L'été is the most common way to say “summer” in French, the one you'll learn in any beginner's class. But the French have a much richer vocabulary to describe the warmest and sunniest time of the year.

As you plan your holidays or just dream of long, lazy days, you'll want the right words to capture every nuance of the season!

Let’s explore 9 different ways to talk about “summer” in French, from the literal to the poetic.

1. The standard word for 'summer' – l'été

The most fundamental and widely used word for 'summer' in French is l'été. It's the direct translation you'll use in almost every context, from casual conversation to formal writing.

Été is a masculine noun. Because it starts with a vowel, the definite article le contracts to l', giving us l'été. For the same reason, you would say un bel été (a beautiful summer), not un beau été.

The pronunciation is quite straightforward: lay-tay. The accent on the final é (accent aigu) ensures it's pronounced with a sharp 'ay' sound, similar to the end of 'café'.

To say 'in the summer', the correct preposition is en. You always say en été. For example, Je vais en France en été (I go to France in the summer). To say 'during the summer', you can use pendant l'été.

Like in English, you can specify which summer you're talking about:

• l'été dernier - last summer
• l'été prochain - next summer
• cet été - this summer

A key related word is estival (or estivale for feminine nouns), which is the adjective for 'summer' or 'summery'. For instance, you might talk about une ambiance estivale (a summery atmosphere) or les activités estivales (summer activities).

💡 * J'adore aller à la plage en été.

• L'été dernier, il a fait très chaud.
• Que fais-tu pendant les vacances d'été ?
• Nous attendons l'été avec impatience.
• La saison estivale commence en juin.

The 'summer season' – la saison estivale

The “summer season” – la saison estivale

While l'été is the common French word for “summer,” you'll often encounter the more formal and descriptive phrase la saison estivale. This literally translates to “the summer season” and is used to refer to the entire period of summer, including its associated activities and atmosphere.

So, why not just say l'été? The phrase la saison estivale is typically reserved for more formal, official, or commercial contexts. You are likely to see it in tourism brochures, news reports, weather forecasts, or official communications about summer events.

The key word here is estivale, the adjective for “summer.” This is very useful to know as it can be applied to other nouns. For example, you can talk about les températures estivales (summer temperatures), une robe estivale (a summer dress), or les activités estivales (summer activities).

Think of l'été as the name of the season itself, while la saison estivale refers to the period of time characterized by summer. It emphasizes the duration and the specific nature of the season, making it perfect for planning, reporting, or marketing.

💡 * Pendant la saison estivale, la population de ce village côtier triple.

• Les autorités mettent en garde contre les risques d'incendie durant la saison estivale.
• De nombreux festivals de musique animent la saison estivale en France.
• J'adore l'ambiance estivale des marchés en plein air.

The 'summer vacation' – les grandes vacances

When talking about the long summer break in France, especially in a school context, the most common and culturally significant term is les grandes vacances. While you could say les vacances d'été (the summer holidays), les grandes vacances is the phrase you'll hear most often.

The name literally translates to 'the big holidays' or 'the long holidays'. It's a combination of grandes (big/long) and vacances (vacation/holidays), perfectly describing the extended break that marks the summer season in France.

This term specifically refers to the main two-month school holiday in July and August. For any other shorter break, like Christmas or Easter, French speakers would simply say les vacances (e.g., les vacances de Noël). Using les grandes vacances immediately signals you're talking about the summer break.

An important grammar point is that the word vacances in French is always plural when it means 'vacation' or 'holidays'. You will always see it preceded by les or des. You would never say la vacance to talk about your holiday trip.

Les grandes vacances are a cornerstone of French life. It's a period when many businesses slow down, families travel extensively, and the entire country seems to take a collective breath. Understanding this term is key to understanding an important aspect of French culture.

💡 * Qu'est-ce que tu fais pendant les grandes vacances ? (What are you doing during the summer vacation?)

• Nous partons en Espagne pour les grandes vacances. (We are going to Spain for the summer vacation.)
• Les enfants attendent les grandes vacances avec impatience. (The children are eagerly waiting for the summer vacation.)
• Vivement les grandes vacances ! (I can't wait for the summer vacation!)

The 'summer period' – la période estivale

The 'summer period' – la période estivale

La période estivale is the French term for 'the summer period' or 'summertime'. It is generally used in more formal or official contexts than the simple word l'été (summer). You'll often see it in news reports, travel brochures, or official announcements regarding seasonal schedules.

The word période is feminine, which is why it is preceded by the feminine article la. The adjective estival (related to summer) must agree with the noun, taking its feminine form, estivale.

While you would casually say J'aime l'été (I like summer), la période estivale is used to refer to the season as a block of time. For example, a business might announce special hours for la période estivale, encompassing all of June, July, and August.

💡 * Durant la période estivale, la ville est pleine de touristes. (During the summer period, the city is full of tourists.)

• Notre bureau sera fermé pour la période estivale. (Our office will be closed for the summer period.)
• Les températures augmentent considérablement pendant la période estivale. (Temperatures increase considerably during the summer period.)
• C'est la meilleure période estivale que nous ayons eue depuis des années. (This is the best summer period we've had in years.)

The 'beautiful days' of summer – les beaux jours

A common and evocative French expression is les beaux jours, which literally translates to 'the beautiful days'.

Beyond its literal meaning, les beaux jours refers to the pleasant, warm, and sunny period of the year, essentially meaning 'summertime' or 'the warm season'. It encapsulates the entire period from late spring through summer.

This phrase is used to talk about the arrival of good weather and all the activities that come with it, like eating outside, going to the park, or taking vacations. It's about a season, not just a few individual nice days.

It's important to note that les beaux jours is a fixed expression and is always used in the plural form. You wouldn't say le beau jour to mean the same thing.

The phrase carries a very positive, often cherished feeling. It's associated with leisure, happiness, and a break from the cold, gray days of winter, making it a term that French speakers use with a sense of anticipation and joy.

💡 * Vivement le retour des beaux jours ! (I can't wait for the warm weather to return!)

• Nous profitons des beaux jours pour nous promener. (We're taking advantage of the nice weather to go for a walk.)
• Quand les beaux jours arrivent, tout le monde est plus heureux. (When the beautiful days arrive, everyone is happier.)
• C'est agréable de manger en terrasse pendant les beaux jours. (It's pleasant to eat on the terrace during the sunny season.)

The 'heatwave' – la canicule

When the summer heat becomes extreme and prolonged in France, you'll hear one word everywhere: la canicule. This term specifically refers to a heatwave, a period of abnormally hot weather lasting for several days.

It's important to distinguish la canicule from simply a hot day. While you might say il fait chaud (it's hot) for any sunny day, la canicule is reserved for official heatwave warnings when temperatures remain high day and night, posing a health risk. It carries a more serious, official tone.

The term gained significant cultural weight after the devastating European heatwave of 2003 (la canicule de 2003), which had a major impact in France. Since then, the word is often associated with public health alerts and government measures to protect vulnerable populations.

You'll often see or hear it in phrases like alerte à la canicule (heatwave alert) or hear people complaining, On est en pleine canicule! (We're in the middle of a heatwave!). It's a noun, so it's used to describe the phenomenon itself.

💡 * Météo-France a déclenché l'alerte orange canicule dans plusieurs départements.

• Pendant la canicule, il est conseillé de boire beaucoup d'eau.
• Je ne supporte plus cette canicule, vivement l'automne !
• Les personnes âgées sont particulièrement vulnérables pendant les périodes de canicule.

The official start of summer – le solstice d'été

In French, the official start of summer is known as le solstice d'été, which translates directly to "the summer solstice." This astronomical event marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of the summer season.

The term is masculine. Le solstice means "the solstice," and d'été is the prepositional phrase for "of summer" (de + été). You will always use the masculine article le when referring to it.

In France, le solstice d'été is culturally significant. It often coincides with the famous Fête de la Musique on June 21st, a nationwide celebration where musicians of all levels play free concerts in the streets, making it a day of both natural and cultural celebration.

💡 * Le solstice d'été a lieu autour du 21 juin. (The summer solstice takes place around June 21st.)

• J'adore la journée du solstice d'été car c'est la plus longue de l'année. (I love the day of the summer solstice because it's the longest of the year.)
• Pour le solstice d'été, nous allons organiser un grand barbecue dans le jardin. (For the summer solstice, we are going to organize a big barbecue in the garden.)
• La Fête de la Musique est une excellente façon de célébrer le solstice d'été. (The Music Festival is an excellent way to celebrate the summer solstice.)

The 'heart of summer' – le cœur de l'été

The phrase le cœur de l'été literally translates to “the heart of the summer.” It’s a poetic and evocative way to describe the peak of the season.

This expression refers to the most intense period of summer, usually late July and early August, when the days are longest and the heat is at its peak. It captures the essence and fullness of the season.

You will encounter le cœur de l'été more often in literature, descriptive writing, and songs than in everyday, casual conversation. For a more common alternative, you might hear en plein été (in the middle of summer).

The use of cœur (heart) to mean the 'core' or 'middle' is a common pattern in French. For instance, you can also say au cœur de la nuit (in the heart of the night) or au cœur de la ville (in the heart of the city).

💡 * Au cœur de l'été, les journées semblent ne jamais finir.

• Nous avons passé nos vacances en Italie au cœur de l'été.
• C'est au cœur de l'été que les fruits sont les plus sucrés.
• Il faisait une chaleur étouffante au cœur de l'été.

1. L'arrière-saison: The French 'Indian Summer'

The French term for a late, warm period in autumn, similar to an 'Indian summer', is l'arrière-saison. Literally translating to 'the back season' or 'the late season', it refers to the period at the end of summer and the beginning of autumn that still enjoys pleasant, summer-like weather.

L'arrière-saison typically describes the months of September and October when the weather is unseasonably warm and sunny, extending the summer feeling after the peak tourist season. It's often associated with coastal or southern regions, where this phenomenon creates a peaceful and beautiful time for travel.

While 'Indian summer' often implies a warm spell after a first frost, l'arrière-saison is a broader term for this entire pleasant period. It carries a slightly poetic and nostalgic connotation, evoking images of golden light, calm seas, and the final moments of warmth before the cold sets in.

💡 * Nous avons profité de l'arrière-saison pour visiter la Côte d'Azur. (We took advantage of the late summer to visit the French Riviera.)

• J'adore la lumière de l'arrière-saison en Bretagne. (I love the light of the Indian summer in Brittany.)
• L'arrière-saison est souvent la meilleure période pour voyager, car il y a moins de touristes. (The late summer is often the best period to travel because there are fewer tourists.)
• Le temps est magnifique pendant l'arrière-saison cette année. (The weather is magnificent during the Indian summer this year.)

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

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

Our list features the most common ways to say “summer” in French, primarily l'été. However, French is a poetic language filled with more descriptive and nuanced terms to capture the feeling of the sunny season, from literary expressions to regional sayings.

You can expand your vocabulary by doing an online search for “expressions idiomatiques sur l'été” (idiomatic expressions about summer) to find more creative and figurative ways to talk about this time of year.

When you find a new term, like la saison estivale (the summer season), notice how it's used. Is it in a formal news report, a weather forecast, or a poem? Context is key to using these synonyms correctly.

Listen to French songs about summer or watch movies set in the French countryside during l'été. This is a fantastic way to hear how native speakers naturally and poetically refer to the season.

If you're looking for more words related to summer activities, from vacationing to weather, the WordReference forum for été is a great place to see discussions and discover related terms.

I hope this guide has brightened your French studies. To finish, here is a perfect quote from the French writer Albert Camus: “En pleine hiver, j'ai finalement appris qu'il y avait en moi un été invincible.” (In the middle of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.)