sont souvent longilignes. (Classical dancers are often long and slender.)

L'architecture moderne privilégie les formes longilignes. (Modern architecture favors long and slender forms.)

Ce chat siamois est très longiligne. (This Siamese cat is very long and slender.)

The 'that lasts a long time' (a phrase) – qui dure longtemps

The French phrase qui dure longtemps directly translates to 'that lasts a long time' or 'which lasts a long time'. It is a common and versatile expression used to describe something with significant longevity.

This phrase is built from the relative pronoun qui (who, which, that), the verb durer (to last, to endure), and the adverb longtemps (a long time). It functions as a descriptive clause modifying a noun.

In qui dure longtemps, qui acts as the subject of the verb durer. This structure allows you to specify that a particular noun or concept possesses the quality of being long-lasting, for example, 'une amitié qui dure longtemps' (a friendship that lasts a long time).

You'll hear this phrase applied to a wide array of subjects, from physical objects like appliances or clothes, to abstract concepts such as memories, relationships, peace, or even a good mood. It emphasizes the enduring nature of something.

While adjectives like durable (durable) exist, qui dure longtemps often provides a more descriptive and natural-sounding way to convey the idea of something truly enduring over an extended period in conversational and written French.

💡 *Je cherche un téléphone qui dure longtemps. (I'm looking for a phone that lasts a long time.)
*Elle espère une relation qui dure longtemps. (She hopes for a relationship that lasts a long time.)
*C'est un souvenir qui dure longtemps. (It's a memory that lasts a long time.)
*Nous voulons une paix qui dure longtemps. (We want a peace that lasts a long time.)
*Ce type de batterie est connu pour être un produit qui dure longtemps. (This type of battery is known to be a product that lasts a long time.)

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

Our list features the most common ways to say 'long' in French. But just like in English, French has a rich vocabulary with many nuances, including less common or more specific terms for 'long' depending on context, region, or formality.

To explore further, you can always do an online search for 'synonymes de long' or 'comment dire long en ___' followed by a specific context (e.g., 'temps', 'distance', 'cheveux').

You might discover interesting alternatives for long on these lists. As always, make sure to check a word’s definition and try to see it used in context before you incorporate it into your vocabulary.

Pay attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — you may discover different ways to describe something as 'long' that perfectly fit the situation.

And if you’re looking for a comprehensive list of synonyms or specific usage examples for long in French, the WordReference entry for long is an excellent place to start!

I hope this article helped you understand the different ways to express 'long' in French. To conclude, here’s a fitting French proverb: Toute chose est longue à qui l'attend. (Everything is long for those who wait for it.)

9 ways to say "long" in French