The word parc is the most direct and common way to say “park” in French. But what happens when you’re looking for a specific kind of park? A small, quiet green square in the middle of a city is quite different from a sprawling national forest, or a playground designed for children.

As you explore French-speaking regions, you'll want to find the perfect spot to relax, have a picnic, or enjoy nature. Knowing the right vocabulary will not only help you ask for directions but also deepen your understanding of the local culture and landscape.

Let’s dive into nine essential ways to say “park” in French, so you can find your ideal green oasis, no matter where you are!

The standard 'park' – le parc

Le parc is the most common and direct translation for 'park' in French. It's the standard term you'll use in most situations.

Crucially, parc is a masculine noun. This means you will always use masculine articles with it:

le parc (the park)
un parc (a park)

The plural form is regular: les parcs (the parks).

Most often, le parc refers to a public green space within a city or town, used for recreation, walking, or relaxing. This is its primary and most frequent meaning.

The term is also versatile and can be used for larger or more specific types of parks, often with a qualifier:

un parc national: a national park
un parc d'attractions: an amusement park
un parc zoologique: a zoo (or simply un zoo)

You will often hear parc used in these common phrases:

aller au parc: to go to the park
se promener dans le parc: to take a walk in the park
jouer au parc: to play at the park

💡 * Les enfants jouent au parc tous les après-midis.

On va faire un pique-nique dans le parc ce week-end ?

J'adore me promener dans le Parc du Luxembourg à Paris.

Ce parc national est célèbre pour ses paysages magnifiques.

The 'public garden' – le jardin public

The 'public garden' – le jardin public

A cornerstone of French urban life, le jardin public literally translates to “the public garden.” It is composed of two words: jardin (garden) and public (public). Note that in French, the adjective typically follows the noun it describes.

Unlike a simple park (parc), a jardin public in France often evokes a more specific image: a beautifully manicured, enclosed green space designed for leisure and aesthetic pleasure. They are meticulously maintained by the municipality.

You can typically expect to find features like ornate flowerbeds (des parterres de fleurs), statues, fountains (des fontaines), and iconic green metal benches (des bancs publics). Famous examples include the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris or the Jardin Public of Bordeaux.

French people use this term to refer to the central, often historic, garden in a town or city. It’s the go-to place for a peaceful walk (une promenade), reading a book, or meeting friends on a sunny afternoon.

💡 * On se retrouve au jardin public à 15h. (Let's meet at the public garden at 3 PM.)

J'aime lire un livre sur un banc dans le jardin public. (I like to read a book on a bench in the public garden.)

Le jardin public est fermé la nuit. (The public garden is closed at night.)

Les fleurs de ce jardin public sont magnifiques au printemps. (The flowers in this public garden are magnificent in the spring.)

The 'city square' – le square

Another word you'll frequently encounter for a public space in a French city is le square. As you might guess from its appearance, this word is directly borrowed from the English word 'square'.

However, le square doesn't mean just any open square. It specifically refers to a small public garden or green space, often found in a residential neighborhood. Think of it as a small, often enclosed, park-like area with grass, trees, and benches.

The most important distinction for learners is between le square and la place. While la place is typically a large, open, often paved area surrounded by buildings (like a traditional town square), le square is almost always characterized by greenery and is much smaller in scale.

Essentially, if you see a small, green area with benches, a fountain, or children's play equipment, you are most likely in a square. If you are in a large open space used for markets or public gatherings, you are in a place.

💡 * Les enfants jouent dans le square après l'école. (The children play in the square after school.)

On se retrouve au square à côté de la boulangerie. (Let's meet at the square next to the bakery.)

Il y a un joli square avec beaucoup de fleurs dans mon quartier. (There is a pretty square with lots of flowers in my neighborhood.)

Le marché a lieu sur la grande place, pas dans le petit square. (The market takes place on the big square, not in the little green square.)

The 'green space' – l'espace vert

The term l'espace vert is a direct and literal translation of the English phrase 'the green space'. It is the standard and most common way to refer to this concept in French.

An espace vert specifically refers to a planned or designated area with vegetation within an urban or suburban environment. This includes public parks, gardens, squares with trees and grass, and other recreational natural areas designed for public use.

The noun espace is masculine. Therefore, the term always uses masculine articles and adjectives: un espace vert (a green space) and the plural form des espaces verts (green spaces). The adjective vert (green) must agree with the masculine noun.

This term is frequently used in discussions about city planning, environmentalism, and quality of life. French cities often highlight the quantity and quality of their espaces verts to attract residents and tourists.

💡 * J'adore me promener dans l'espace vert près de mon bureau.

La ville investit dans la création de nouveaux espaces verts.

Cet espace vert est parfait pour un pique-nique le week-end.

Les enfants jouent dans les espaces verts du quartier.

The 'amusement park' – le parc d'attractions

The most common and direct way to say “amusement park” in French is le parc d'attractions.

This phrase literally translates to “park of attractions.” Parc means “park,” and attractions refers to the rides, games, and shows.

Remember that parc is a masculine noun. Therefore, you must use masculine articles like le or un. For example, you would say le grand parc d'attractions (the big amusement park).

When talking about going to the park, you use the preposition à. Because parc is masculine, à + le contracts to au. For example: Je vais au parc d'attractions (I am going to the amusement park).

A similar term you might encounter is le parc à thème, which specifically means “theme park.” While many parks can be both, parc à thème emphasizes a specific concept or story, like Disneyland Paris.

💡 * Nous allons au parc d'attractions ce week-end. (We are going to the amusement park this weekend.)

J'adore les montagnes russes dans ce parc d'attractions ! (I love the roller coasters at this amusement park!)

Est-ce qu'il y a un parc d'attractions près d'ici ? (Is there an amusement park near here?)

Les enfants veulent retourner au parc d'attractions. (The children want to go back to the amusement park.)

The 'national park' – le parc national

The French term for 'national park' is a direct and easy-to-remember translation: le parc national. It functions in the same way as its English counterpart, referring to a protected natural area.

The word parc is a masculine noun, so it always uses the masculine articles le or un. The plural form follows a common French grammar rule: les parcs nationaux. Notice how the adjective national changes to nationaux to agree with the plural noun parcs.

Use le parc national when referring to official, government-protected areas of significant natural beauty or ecological importance. Famous examples in France include the Parc national des Écrins in the Alps or the Parc national de la Vanoise.

It's important to distinguish le parc national from other types of parks. A city park is simply un parc or un jardin public (e.g., le Jardin du Luxembourg). France also has des parcs naturels régionaux (regional natural parks), which are similar but have a different administrative status.

💡 * Nous avons fait une randonnée dans le parc national des Cévennes.

Les parcs nationaux protègent la faune et la flore locales.

L'entrée de ce parc national est-elle gratuite ?

J'adore explorer les parcs nationaux pendant mes vacances.

The 'zoo' – le parc zoologique or le zoo

In French, the word for 'zoo' can be expressed in two main ways: the more formal le parc zoologique and the much more common, abbreviated form, le zoo.

While le parc zoologique is the full, official term you might see on signs or in formal documents, in everyday conversation, French speakers almost always say le zoo. It's the direct equivalent of how 'zoo' is used in English.

It's important to note that both terms are masculine. You would say le zoo for 'the zoo' and un zoo for 'a zoo'. The same applies to le parc zoologique.

💡 * On va au zoo ce week-end pour voir les lions. (We're going to the zoo this weekend to see the lions.)

Le Parc Zoologique de Paris est très célèbre. (The Paris Zoological Park is very famous.)

C'est le plus grand zoo que j'aie jamais visité. (It's the biggest zoo I have ever visited.)

The 'playground' – l'aire de jeux

The 'playground' – l'aire de jeux

The term l'aire de jeux (feminine noun) is the most standard and widely used phrase for a children's playground in French. It literally translates to 'play area.' You'll see this term on signs in parks, at schools, and in public spaces designated for children's recreation.

Let's break down the components: aire means 'area' or 'space,' and jeux is the plural of jeu, which means 'game.' So, l'aire de jeux directly translates to 'the area of games,' a perfect description for a place with swings, slides, and climbing frames.

Be careful not to confuse it with le terrain de jeu. While terrain de jeu can sometimes refer to a playground, it more commonly means a 'playing field' for sports like soccer or basketball. For the specific area with children's play equipment, l'aire de jeux is the more precise and common choice.

💡 * Les enfants adorent passer l'après-midi à l'aire de jeux.

Cette nouvelle aire de jeux a un grand toboggan et des balançoires.

La municipalité a installé une aire de jeux près de la bibliothèque.

L'aire de jeux est fermée pour maintenance aujourd'hui.

1. Understanding 'Le Parc Naturel Régional'

The French term le parc naturel régional (often abbreviated as PNR) translates directly to 'regional nature park' in English. It designates a populated rural area in France recognized for its exceptional natural landscapes, rich biodiversity, and significant cultural heritage.

Unlike a national park (parc national), which often has stricter conservation rules, a parc naturel régional is created to protect and enhance its territory by promoting sustainable economic and social development. Its mission is to balance environmental protection, local development, public education, and responsible tourism.

A defining feature of these parks is that they are inhabited. They encompass villages, farms, and local businesses, all of which are part of a charter that guides the park's management. This creates a living landscape where nature and human activity coexist harmoniously.

💡 * Nous allons visiter le Parc Naturel Régional du Vercors ce week-end.

Ce fromage est produit dans un parc naturel régional.

La charte du parc encourage le développement durable.

Il existe plus de 50 parcs naturels régionaux en France.

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

Our guide has covered the most essential terms for 'park' in French, from a public jardin to a vast parc national. However, the French language is full of specific and regional terms that you might encounter on your travels or in your reading.

You can discover more localized vocabulary by searching online for “comment dire parc en ___” followed by the name of a Francophone region, like Quebec, Belgium, or even a specific region within France.

When you come across a new synonym, like square or esplanade, be sure to check its precise definition. A word's context is key to using it correctly and sounding like a native speaker.

Pay close attention as you watch French films, read French literature, or look at city maps. You'll start to notice the different words used for green spaces and public areas, which will naturally expand your vocabulary.

If you're looking for more detailed vocabulary related to parks, such as specific features like a kiosque à musique (bandstand) or a terrain de jeux (playground), the WordReference page for parc is an excellent starting point.

I hope this article helps you navigate the parks of the French-speaking world with confidence. I'll leave you with this lovely thought from Jean-Charles Adolphe Alphand, the architect behind many of Paris's famous parks: Un parc est un poème que l'on traverse. (A park is a poem one walks through.)

'9 ways to say "park" in French'