When you think of the word 'season' in French, the first word that probably comes to mind is la saison. And you'd be right! But what if you're talking about the holiday season, a TV season, or even seasoning for your food? The French language has different words for these different contexts. As you dive deeper into French, you'll want to know how to talk about all kinds of 'seasons'. Let's explore nine different ways to say 'season' in French to make your conversations more precise and natural!

The general 'season' (for weather, sports, TV) – la saison

When you need to say 'season' in French, your go-to word will almost always be la saison. It's the most common and versatile term, covering everything from the seasons of the year to sports and television series.

La saison is a feminine noun (un nom féminin) that directly translates to 'the season'. Because it's feminine, remember that any adjectives describing it must also be in the feminine form (e.g., une belle saison for 'a beautiful season').

The most fundamental use of la saison is for the four seasons of the year: l'été (summer), l'automne (autumn), l'hiver (winter), and le printemps (spring). You would refer to them collectively as les quatre saisons.

The word extends seamlessly to other contexts. A TV show has a saison, a soccer league has its saison, and you can talk about la saison de la chasse (hunting season) or la saison des pluies (the rainy season).

A very useful related expression is de saison, which means 'in season'. This is frequently used when talking about food, especially fruits and vegetables. For example, les tomates sont de saison means 'tomatoes are in season'.

💡 * L'automne est ma saison préférée pour ses couleurs.

• La première saison de cette série était incroyable.
• La saison de football va bientôt commencer.
• Il est important de manger des fruits et légumes de saison.
• Pendant la haute saison touristique, les prix sont plus élevés.

The 'high season' for tourism – la haute saison

The 'high season' for tourism – la haute saison

When discussing travel and tourism in French, a key term you'll frequently encounter is la haute saison. This phrase directly translates to 'the high season' and refers to the peak period for tourism in a specific destination.

La haute saison is typically when a location experiences its best weather, but it's also marked by the largest crowds and, consequently, the highest prices for flights and accommodations. In France, this often corresponds with the summer months of July and August and major holiday periods.

To fully grasp its meaning, it's helpful to know its opposite: la basse saison (the low season), when there are fewer tourists and lower prices. There is also the intermediate period, known as la moyenne saison (the shoulder season), which can offer a compromise between good weather and affordability.

Recognizing the term la haute saison is essential for practical travel planning. If a travel guide or booking site mentions it, you can expect a bustling atmosphere and should book your arrangements well in advance. Conversely, travelers on a budget might specifically search for deals during la basse saison.

💡 * Pendant la haute saison, les prix des hôtels à Paris sont très élevés.

• Nous essayons d'éviter de voyager pendant la haute saison à cause de la foule.
• La Côte d'Azur est magnifique, mais bondée pendant la haute saison estivale.
• Est-ce que juillet est considéré comme la haute saison dans cette région ?

The 'low season' for tourism – la basse saison

When planning a trip, understanding seasonal terms is key. The French phrase for the 'low season' in tourism is la basse saison.

La basse saison refers to the time of year when there are fewest tourists. This period is typically outside of major holidays and often corresponds with less predictable or desirable weather, making it the off-peak time for travel.

Traveling during la basse saison has its perks. Key characteristics include lower prices for flights and hotels, fewer crowds at major attractions, and a potentially more authentic local experience.

To fully understand la basse saison, it's helpful to know its opposite: la haute saison (the high season or peak season). Some destinations also have a moyenne saison (shoulder season), which falls between the two.

You will commonly encounter this term when researching or booking travel. For example, a travel agent might advise, Pour économiser de l'argent, voyagez en basse saison (To save money, travel in the low season).

💡 * Les prix des billets d'avion sont moins chers en basse saison.

• Nous préférons visiter Paris pendant la basse saison pour éviter les longues files d'attente.
• En montagne, l'été est considéré comme la basse saison pour le ski.
• Voyager en basse saison permet une expérience plus tranquille et authentique.

The 'mid-season' (between main seasons) – la mi-saison

The term la mi-saison literally translates to 'the mid-season'. It refers to the transitional periods between the four main seasons, namely spring and autumn.

In France, la mi-saison is a very common concept, especially in the world of fashion and retail. It describes the time when the weather is unpredictable—not quite cold enough for a winter coat, but too cool for summer clothes. Think of it as the French equivalent of 'transitional weather'.

You'll frequently encounter this term when shopping. For example, a veste de mi-saison is a light jacket (like a trench coat or denim jacket) perfect for this period. Retailers also hold soldes de mi-saison (mid-season sales) to clear out stock before the next major season begins.

The noun mi-saison is feminine, hence la mi-saison. When used as an adjective to describe something (like une collection mi-saison), it is invariable, meaning it does not change its form.

💡 * J'ai acheté une jolie veste de mi-saison pour l'automne. (I bought a pretty mid-season jacket for the fall.)

• Les magasins proposent des réductions pour la mi-saison. (The stores are offering discounts for the mid-season.)
• C'est la parfaite météo de mi-saison aujourd'hui. (It's perfect mid-season weather today.)
• Cette collection mi-saison est très élégante. (This mid-season collection is very elegant.)

The 'late season' or 'Indian summer' – l'arrière-saison

The term l'arrière-saison literally translates to "the back season" or "late season." It's the most common French equivalent for what English speakers call an "Indian summer."

L'arrière-saison refers to a period of unseasonably warm, dry, and sunny weather that occurs in autumn, typically after a cooler spell, but before winter truly begins.

This term carries a slightly poetic and often nostalgic feeling. It evokes the idea of a final, beautiful burst of summer warmth before the arrival of colder, shorter days.

The word saison is feminine, so the term is l'arrière-saison (feminine). You would describe it using feminine adjectives, for example: une belle arrière-saison (a beautiful Indian summer).

Use this term to talk about that pleasant, warm spell in October or November. It's widely understood across the French-speaking world and is perfect for describing this specific time of year.

💡 * On profite de l'arrière-saison pour faire une dernière promenade en forêt. (We're taking advantage of the Indian summer to go for one last walk in the forest.)

• J'adore les couleurs de l'arrière-saison. (I love the colors of the late season.)
• Cette année, l'arrière-saison est particulièrement douce. (This year, the Indian summer is particularly mild.)

The 'holiday season' – la période des fêtes

The 'holiday season' – la période des fêtes

The most common and direct translation for 'the holiday season' in French is la période des fêtes, which literally means 'the period of the holidays.' It's a broad term that covers the festive time at the end of the year, similar to its English counterpart. You will also frequently hear the very similar expression, les fêtes de fin d'année (the end-of-year holidays).

This period typically encompasses the major celebrations from mid-December through early January. This includes Christmas Eve (le réveillon de Noël), Christmas Day (Noël), New Year's Eve (la Saint-Sylvestre), and New Year's Day (le jour de l'An). For some, the season officially concludes with the Epiphany (l'Épiphanie) on January 6th.

This phrase is central to holiday greetings. It allows for an inclusive and warm wish that covers the entire season. Common greetings include 'Joyeuses fêtes !' or 'Bonnes fêtes de fin d'année !', both of which translate to 'Happy holidays!'. It's a perfect way to wish someone well without specifying a single holiday.

💡 * J'adore l'ambiance qui règne pendant la période des fêtes.

• Que faites-vous pour la période des fêtes cette année ?
• Nous vous souhaitons de passer une excellente période des fêtes.
• Les rues sont magnifiquement décorées pour la période des fêtes.

The 'time' or 'season' for something specific – le temps

In French, the noun le temps is used to refer to a specific period, season, or the right 'time' for a particular activity. This is different from telling time on a clock, which uses l'heure.

You use le temps to talk about broader periods, such as seasons for harvesting, holidays, or specific events. It conveys a sense of a designated period for something, like 'harvest time' or 'the holiday season' in English.

Remember that le temps is a masculine noun. It is always used with masculine articles like le or un. A common expression is le temps de... followed by a noun or verb, meaning 'the time for/to...'.

💡 * C'est le temps des cerises, allons en cueillir. (It's cherry season, let's go pick some.)

• Bientôt, ce sera le temps des fêtes de fin d'année. (Soon, it will be the holiday season.)
• Le printemps est souvent considéré comme le temps des amours. (Spring is often considered the season of love.)
• Prends ton temps, ce n'est pas encore le temps de partir. (Take your time, it's not time to leave yet.)

The 'season' for a campaign (fishing, farming) – la campagne

While la campagne most famously means “the countryside,” it also carries the meaning of a “campaign” or a designated “season” for a specific, organized activity.

This term is frequently used in agricultural and industrial contexts. For instance, la campagne de pêche refers to the official fishing season, and la campagne agricole refers to the farming season (e.g., for harvesting a particular crop).

This meaning extends logically to other organized efforts, just like in English. You will see it used for a campagne publicitaire (advertising campaign), a campagne électorale (electoral campaign), or a campagne de vaccination (vaccination campaign).

It's important not to confuse this with la saison, which refers to the four seasons of the year (l'été, l'hiver, etc.). La campagne implies a period of focused, goal-oriented action.

💡 * La campagne de pêche au thon est strictement réglementée.

• Les agriculteurs attendent le début de la campagne des moissons.
• Notre nouvelle campagne publicitaire sera lancée demain.
• Le gouvernement a organisé une campagne de sensibilisation sur le recyclage.

1. The 'fiscal season' or year – l'exercice fiscal

In French, the term for the 'fiscal year' or 'financial year' is l'exercice fiscal. This is a fundamental concept in the world of business, accounting, and finance, referring to the 12-month period a company or government uses for financial reporting and budgeting.

It's important to distinguish l'exercice fiscal from l'année civile (the calendar year). While a calendar year always runs from January 1st to December 31st, a fiscal year can begin and end at any time. For example, a company's fiscal year might run from July 1st to June 30th to better align with its business cycle.

A common related phrase is la clôture de l'exercice, which means 'the closing of the fiscal year.' This is the period when businesses finalize their accounts and prepare their annual financial statements, such as the balance sheet (le bilan) and the income statement (le compte de résultat).

💡 * L'entreprise a publié ses résultats pour l'exercice fiscal 2023. (The company published its results for the 2023 fiscal year.)

• Notre exercice fiscal se termine le 30 juin de chaque année. (Our fiscal year ends on June 30th each year.)
• Nous devons préparer tous les documents pour la clôture de l'exercice. (We need to prepare all the documents for the closing of the fiscal year.)
• Le budget pour le prochain exercice fiscal sera discuté demain. (The budget for the next fiscal year will be discussed tomorrow.)

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

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

Our list features the most common ways to say “season” in French, primarily with the word saison. However, French is a language rich with context. There are other terms used for specific situations, like the 'season' for a particular sport, a TV series, or a festive period.

You can uncover more vocabulary by searching for specific phrases online, such as “comment dire holiday season en français” or searching for the French term for a TV show's season.

This will help you find interesting and specific vocabulary. Of course, always remember to check a word’s definition and observe its use in context before you start using it yourself.

Pay close attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French. You'll notice how native speakers naturally distinguish between the four seasons of the year and the 'season' of a popular TV show.

And if you’re looking for more words related to time, weather, and the seasons, the Larousse dictionary entry for saison is a fantastic place to start your exploration!

I hope this article was a helpful guide. Here’s a perfect quote from Albert Camus to finish with, celebrating the beauty of the seasons: L'automne est un deuxième printemps où chaque feuille est une fleur. (Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower.)