The most direct way to say “metal” in French is, unsurprisingly, métal. But the world of metals is vast, and French has plenty of specific words to cover everything from construction materials to music genres.

Whether you're headbanging to some métal music or admiring a piece of ironwork, using the right term will make your French sound much more authentic.

Let’s explore nine different ways to say “metal” in French and the contexts where you’d use them!

The general term for 'metal' – le métal (les métaux)

The most direct and common way to say 'metal' in French is le métal. It's a masculine noun that covers the general concept of metal, much like its English counterpart.

A crucial grammatical point is its irregular plural form. The plural of le métal is not les métals, but les métaux. This is a common pattern for French nouns ending in -al.

You use le métal to talk about the material in a general sense or a specific but unidentified type of metal. For instance, you would describe an object as being made of metal (en métal).

Just like in English, le métal also refers to the heavy metal music genre. Context makes the meaning clear. If someone says, J'écoute du métal, they are talking about music, not the physical material.

While le métal is the general term, remember that specific types of metal have their own names, such as l'or (gold), le fer (iron), and l'aluminium (aluminum). You use le métal when you don't know or don't need to specify the exact type.

💡 * Cette sculpture est faite de métal.

• Les métaux lourds peuvent être toxiques.
• Il travaille dans l'industrie des métaux.
• J'adore écouter du métal quand je conduis.
• Le pont est une structure de métal et de béton.

The word for 'iron' – le fer

The primary French word for the metallic element 'iron' is le fer. This is a fundamental term used when talking about materials, construction, and chemistry.

It's important to remember that le fer is a masculine noun. Therefore, it will always be paired with masculine articles and adjectives, such as le fer (the iron) or un portail en fer (an iron gate).

While le fer refers to the metal, the household appliance used for pressing clothes is called un fer à repasser. The verb repasser specifically means 'to iron (clothes)'.

Often, context will tell you which 'iron' is being discussed. However, to be precise and avoid any confusion, especially when talking about laundry, using the full term fer à repasser is always the safest option.

The word fer is also found in many idiomatic expressions. A common one is avoir une santé de fer, which literally means 'to have health of iron' and is used to describe someone who is very robust and rarely gets sick.

💡 * La Tour Eiffel est une structure en fer. (The Eiffel Tower is an iron structure.)

• J'ai acheté un nouveau fer à repasser car l'ancien était cassé. (I bought a new clothes iron because the old one was broken.)
• Le forgeron travaille le fer chaud. (The blacksmith works the hot iron.)
• Mon grand-père a 90 ans et il a une santé de fer. (My grandfather is 90 and he is in excellent health.)

The word for 'steel' – l'acier

The French word for 'steel' is l'acier. It is a fundamental vocabulary word, especially when discussing construction, manufacturing, or materials.

Pronounced roughly as ah-syeh, acier is a masculine noun. Remembering that it's masculine is crucial for using the correct articles and adjectives.

The definite article for acier is l'. This is because the masculine article le contracts to l' before a noun that starts with a vowel sound, like the 'a' in acier. This is a common rule in French called elision.

To describe something as being 'made of steel,' you use the phrase en acier. This is the standard way to turn a material noun into an adjective. For example, une porte en acier means 'a steel door'.

A very common and useful related term is acier inoxydable, which translates to 'stainless steel'.

💡 * L'acier est un alliage de fer et de carbone.

• Les poutres de ce pont sont en acier.
• Pour survivre à cette épreuve, il faut avoir des nerfs d'acier.
• J'ai acheté une nouvelle poêle en acier inoxydable.

The precious metal 'gold' – l'or

The French word for the precious metal 'gold' is l'or. It is a masculine noun. The definite article le contracts to l' because or begins with a vowel, creating l'or.

You use l'or to talk about the physical substance, jewelry, or the color. For instance, une bague en or means 'a gold ring,' and la couleur or means 'the color gold'.

L'or also appears in many common expressions to describe something of high value or quality. A classic example is avoir un cœur en or, which translates to 'to have a heart of gold,' meaning someone is very kind.

💡 * Cette montre est en or massif. (This watch is solid gold.)

• Le vainqueur a reçu une médaille d'or. (The winner received a gold medal.)
• Ses conseils valent de l'or. (His advice is golden.)
• Elle a un cœur en or, toujours prête à aider. (She has a heart of gold, always ready to help.)

The precious metal 'silver' – l'argent

The French word for the precious metal silver is l'argent. It refers to the chemical element and the material itself, often used in jewelry and cutlery.

Crucially, l'argent is also the most common word for money in French. This dual meaning is essential for learners to grasp, as the 'money' context is used far more frequently in daily conversation.

To distinguish between the two, you must rely on context. If someone is talking about a necklace (un collier) or a fork (une fourchette), they likely mean silver. If they are talking about buying something or working, they mean money.

L'argent is a masculine noun. A helpful phrase to identify the material is en argent, which means 'made of silver'. This construction specifically points to the metal, not the currency.

As a rule of thumb for beginners: unless the context explicitly involves jewelry, medals, or materials, assume l'argent means 'money'.

💡 * J'ai acheté une bague en argent. (I bought a silver ring.)

• Le coureur a gagné la médaille d'argent. (The runner won the silver medal.)
• As-tu assez d'argent pour le dîner ? (Do you have enough money for dinner?)
• Il faut travailler pour gagner de l'argent. (One must work to earn money.)

1. The lightweight metal 'aluminum' – l'aluminium

The French word for 'aluminum' is a straightforward cognate: l'aluminium. It's a masculine noun, and its spelling and pronunciation are the main points of difference from its English counterpart.

Pronunciation is key. The French pronunciation is approximately al-u-min-YUM. The emphasis is more evenly distributed than in English, and the final -ium sound is distinct. Because it starts with a vowel, it uses the elided article l'.

You will encounter l'aluminium in many contexts, from industrial materials to everyday household items. For kitchen foil, the common term is le papier d'aluminium. In casual speech, it might be shortened to l'alu.

To describe an object as being made of aluminum, you use the prepositional phrase en aluminium. This phrase is invariable, meaning it doesn't change for gender or number. For example, une chaise en aluminium (an aluminum chair) or des cadres en aluminium (aluminum frames).

💡 * Le cadre de ce vélo est en aluminium, ce qui le rend très léger.

• Peux-tu me passer le rouleau de papier d'aluminium ?
• Les canettes de soda sont fabriquées en aluminium recyclable.
• L'aluminium est un excellent conducteur de chaleur.

The reddish-brown metal 'copper' – le cuivre

In French, the word for the reddish-brown, highly conductive metal we know as 'copper' is le cuivre. It's a fundamental term in science, industry, and even art.

Le cuivre is a masculine noun. Therefore, it is always preceded by masculine articles like le (the) or un (a/an). For example, you would say le fil de cuivre (the copper wire).

Beyond the metal itself, le cuivre can refer to the color copper. In the plural form, les cuivres refers to the brass section of an orchestra, encompassing instruments like trumpets and trombones.

💡 * Les vieux toits de Paris sont souvent en cuivre.

• Le cuivre est un excellent conducteur de chaleur et d'électricité.
• J'adore la couleur cuivre de ses cheveux.
• Dans l'orchestre, il joue dans la section des cuivres.

The metal alloy 'brass' – le laiton

The French word for the metal alloy 'brass' is le laiton. This is the standard term used to refer to the yellowish metal commonly seen in musical instruments, plumbing, and decoration.

Le laiton is a masculine noun. Therefore, any related articles or adjectives must also be in the masculine form. For example, you would say le laiton est durable (the brass is durable).

When you want to describe an object as being 'made of brass', you use the construction en laiton. This functions as an adjective. For instance, une poignée en laiton translates to 'a brass handle'.

It's important not to confuse le laiton with a similar alloy, le bronze (bronze). While both are common, le laiton typically has a brighter, more yellow hue, whereas le bronze is often reddish-brown.

💡 * La trompette est un instrument en laiton. (The trumpet is a brass instrument.)

• Ces vieilles clés sont faites de laiton massif. (These old keys are made of solid brass.)
• Il faut polir les décorations en laiton pour qu'elles brillent. (You have to polish the brass decorations so they shine.)
• Le laiton est un excellent conducteur de chaleur. (Brass is an excellent conductor of heat.)

1. The French Word for 'Lead': Le Plomb

The French translation for the metal 'lead' is le plomb. It is a masculine noun, so you would say le plomb. This term refers specifically to the chemical element (Pb) known for its high density and historical uses.

The word le plomb gives us a very common French noun: un plombier (a plumber). This is because plumbers historically worked with lead pipes (les tuyaux en plomb). Recognizing this connection can help you remember both words.

A popular French idiom using this word is une chape de plomb (literally 'a sheet of lead'). This expression describes a heavy, oppressive atmosphere, a crushing weight of silence, or a gloomy mood. For example, 'une chape de plomb s'est abattue sur la ville' means 'a gloomy atmosphere descended upon the city'.

It is important not to confuse the noun le plomb (the metal) with the English verb 'to lead'. The French verbs for 'to lead' (as in to guide or to be in charge) are mener or diriger. These words are completely unrelated to le plomb.

💡 * Le plomb est un métal lourd et toxique.

• Attention, cette vieille peinture peut contenir du plomb.
• J'ai appelé le plombier pour réparer une fuite d'eau.
• Après l'annonce, une chape de plomb est tombée sur la salle de réunion.

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

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

This guide has covered the most essential French words for “metal”, from the general term métal to specific examples. However, French, like any language, has a wealth of specialized vocabulary for different contexts, from metallurgy and engineering to music and art.

To expand your knowledge, try searching for specific fields. An online search for “vocabulaire de la métallurgie” or “genres de musique métal en français” can reveal more nuanced and technical terms.

Remember that context is key. The word you use for “heavy metal” music (le heavy metal) is very different from the term for “sheet metal” (la tôle). Always check definitions and examples to ensure you're using the right word for the right situation.

As you engage with French media, pay close attention. Watching a documentary about construction, reading about jewelry making, or listening to a French metal band will expose you to how these words are used by native speakers in their natural element.

For a deeper dive into related words, the WordReference entry for métal is an excellent resource. You can explore synonyms, related terms, and forum discussions that offer real-world examples and explanations.

We hope this guide has helped forge a stronger understanding of this topic. To conclude, here is a classic French proverb that perfectly fits our theme of learning and perseverance: C'est en forgeant qu'on devient forgeron. (Practice makes perfect, or literally, 'It is by forging that one becomes a blacksmith.')