When you look up at the night sky, the first word that likely comes to mind for the moon in French is la lune. It’s the classic, go-to term you learn on day one. But the French language, with its poetic and romantic flair, offers so many other ways to talk about our celestial companion. From affectionate nicknames to more scientific terms, expanding your vocabulary will add a touch of magic to your French conversations. Ready to let your French shine as brightly as a full moon? Let's dive into 9 different ways to say 'moon' in French!

1. The standard 'moon' – la lune

The standard word for 'moon' in French is la lune.

La lune is the most direct and common translation for 'the moon'. It refers specifically to Earth's natural satellite, the celestial body we see in the night sky.

A crucial aspect of French grammar is noun gender. Lune is a feminine noun. This means it is always accompanied by feminine articles, such as:

• la lune (the moon)
• une lune (a moon) Because we are usually talking about our planet's single moon, you will most often encounter it as la lune.

While its primary use is literal, la lune is also a powerful symbol in French culture and language, often appearing in idiomatic expressions related to dreams, moods, and desires.

Here are two very common expressions you should know:

• Être dans la lune: Literally 'to be in the moon', this means to be daydreaming, absent-minded, or have your head in the clouds.
• Demander la lune: This translates to 'to ask for the moon' and means to ask for something impossible or unreasonable.

The plural form, les lunes, is used when talking about the moons of other planets. For example, les lunes de Saturne means 'the moons of Saturn'.

💡 * La lune est très brillante ce soir. (The moon is very bright tonight.)

• Mon fils est toujours dans la lune en classe. (My son is always daydreaming in class.)
• Le télescope nous a permis de voir les lunes de Jupiter. (The telescope allowed us to see the moons of Jupiter.)
• Je veux juste un peu de silence, je ne demande pas la lune ! (I just want a little quiet, I'm not asking for the moon!)

The 'full moon' – la pleine lune

The 'full moon' – la pleine lune

When the moon is completely illuminated from Earth's perspective, the French refer to it as la pleine lune. This term literally translates to 'the full moon.'

The grammar is straightforward. Lune (moon) is a feminine noun in French, so it takes the feminine article la. Consequently, the adjective plein (full) must agree with it, taking the feminine form pleine.

Much like in English-speaking cultures, la pleine lune is often culturally associated with sleeplessness, strange behavior, or folklore. It's common to hear someone say, “C’est la pleine lune,” as a half-joking explanation for an unusual event.

Understanding la pleine lune opens the door to other lunar phases. Key related terms include la nouvelle lune (the new moon), le premier quartier (the first quarter), and le dernier quartier (the last quarter).

While not directly about the full moon, a very common French idiom is être dans la lune, which means 'to be daydreaming' or 'to have one's head in the clouds.' It's a useful expression to know!

💡 * Regarde le ciel, c'est la pleine lune ce soir ! (Look at the sky, it's a full moon tonight!)

• Je dors toujours mal pendant la pleine lune. (I always sleep poorly during the full moon.)
• Selon la légende, les loups-garous apparaissent à la pleine lune. (According to legend, werewolves appear on the full moon.)
• La prochaine pleine lune est prévue pour la semaine prochaine. (The next full moon is scheduled for next week.)

The 'new moon' – la nouvelle lune

To talk about the 'new moon' in French, the specific term you'll use is la nouvelle lune.

This phrase translates literally and directly. Nouvelle is the feminine form of the adjective for 'new,' and lune means 'moon.' The article la confirms that lune is a feminine noun.

La nouvelle lune refers to the first lunar phase when the moon is not visible from Earth. It's the standard term used in astronomy, astrology, and on calendars to mark the beginning of a new lunar cycle.

Similar to English, the concept of the new moon carries cultural weight in France. It's often associated with new beginnings, setting intentions, or agricultural practices. You might hear someone say they are starting a new project à la nouvelle lune.

💡 * Ce soir, c'est la nouvelle lune, le ciel sera très sombre.

• Le calendrier lunaire indique que la prochaine nouvelle lune est jeudi.
• Beaucoup de gens aiment fixer de nouveaux objectifs pendant la nouvelle lune.
• On ne peut pas voir la nouvelle lune car elle est entre la Terre et le Soleil.

1. The 'crescent moon' – le croissant de lune

The most direct and common way to say 'crescent moon' in French is le croissant de lune. It's the standard term you'll hear and read in most contexts.

This phrase literally translates to 'the crescent of the moon.' You'll likely recognize croissant, which means 'crescent' and is the name of the famous pastry because of its shape. Lune is the French word for 'moon.'

The phrase uses the preposition de ('of') to link the two nouns. This NOUN + de + NOUN structure is a fundamental pattern in French used to describe what something is made of or what it pertains to, in this case, a crescent of the moon.

You can use le croissant de lune when talking about the actual moon in the sky, as well as in more figurative or descriptive situations, such as describing a piece of jewelry or a design.

💡 * Regarde le beau croissant de lune ce soir !

• J'ai dessiné un ciel étoilé avec un croissant de lune.
• Le croissant de lune brillait faiblement à travers les nuages.
• Son collier avait un pendentif en forme de croissant de lune.

The 'half-moon' or 'quarter moon' – le quartier de lune

The French term for what English speakers often call a “half-moon” is le quartier de lune.

Literally, quartier de lune translates to “quarter of the moon.” The word quartier means “quarter” and lune means “moon.”

This might seem confusing because we visually see half of the moon illuminated. The term “quarter” actually refers to the moon's position in its orbital cycle around the Earth. The first and third quarter moons mark the points where the moon has completed one-quarter and three-quarters of its orbit, respectively.

In French, you specify which quarter you are referring to. The waxing half-moon is called le premier quartier (the first quarter), and the waning half-moon is le dernier quartier (the last quarter).

While it's tempting to translate “half-moon” directly to demi-lune, this term is more commonly used to describe a half-moon shape (like a croissant or a type of window). For the astronomical phase, quartier de lune is the correct and specific term to use.

💡 * Ce soir, c'est le premier quartier de lune. (Tonight, it's the first quarter moon.)

• J'aime observer le ciel pendant le dernier quartier de lune. (I like to watch the sky during the last quarter moon.)
• Le calendrier lunaire indique que le prochain quartier de lune est mardi. (The lunar calendar indicates that the next quarter moon is on Tuesday.)
• La visibilité est parfaite pour voir le quartier de lune ce soir. (The visibility is perfect for seeing the quarter moon tonight.)

The poetic 'night star' – l'astre de la nuit

While the standard French word for the moon is la lune, a more poetic and literary term is l'astre de la nuit. This phrase translates literally to 'the star of the night' or 'the celestial body of the night'.

Let's break it down: l'astre is a masculine noun for a celestial or heavenly body, and de la nuit means 'of the night.' Combined, they paint a majestic picture of the moon as the primary light source after sunset.

This is not a term for everyday conversation. You would sound overly dramatic pointing at the sky and using it. L'astre de la nuit is almost exclusively found in poetry, classic literature, and lyrical songs to create a romantic, mysterious, or melancholic mood.

Think of l'astre de la nuit as a piece of vocabulary for appreciating French arts and culture. For practical, day-to-day communication, always use la lune. Recognizing this distinction is key to sounding natural.

💡 * Le poète contemplait l'astre de la nuit depuis sa fenêtre.

• Sous l'éclat argenté de l'astre de la nuit, le paysage était magique.
• Ses chansons évoquent souvent la beauté de l'astre de la nuit.

The 'moonlight' – le clair de lune

The French term for 'moonlight' is le clair de lune. This is a classic, poetic phrase used to describe the light cast by the moon.

The phrase literally translates to 'the light of the moon.' It is composed of clair, meaning 'light' or 'clear,' de, meaning 'of,' and lune, meaning 'moon.' Note that it is a masculine noun.

You use au clair de lune to say 'in the moonlight.' This term carries a strong romantic and artistic connotation, famously featured in poems and in Claude Debussy's iconic piano piece, 'Clair de lune.'

💡 * Nous nous sommes promenés au clair de lune. (We walked in the moonlight.)

• Le lac était argenté sous le clair de lune. (The lake was silvery under the moonlight.)
• J'aime lire à la fenêtre au clair de lune. (I like to read by the window in the moonlight.)

The 'honeymoon' – la lune de miel

The French term for 'honeymoon' is la lune de miel.

Literally translating to 'the moon of honey,' this phrase is used in the exact same context as its English counterpart. It refers to the special trip a couple takes after getting married.

Whether you're planning a trip to Paris or just dreaming of one, knowing this term is essential for any conversation about weddings. The usage is identical to English, referring to the post-wedding vacation.

To say 'to go on a honeymoon,' you use the expression partir en lune de miel. This is a key phrase to remember when discussing travel plans with French speakers.

💡 * Où partez-vous en lune de miel ? (Where are you going on your honeymoon?)

• Notre lune de miel à Tahiti était incroyable. (Our honeymoon in Tahiti was incredible.)
• Ils ont reporté leur lune de miel à l'année prochaine. (They postponed their honeymoon until next year.)

1. The scientific 'natural satellite' – le satellite naturel

In a scientific, academic, or formal context, the precise term for 'natural satellite' is le satellite naturel. This is a direct translation used in fields like astronomy to describe a celestial body orbiting a larger one, such as a planet. The word naturel is essential to distinguish it from man-made objects.

While the word satellite can sometimes stand alone, in modern French, it is most often assumed to mean an artificial satellite (un satellite artificiel). Using the full term le satellite naturel removes any ambiguity. For example, when discussing the Moon, you would say it is le satellite naturel de la Terre to be perfectly clear.

The noun satellite is masculine, so it's always le or un satellite naturel. When plural, it becomes les satellites naturels. Notice that the adjective naturel agrees in number with the noun, taking an 's' in the plural form.

💡 * La Lune est le satellite naturel de la Terre. (The Moon is the natural satellite of the Earth.)

• Les scientifiques étudient les nombreux satellites naturels de Jupiter. (Scientists are studying Jupiter's many natural satellites.)
• Un astéroïde peut-il devenir un satellite naturel ? (Can an asteroid become a natural satellite?)
• Ce documentaire explique la formation des satellites naturels. (This documentary explains the formation of natural satellites.)

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

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

Our list covers the most essential ways to say “moon” in French. But as a language rich in poetry and science, French offers many other terms, from the literary and romantic to the astronomical.

For more specific vocabulary, you can do an online search for “expressions avec le mot lune” or “synonymes poétiques de lune” to uncover more creative ways the French refer to this celestial body.

When you find a new synonym for lune, pay attention to its context. Some words might be strictly for poetry or literature, while others are used in scientific fields like astronomy.

Immerse yourself in French culture by listening to songs like Debussy's “Clair de lune” or reading classic poetry. You’ll begin to notice the moon's significant role and the diverse vocabulary used to describe it.

If you want to dive deeper into phrases and related words, the WordReference entry for lune is a fantastic starting point for any curious learner.

I hope this guide has illuminated the topic for you. Let's finish with a perfectly artistic thought from French poet Jean Cocteau: “La lune est le soleil des statues.” (The moon is the sun of statues.)