When you hear the word 'meeting' in French, une réunion is probably the first term that comes to mind. And for a business meeting, you'd be right! But what about meeting a friend for a drink, a formal appointment, or a chance encounter?

The French language, rich with nuance, has a specific word for almost every type of get-together. Using the correct one will make you sound more like a native and help you navigate social and professional situations with confidence.

Let’s explore 9 key ways to say 'meeting' in French!

1. The Standard Professional Meeting: Une Réunion

When you need to talk about a formal or professional 'meeting' in French, the standard and most accurate term is une réunion.

Une réunion refers to a planned gathering of people, usually in a professional, academic, or organizational context, to discuss specific topics, make decisions, or collaborate. It's the word you would use for a team meeting, a board meeting, or a project kick-off.

Remember that réunion is a feminine noun. This means you must always use feminine articles like une (a/an) or la (the). For example, la réunion commence à 14h (the meeting starts at 2 p.m.).

The most common way to talk about having a meeting is with the verb avoir (to have). For instance, J'ai une réunion means 'I have a meeting'. To say you are currently in a meeting, you use the phrase être en réunion.

A crucial point for learners is not to confuse une réunion with un rendez-vous. A rendez-vous is an 'appointment' (like with a doctor or a single client) or a 'date' (in a social/romantic sense). A réunion specifically implies a group of people gathering for a common purpose, almost always professional.

Here are some other useful phrases related to meetings:

• Organiser une réunion: To organize a meeting.
• Annuler une réunion: To cancel a meeting.
• Reporter une réunion: To postpone a meeting.
• La salle de réunion: The meeting room.

💡 * J'ai une réunion importante ce matin.

• Le directeur a annulé la réunion de demain.
• Nous devons organiser une réunion pour discuter du nouveau projet.
• Désolé, je ne peux pas parler, je suis en réunion.
• Les réunions hebdomadaires ont lieu tous les lundis.

The appointment or get-together – un rendez-vous

The appointment or get-together – un rendez-vous

One of the most versatile and common nouns in French is un rendez-vous. It refers to any pre-arranged meeting between two or more people. The key is that the time and place have been set in advance.

In a professional or formal context, un rendez-vous is the direct equivalent of an “appointment” or a “meeting.” You can have a rendez-vous with a doctor, a client, a bank advisor, or a potential employer. For example, un rendez-vous d'affaires means a business meeting.

This is where English speakers can get confused. Un rendez-vous is also used for informal get-togethers with friends or, importantly, for a romantic “date.” The context usually makes the meaning clear. To be specific, you might hear un rendez-vous galant for a romantic date, but often the simple rendez-vous is used.

To talk about the action of setting up a meeting, you can use the verb se donner rendez-vous. It literally means “to give oneself a meeting” and is the common way to say “to arrange to meet.” For example, On se donne rendez-vous au café means “Let’s meet at the café.”

While the English word “rendezvous” was borrowed from French, it often carries a connotation of secrecy or a romantic tryst. In French, un rendez-vous is a completely neutral, everyday term. Don't be surprised to hear a French person say they have a rendez-vous—it’s far more likely to be with their dentist than a secret lover!

💡 * J'ai un rendez-vous chez le médecin demain matin.

• C'est notre premier rendez-vous, je suis un peu nerveux.
• On se donne rendez-vous devant le musée à 14 heures ?
• Le directeur a annulé mon rendez-vous à la dernière minute.
• Est-ce que tu es libre pour un rendez-vous la semaine prochaine ?

The formal interview or discussion – un entretien

In professional, academic, or other formal settings, the word for an interview, a formal meeting, or a discussion is un entretien.

Its most frequent use is for a job interview, often specified as un entretien d'embauche. However, it can also refer to a performance review (un entretien annuel), a parent-teacher conference, or any structured, formal conversation.

It's crucial not to confuse un entretien with the English loanword une interview. In French, une interview (note the feminine gender) almost exclusively refers to a media or journalistic interview, such as one with a celebrity for a magazine or a politician on the news.

Be aware! Un entretien has a second, very common meaning: 'maintenance' or 'upkeep.' You must rely on context to know which is meant. For example, l'entretien du bâtiment refers to building maintenance, not a building interview.

The related verb is s'entretenir avec, which means 'to have a formal discussion with someone.' For example, Le directeur va s'entretenir avec les nouveaux employés (The director is going to speak with the new employees).

💡 * J'ai un entretien d'embauche pour un poste de développeur demain.

• Le président a eu un long entretien avec l'ambassadeur.
• L'entretien de la voiture doit être fait tous les ans.
• Elle prépare son entretien annuel avec son manager.
• Les frais d'entretien pour la maison sont élevés.

The encounter or sports match – une rencontre

The word une rencontre is a versatile French noun with two primary meanings: an 'encounter' or 'meeting' between people, and a 'match' or 'game' in a sports context.

In its first sense, une rencontre refers to the act of meeting someone. This can be a chance encounter (une rencontre fortuite), a planned meeting, or even the beginning of a relationship. It's linked to the verb rencontrer, which means 'to meet'.

In the world of sports, une rencontre is a common synonym for a match, game, or competition. You'll often hear it used to describe a contest between two teams or players, such as une rencontre de tennis (a tennis match).

While un match is also used for a game, une rencontre can sound slightly more formal. For a scheduled appointment, un rendez-vous is more specific, whereas une rencontre often implies a more significant or unexpected meeting.

💡 * J'ai fait une rencontre intéressante au musée. (I had an interesting encounter at the museum.)

• La rencontre de football entre la France et le Brésil était passionnante. (The football match between France and Brazil was exciting.)
• Ce fut une rencontre inoubliable. (It was an unforgettable meeting.)
• Le champion se prépare pour sa prochaine rencontre. (The champion is preparing for his next match.)

The conference or lecture – une conférence

The conference or lecture – une conférence

The French word une conférence is a noun that can be translated as either a 'conference' or a 'lecture.' The specific meaning depends heavily on the context in which it is used.

In a professional or large-scale context, une conférence refers to an event like a business summit, an academic symposium, or a press conference (une conférence de presse). It implies a formal gathering with multiple sessions or speakers.

In an academic or public speaking context, une conférence refers to a single talk or lecture given by an expert on a specific topic. This is a common point of confusion, as it is distinct from un cours (a regular class or course).

To say you are 'attending a conference/lecture,' you use the verb assister à. For example, j'assiste à une conférence means 'I am attending a conference/lecture.' Be careful not to confuse it with the English verb 'to assist.'

To determine the correct meaning, always look at the surrounding information. Is it about a multi-day industry event or a one-hour talk at a university? The context will provide the answer.

💡 * Je dois préparer ma présentation pour la conférence de marketing.

• L'université a organisé une conférence sur le changement climatique.
• Nous avons assisté à une conférence très intéressante de l'historien hier soir.
• La conférence de presse du gouvernement aura lieu à 15h.

The assembly or general meeting – une assemblée

In French, the word for a formal gathering like an assembly or a general meeting is une assemblée. It is a feminine noun used to describe a group of people gathered for a specific, often official, purpose.

This term is most frequently used in formal, political, or professional settings. Key examples include l'Assemblée nationale (the National Assembly, a house of the French Parliament), an assemblée générale (a general meeting for a company or organization), and an assemblée de copropriétaires (a condominium owners' meeting).

While une réunion can describe almost any meeting, une assemblée implies a larger, more structured, and often legally required event. It typically involves formal procedures like voting on resolutions, electing officials, or making significant decisions.

The verbs most commonly used with this noun are tenir une assemblée (to hold an assembly) and convoquer une assemblée (to convene or summon an assembly), which further emphasize its formal and official nature.

💡 * L'assemblée générale des actionnaires aura lieu en juin.

• Le président a convoqué une assemblée extraordinaire pour discuter de la crise.
• Tous les membres sont invités à participer à l'assemblée annuelle.
• L'Assemblée nationale a voté une nouvelle loi.

1. The academic symposium – un colloque

In academic and professional circles, the word for a symposium, conference, or academic meeting is un colloque. It refers to a formal gathering where experts and researchers present and discuss their work on a specific subject.

Note that un colloque is a masculine noun. It is typically used for specialized, high-level meetings, distinguishing it from a more general meeting (une réunion) or a large-scale public conference (une conférence).

💡 * Je dois préparer une présentation pour un colloque international à Paris. (I have to prepare a presentation for an international symposium in Paris.)

• Le colloque annuel sur l'intelligence artificielle a attiré des experts du monde entier. (The annual symposium on artificial intelligence attracted experts from all over the world.)
• Elle a publié les actes du colloque dans une revue scientifique. (She published the proceedings of the symposium in a scientific journal.)

The formal interview (especially journalistic) – une entrevue

The formal interview (especially journalistic) – une entrevue

Une entrevue refers to a formal interview, especially one conducted for media, journalism, or official purposes. It implies a structured question-and-answer session, often intended for a wider audience.

While the word un entretien is more commonly used for a job interview in France, une entrevue is the standard term for the same thing in Canadian French. In European French, une entrevue is almost exclusively reserved for journalistic or media contexts.

The most common verb used for the action of interviewing is interviewer. For example, a journalist would say, "Je vais interviewer le président." (I am going to interview the president.)

💡 * Le journaliste a sollicité une entrevue avec le ministre.

• L'entrevue sera diffusée demain à la télévision.
• Au Québec, j'ai une entrevue pour un nouveau travail cet après-midi.
• C'était une entrevue tendue entre les deux leaders politiques.

1. The working session – une session (de travail)

The French term for a 'session,' particularly one involving work, is une session. It is a direct cognate and is incredibly versatile. While you can specify une session de travail to explicitly mean 'a working session,' the context often makes de travail ('of work') redundant. The term implies a dedicated period for a specific activity, whether it's studying, training, or collaborating on a project.

You'll encounter une session in various professional and academic contexts. For instance, you might hear about une session de formation (a training session), une session de questions-réponses (a Q&A session), or une session d'enregistrement (a recording session). In each case, it refers to a block of time set aside for a particular task.

It's useful to distinguish une session de travail from une réunion (a meeting). A réunion typically involves discussion and decision-making among a group. In contrast, a session de travail emphasizes active work and production, which can be done individually or collectively. It's about doing the work, not just talking about it.

💡 * Nous organisons une session de travail pour planifier le prochain trimestre. (We are organizing a working session to plan the next quarter.)

• La session de brainstorming a été très productive. (The brainstorming session was very productive.)
• J'ai une session de formation sur le nouveau logiciel demain matin. (I have a training session on the new software tomorrow morning.)
• Après la réunion, nous aurons une session de travail pour mettre en œuvre les décisions. (After the meeting, we will have a working session to implement the decisions.)

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

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

Our list features the most common and essential French words for “meeting,” from a formal réunion to a casual rendez-vous. However, the French language is full of nuances, and you'll discover other terms used in specific professional jargon, regional dialects, or evolving slang.

You can expand your vocabulary by searching online for phrases like 'comment dire meeting en français des affaires' (how to say meeting in business French) or by looking up specific contexts, like a doctor's appointment (un rendez-vous médical).

The key is context. Using un entretien (an interview/formal meeting) when you mean une rencontre (a chance encounter or first meeting) can change the meaning entirely. Pay close attention to the situation before choosing a word.

The best way to learn is by observing. As you watch French movies, listen to the news, or read articles, take note of how native speakers refer to different kinds of get-togethers. This will build your intuitive understanding.

If you want to explore related verbs and phrases, like how to “schedule” or “cancel” a meeting, dictionaries like WordReference or Larousse are fantastic resources. Look up entries for réunion and rendez-vous to get started.

I hope this guide has made the different French words for 'meeting' clearer. To finish, here is a fitting thought from the French writer Paul Valéry: 'Une réunion est un événement où les minutes sont prises et les heures sont perdues.' (A meeting is an event where minutes are taken and hours are lost.) Hopefully, your French meetings will be much more productive!