The first word you probably learned for 'pencil' in French is un crayon. And for a standard, grey-leaded pencil, that's perfectly correct!

But what happens when you need a colored pencil, or a mechanical one? As you advance in your French journey, you'll discover that, just like in English, there are specific words for different types of pencils.

Let's get specific and explore nine different ways to say 'pencil' in French, so you'll always have the right word at your fingertips!

The standard 'pencil' – un crayon

The most fundamental word for 'pencil' in French is un crayon. It's the go-to term you'll hear and use in almost every context, from the classroom to the office.

In French, all nouns have a gender. Crayon is a masculine noun. This is why it's introduced with the masculine article un (a/an). The plural form uses des, as in des crayons (pencils).

While un crayon is universally understood, you can be more specific:

un crayon à papier or un crayon de bois: This specifically refers to a standard graphite or 'lead' pencil.
un crayon de couleur: This means a colored pencil.
un portemine: This is a mechanical pencil.

A common mistake for learners is mixing up 'pencil' and 'pen'. The French word for 'pen' is un stylo. Always remember the distinction: un crayon is for drawing or writing that can be erased, while un stylo uses ink.

To use the word crayon effectively, you should know the associated verbs:

Tailler un crayon: To sharpen a pencil.
Gommer (un trait de crayon): To erase (a pencil mark).
Dessiner avec un crayon: To draw with a pencil.

The word crayon extends beyond writing instruments. It can refer to any pencil-shaped object, particularly in cosmetics. For example, un crayon pour les yeux is an eyeliner, and un crayon à lèvres is a lip liner.

💡 * Peux-tu me prêter un crayon ? J'ai oublié le mien.

Les enfants adorent dessiner avec des crayons de couleur.

J'ai besoin de tailler mon crayon à papier avant de commencer.

Dans ma trousse, il y a deux stylos et plusieurs crayons.

Ce dessin a été entièrement réalisé au crayon.

The specific 'lead pencil' – un crayon à papier

The specific 'lead pencil' – un crayon à papier

While un crayon can simply mean 'a pencil' in French, if you want to be specific and refer to a standard graphite or 'lead' pencil, the correct term is un crayon à papier.

This distinction is crucial because un crayon by itself can also refer to a crayon or a colored pencil (un crayon de couleur). Using crayon à papier removes any ambiguity.

Literally translating to 'a pencil for paper,' the phrase emphasizes its primary function for writing or drawing on paper. Another common, and virtually identical, variation you might hear is un crayon de papier.

You would use this term when you need to be precise, for example, in an art supply store or when asking for a specific tool. In a general classroom setting where lead pencils are the default, simply asking for un crayon is often sufficient.

💡 * Pour le dessin technique, il faut un crayon à papier bien taillé.

Peux-tu me prêter un crayon à papier et une gomme ?

J'ai seulement écrit mon nom avec un crayon à papier sur le formulaire.

L'esquisse a été réalisée avec un simple crayon à papier.

The old-fashioned 'wooden pencil' – un crayon de bois

While un crayon is the general word for 'pencil' in French, you'll sometimes encounter the more specific term un crayon de bois.

Literally translating to 'a pencil of wood,' un crayon de bois specifically refers to the classic graphite pencil encased in wood—what English speakers often call a lead pencil or a standard pencil.

A very common synonym for un crayon de bois is un crayon à papier ('paper pencil'). Both terms are used to distinguish a standard graphite pencil from other types, like colored pencils (crayons de couleur) or mechanical pencils (un critérium).

You would use un crayon de bois or un crayon à papier when you need to be precise. For example, if you ask for un crayon in a classroom, you might be handed a red or blue one. Asking for un crayon de bois ensures you get a standard graphite pencil for writing or sketching.

The usage can vary by region. In some parts of France and other French-speaking areas, crayon de bois or crayon à papier is the standard term, while in others, simply saying crayon is sufficient, with the context implying a graphite pencil.

💡 * J'ai besoin d'un crayon de bois et d'une gomme pour dessiner.

Est-ce que tu peux me prêter un crayon de bois ? Le mien est cassé.

Pour l'examen, vous ne pouvez utiliser qu'un crayon de bois.

Il a taillé son crayon de bois avant de commencer à écrire.

The 'mechanical pencil' – un portemine

The French word for a 'mechanical pencil' is un portemine.

The term is a compound word. It combines porte, from the verb porter (to carry or hold), and mine, which means 'lead' (the graphite core). So, it literally means a 'lead-holder'.

Portemine is a masculine noun. Therefore, you always use masculine articles like un (a/an) or le (the). For example, you would say le portemine.

This is the standard and most common term used in all contexts, from school to the office. It is the direct equivalent of 'mechanical pencil' and is distinct from un crayon, which refers to a traditional wooden pencil.

💡 * J'ai perdu mon portemine, je ne le trouve nulle part. (I lost my mechanical pencil, I can't find it anywhere.)

Peux-tu m'acheter des mines pour ce portemine ? (Can you buy me some leads for this mechanical pencil?)

Elle préfère écrire avec un portemine plutôt qu'un stylo. (She prefers to write with a mechanical pencil rather than a pen.)

C'est un portemine de très bonne qualité. (This is a very high-quality mechanical pencil.)

The branded 'mechanical pencil' – un critérium

The branded 'mechanical pencil' – un critérium

In France, the most common word for a mechanical pencil is un critérium. This is a classic example of a brand name becoming a generic trademark, much like 'Kleenex' for tissues in English. The original 'Critérium' was a popular brand, and its name stuck for all similar pencils.

You will hear critérium used in virtually all settings—at school, in the office, and in everyday conversation. It's the standard, go-to term.

The more technical or formal term is un porte-mine, which literally translates to 'lead holder'. While correct and understood, it's used far less frequently in casual speech than critérium.

It's important to remember that critérium is a masculine noun. Therefore, you must use masculine articles and agreements, such as un critérium or le critérium.

💡 * Peux-tu me prêter un critérium, s'il te plaît ? (Can you please lend me a mechanical pencil?)

J'ai besoin d'acheter des mines pour mon critérium. (I need to buy leads for my mechanical pencil.)

Elle dessine toujours avec un critérium pour plus de précision. (She always draws with a mechanical pencil for more precision.)

The 'colored pencil' – un crayon de couleur

In French, the direct and most common way to say 'colored pencil' is un crayon de couleur. This is the standard term you will hear and use in any context, from school to an art supply store.

Let's break down the phrase. Un crayon means 'a pencil.' The second part, de couleur, literally means 'of color.' So, you are saying 'a pencil of color.' This construction helps you understand why the word couleur doesn't change to agree with the pencil.

When you want to talk about more than one colored pencil, the plural form is des crayons de couleur. A common mistake for learners is to make couleur plural (couleurs), but it should remain singular. You are referring to 'pencils of color,' a category, not 'pencils of many colors.'

This term is universally understood. A child might ask for un crayon de couleur in class, and an artist would purchase une boîte de crayons de couleur (a box of colored pencils). It is a fundamental vocabulary item for anyone interested in art, school, or office supplies in French.

💡 * Peux-tu me passer le crayon de couleur bleu ? (Can you pass me the blue colored pencil?)

J'ai besoin d'acheter une nouvelle boîte de crayons de couleur pour mon cours d'art. (I need to buy a new box of colored pencils for my art class.)

Les enfants ont utilisé tous les crayons de couleur pour finir leur dessin. (The children used all the colored pencils to finish their drawing.)

Quel est ton crayon de couleur préféré ? (What is your favorite colored pencil?)

The 'drawing pencil' – un crayon à dessin

To specify a pencil used for art, sketching, or technical drawing in French, the term is un crayon à dessin. This distinguishes it from a standard writing pencil, which is often just called un crayon.

The phrase is made of two parts: un crayon (a pencil) and à dessin (for drawing). The preposition à is frequently used in French to describe an object's purpose, similar to how we might say 'drawing pencil' or 'wine glass' (verre à vin) in English.

While un crayon is a general term, un crayon à dessin is specific. You would use this term in an art supply store (un magasin de beaux-arts) or when discussing art materials to ensure clarity. It refers to pencils with varying lead hardness (like 2B, HB, 4H) used for artistic purposes.

💡 * J'ai besoin d'un nouveau crayon à dessin pour mon cours d'art. (I need a new drawing pencil for my art class.)

Quel type de crayon à dessin utilises-tu pour les ombres ? (What type of drawing pencil do you use for shading?)

L'artiste a seulement utilisé un crayon à dessin et du papier. (The artist only used a drawing pencil and paper.)

N'oubliez pas de tailler votre crayon à dessin avant de commencer. (Don't forget to sharpen your drawing pencil before starting.)

The 'grease pencil' or 'china marker' – un crayon gras

The 'grease pencil' or 'china marker' – un crayon gras

Literally translating to "fat pencil" or "greasy pencil," un crayon gras is the French term for a wax or grease pencil, known in English as a china marker. The adjective gras means "fat" or "greasy."

This tool is designed for writing on hard, non-porous surfaces like glass, plastic, or polished metal. It's commonly found in art studios, workshops, and industrial settings.

Don't confuse it with un crayon de cire, which is a standard wax crayon used for coloring. While both are made of wax, un crayon gras specifically refers to the utility marker.

💡 * J'ai besoin d'un crayon gras pour marquer ces bocaux en verre. (I need a grease pencil to mark these glass jars.)

L'artiste a esquissé le dessin avec un crayon gras noir. (The artist sketched the design with a black grease pencil.)

Peux-tu écrire le prix sur la vitre avec ce crayon gras ? (Can you write the price on the window with this china marker?)

1. The 'Charcoal Pencil' – Un Crayon Fusain

The French term for a 'charcoal pencil' is un crayon fusain. This is a direct and literal translation where crayon means 'pencil' and fusain is the word for 'charcoal' as an art medium. This term specifically refers to compressed charcoal enclosed in a wood casing, much like a graphite pencil.

You would use the term un crayon fusain when discussing art, shopping for supplies (fournitures d'art), or taking a drawing class. It's a common tool for artists who want the effects of charcoal with the control and cleanliness of a pencil.

It's important not to confuse un crayon fusain with le fusain on its own. While un crayon fusain is the pencil form, le fusain can also refer to charcoal sticks (un bâton de fusain), which are not encased in wood and are used for broader, more expressive strokes.

💡 * J'ai besoin d'acheter un nouveau crayon fusain pour mon cours de dessin.

L'artiste a utilisé un crayon fusain pour esquisser les ombres du portrait.

Préférez-vous dessiner avec un crayon fusain ou un crayon graphite ?

La texture de ce papier est parfaite pour le crayon fusain.

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

This guide features the most common ways to say 'pencil' in French, focusing on crayon and crayon à papier. However, the French language is rich with regionalisms and specific terms for different types of pencils.

For example, while crayon is standard, you might encounter crayon gris in Belgium or Switzerland. For a mechanical pencil, the term is un porte-mine. Specificity is key to sounding like a native speaker.

To discover more local terms, you can do an online search for “comment dire crayon en ___” and fill in the blank with a Francophone country or region. You'll find interesting local vocabulary!

Pay attention to context when you're reading, watching, or listening to French content. Notice what word is used for a drawing pencil versus a writing pencil. This real-world exposure is the best way to learn.

If you're looking for more vocabulary related to stationery and art supplies, the WordReference or Larousse entries for crayon are fantastic starting points. They often include compound words and example sentences.

I hope this article has helped sharpen your French vocabulary! Every new word is a tool to express yourself more clearly. As the saying goes, 'Le plus court crayon vaut mieux que la plus longue mémoire.' (The shortest pencil is better than the longest memory.)

'9 ways to say "pencil" in French'