Sport is the most common way to say "sport" in French. But did you know there are several other excellent options? Whether you're discussing your favorite activities, describing an athlete, or simply trying to expand your vocabulary, knowing these alternatives can make your French sound much more natural and nuanced. Let's dive into 9 different ways to talk about "sport" and related concepts in French!

The general term for 'sport' – le sport

Le sport is the most common and general term for 'sport' or 'physical activity' in French.

As indicated by the article le, sport is a masculine noun. Its plural form is les sports.

This term is universally understood and used in both formal and informal contexts, making it the primary word for 'sport' in French.

Le sport can refer to a specific athletic activity (e.g., 'football is a sport') or the general concept of physical activity and sports (e.g., 'I like sports').

The most common way to talk about doing sports is with the verb faire (to do/make). You'll often hear faire du sport (to do sport/exercise) or faire un sport (to do a specific sport).

The related adjective and noun forms are sportif (masculine) and sportive (feminine), meaning 'athletic' or 'a sportsperson'.

In French, faire du sport often encompasses general physical exercise or working out, not just competitive sports. It's a broad term for staying active and healthy.

Whether you're talking about professional athletes, amateur activities, or simply getting some exercise, le sport is the appropriate term to use.

💡 * Je fais du sport tous les jours. (I do sport/exercise every day.)

Quel est ton sport préféré ? (What is your favorite sport?)

Les sports d'hiver sont très populaires en France. (Winter sports are very popular in France.)

C'est un grand sportif. (He is a great athlete/sportsperson.)

Nous allons regarder le match de sport ce soir. (We are going to watch the sports match tonight.)

A 'sporting activity' or 'physical activity' – une activité sportive

A ‘sporting activity’ or ‘physical activity’ – une activité sportive

When you want to talk about engaging in a sporting activity or physical activity in French, the most common and direct phrase is une activité sportive.

This term is broadly applicable to any structured or informal activity that involves physical exertion, from team sports to individual exercises.

While sportive directly relates to 'sport,' une activité sportive encompasses a wider range than just competitive sports. It can refer to jogging, swimming, hiking, or even a gym workout, emphasizing the 'physical' aspect.

You might also encounter variations like faire du sport (to do sport/exercise) or faire de l'exercice (to do exercise), but une activité sportive specifically highlights the activity itself.

Remember that activité is a feminine noun, so it takes the feminine adjective sportive. If you were to refer to a 'sporting club,' it would be un club sportif (masculine).

Engaging in une activité sportive is highly valued in French culture, often seen as an integral part of a healthy lifestyle and social interaction.

💡 *Chaque week-end, il fait une activité sportive. (Every weekend, he does a sporting activity.)
*Quelle activité sportive préfères-tu ? (Which physical activity do you prefer?)
*La natation est une activité sportive excellente pour le corps. (Swimming is an excellent physical activity for the body.)
*Nous cherchons une nouvelle activité sportive à pratiquer ensemble. (We are looking for a new sporting activity to do together.)

The act of 'practicing a sport' – pratiquer un sport

When you want to express the idea of 'practicing a sport' or 'doing a sport' in French, the most common and direct phrase you'll use is pratiquer un sport.

Literally translating to 'to practice a sport,' this expression is widely used for engaging in any athletic activity, from jogging to football to gymnastics.

Pratiquer is a regular -er verb, making its conjugation straightforward. You'll conjugate it just like other common verbs ending in -er (e.g., parler, manger).

While jouer (to play) is also used for sports, especially ball games (e.g., jouer au football), pratiquer is a more general term for engaging in or practicing a sport or physical activity. It emphasizes the act of doing the sport rather than just playing a game.

The structure is typically pratiquer + [indefinite article: un/une/des] + [sport]. For example, pratiquer un sport, pratiquer la natation (swimming), pratiquer des arts martiaux.

It's worth noting that pratiquer can also be used for other activities, like pratiquer une langue (to practice a language) or pratiquer un instrument (to practice an instrument), highlighting its broader meaning of 'to engage in' or 'to perform'.

💡 * Je pratique le tennis tous les samedis. (I practice tennis every Saturday.)

Elle pratique la danse depuis son enfance. (She has been practicing dance since her childhood.)

Nous aimons pratiquer des sports nautiques en été. (We like to practice water sports in the summer.)

Est-ce que tu pratiques un sport ? (Do you practice a sport?)

Mes enfants pratiquent le judo. (My children practice judo.)

A 'game' or 'match' (often for specific sports) – un jeu or un match

In French, both un jeu and un match can translate to "a game" or "a match" in English, but they are used in distinct contexts, primarily depending on the type of activity.

Un jeu generally refers to a 'game' in a broader sense: board games, card games, video games, children's games, or even a play in a theater. It emphasizes the act of playing or the recreational aspect.

Un match is a direct English loanword and specifically refers to a competitive 'match' or 'game' in sports, such as football (soccer), tennis, rugby, or basketball. It implies a formal contest between two teams or players.

While un jeu can refer to a 'set' in tennis (e.g., "gagner un jeu" - to win a game/set), un match always denotes the entire sporting event. Think of un jeu as the activity or object, and un match as the organized sporting contest.

💡 * J'adore jouer aux jeux de société. (I love playing board games.)

Les enfants jouent à un jeu dans le jardin. (The children are playing a game in the garden.)

Nous allons regarder un match de football ce soir. (We are going to watch a football match tonight.)

Elle a gagné le match de tennis en trois sets. (She won the tennis match in three sets.)

Quel est ton jeu vidéo préféré ? (What is your favorite video game?)

A 'sporting competition' – une compétition sportive

When referring to a 'sporting competition' in French, the most direct and widely understood term is une compétition sportive.

This phrase is a literal translation and is used in a broad range of contexts, from local school events to international championships.

It encompasses any organized event where individuals or teams compete against each other in a sport, such as races, games, tournaments, or athletic meets.

While you might hear just une compétition in informal settings, adding sportive provides clarity and ensures you're specifically talking about an athletic event, distinguishing it from other types of competitions.

Other related terms include un match (a game/match), un tournoi (a tournament), or une épreuve (an event/test, often within a larger competition).

💡 * La ville organise une compétition sportive annuelle pour les jeunes. (The city organizes an annual sporting competition for young people.)

J'ai participé à une compétition sportive de natation le week-end dernier. (I participated in a swimming sporting competition last weekend.)

Les compétitions sportives attirent toujours beaucoup de spectateurs. (Sporting competitions always attract a lot of spectators.)

C'est une compétition sportive de haut niveau. (It's a high-level sporting competition.)

Notre école a gagné la compétition sportive inter-lycées. (Our school won the inter-high school sporting competition.)

A 'sportsman' or 'sportswoman' – un sportif/une sportive

In French, the terms for a 'sportsman' or 'sportswoman' are un sportif (masculine) and une sportive (feminine). These words directly translate to someone who practices sports.

However, sportif and sportive carry a broader meaning than just someone who plays sports occasionally. They describe an individual who is athletic, active, and regularly engages in physical activity. It often implies a lifestyle centered around fitness and sports, rather than just a hobby.

Unlike the English term 'sportsman,' which can sometimes imply a professional athlete, a hunter, or an angler, un sportif or une sportive is more generally used for anyone who is physically fit and dedicated to sports. It emphasizes their active nature and love for physical exertion.

It's also important to note that sportif and sportive can function as adjectives, meaning 'sporty' or 'athletic.' For example, une voiture sportive means 'a sporty car,' and un look sportif means 'an athletic look.' This dual usage highlights the connection between the person and the characteristic.

💡 * Mon frère est très sportif, il fait du vélo tous les jours.(My brother is very athletic, he bikes every day.)

Elle est une grande sportive, elle s'entraîne pour le marathon.(She is a great sportswoman/athlete, she's training for the marathon.)

Pour être en forme, il faut être un peu sportif.(To be in shape, you need to be a bit athletic.)

Les sportifs aiment les défis physiques.(Athletes/Sportspeople love physical challenges.)

'Physical education' (in school) – l'éducation physique et sportive (EPS)

In French schools, physical education is formally known as l'éducation physique et sportive.

This long phrase is almost always shortened to its acronym, l'EPS. You'll hear students and teachers alike refer to the subject simply as l'EPS.

Since éducation is a feminine noun, l'EPS is also treated as feminine, even though it's an acronym. Therefore, you would say la séance d'EPS (the EPS session) or une bonne note en EPS (a good grade in EPS).

💡 * Mon cours d'EPS est le mardi matin. (My PE class is on Tuesday morning.)

Les élèves ont l'EPS deux fois par semaine. (Students have PE twice a week.)

J'ai oublié mes affaires d'EPS à la maison. (I forgot my PE clothes at home.)

Le professeur d'EPS nous a appris à jouer au handball. (The PE teacher taught us how to play handball.)

A 'sporting event' or 'sports meeting' – un événement sportif

When you want to refer to a 'sporting event' or 'sports meeting' in French, the most common and straightforward term to use is un événement sportif.

This phrase literally means 'a sporting event'. Un événement translates to 'an event', and sportif is the adjective for 'sporting' or 'sports-related'. Remember that sportif must agree in gender and number with événement.

You can use un événement sportif for anything from a local match to a major international competition. The plural form is des événements sportifs.

💡 * Nous allons à un événement sportif ce week-end. (We are going to a sporting event this weekend.)

Les Jeux Olympiques sont des événements sportifs majeurs. (The Olympic Games are major sporting events.)

Elle organise un événement sportif pour collecter des fonds. (She is organizing a sporting event to raise funds.)

Y a-t-il des événements sportifs prévus en ville ? (Are there any sporting events planned in town?)

A 'team sport' – un sport d'équipe

The most common and direct way to say "team sport" in French is un sport d'équipe.

Breaking down the phrase, un sport means "a sport", and une équipe means "a team". The d' is a contraction of the preposition de (meaning "of" or "from") which is used before a vowel sound, linking "sport" to "équipe".

This phrase is used universally to describe sports that require collective effort. When referring to multiple team sports, the plural form is des sports d'équipe. The gender of 'sport' (masculine) determines the articles, while 'équipe' (feminine) remains unchanged in this construction.

💡 * Le football est un sport d'équipe très populaire en France. (Football is a very popular team sport in France.)

J'ai toujours préféré les sports d'équipe aux sports individuels. (I've always preferred team sports to individual sports.)

Le basketball est un excellent sport d'équipe pour développer la coordination. (Basketball is an excellent team sport for developing coordination.)

Pour les enfants, pratiquer des sports d'équipe est bénéfique pour le développement social. (For children, playing team sports is beneficial for social development.)

Quel est ton sport d'équipe préféré ? (What is your favorite team sport?)

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

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

Our list features the most common ways to say “sport” in French. But the world of French sports vocabulary is vast, encompassing specific disciplines, regional terms, and evolving slang.

To explore further, try an online search for “comment dire sport en ___” followed by a specific Francophone country or region, like Canada or Switzerland.

You might discover fascinating terms for different sports or athletic activities. Always verify a word’s definition and observe its usage in context before incorporating it into your vocabulary.

As you immerse yourself in French media — reading articles, watching sports broadcasts, or listening to podcasts — pay close attention. You'll likely encounter diverse expressions related to sports and physical activities.

For a deeper dive into specific sports terminology or related vocabulary, the WordReference entry for sport or individual sports (e.g., football, natation) is an excellent starting point.

I hope this article has broadened your understanding of how to talk about 'sport' in French. To conclude, here’s a thought from Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic Games: "L'important dans la vie, ce n'est point le triomphe, mais le combat; l'essentiel, ce n'est pas d'avoir vaincu, mais de s'être bien battu." (The important thing in life is not the triumph, but the struggle; the essential thing is not to have conquered, but to have fought well.)

9 ways to say "sport" in French