The t-shirt is a universal wardrobe staple, but what do you call it when you're in France? You might be surprised to learn there isn't just one single word for it. Depending on the context, the style, or even the region, French speakers have several different ways to refer to this classic piece of clothing.

As you build your French vocabulary, knowing these variations will help you sound more like a native and understand the nuances of the language.

Let's dive into 9 different ways to say "t-shirt" in French!

The standard 't-shirt' – un t-shirt

The most common and straightforward way to say 't-shirt' in French is, you guessed it, un t-shirt. French has borrowed this word directly from English, making it incredibly easy for learners to remember.

The word t-shirt is a masculine noun in French, so you'll always see it as un t-shirt (a t-shirt) or le t-shirt (the t-shirt). While the spelling is identical, the pronunciation is slightly gallicized, sounding more like 'tee-sheurt'.

To talk about more than one t-shirt, you simply add an 's' just like in English. The plural form is des t-shirts. For example, J'ai acheté deux t-shirts bleus (I bought two blue t-shirts).

This term is used universally across France and other French-speaking regions in all contexts, from casual conversation to shopping in a department store. There's no need to search for a more 'French' word; un t-shirt is the standard.

You might occasionally hear the word un maillot. While maillot can refer to a jersey (like a sports jersey, un maillot de foot) or a swimsuit (un maillot de bain), it is not the standard term for a casual t-shirt. Sticking with un t-shirt is your safest and most accurate bet.

💡 * J'aime porter un t-shirt et un jean le week-end. (I like to wear a t-shirt and jeans on the weekend.)

• Ce t-shirt blanc est très simple mais élégant. (This white t-shirt is very simple but elegant.)
• Combien coûtent ces t-shirts ? (How much do these t-shirts cost?)
• Il a une collection de t-shirts de groupes de rock. (He has a collection of rock band t-shirts.)

The Quebecois 't-shirt' or 'sweater' – un chandail

When learning French, you'll quickly discover regional variations, and un chandail is a classic example from Quebec. While learners of European French might be unfamiliar with it, this word is essential for understanding everyday conversation in Quebecois French, as it can refer to two different pieces of clothing.

The most common and traditional meaning of un chandail is a 'sweater' or 'pullover'. If someone in Quebec tells you to mets un chandail because it's cold, they mean you should put on a sweater. This is in contrast to European French, where you would typically hear un pull.

Here's where it gets interesting for many learners: un chandail is also widely used in Quebec to mean 'T-shirt'. So, if you're talking about summer clothes, you might hear someone mention their favorite chandail. In France, the English loanword un t-shirt is used exclusively.

So how do you know which one is meant? Context is everything. Quebecers often add clarifiers. For example, a chandail à manches courtes ('short-sleeved chandail') is unambiguously a T-shirt, while a gros chandail en laine ('big wool chandail') is clearly a sweater. The conversation's topic, like the weather, will usually give you the answer.

While chandail is a versatile, catch-all term, Quebecers will still use more specific words when needed. For instance, you might hear un coton ouaté for a 'sweatshirt' or un kangourou for a 'hoodie'. However, chandail remains the go-to word for both sweaters and T-shirts in daily speech.

💡 * J'ai acheté un nouveau chandail pour l'hiver. (I bought a new sweater for the winter.)

• Il fait chaud, je vais juste porter un chandail. (It's hot, I'm just going to wear a T-shirt.)
• C'est mon chandail préféré des Canadiens de Montréal. (This is my favorite Montreal Canadiens jersey.)
• Mets un chandail, il commence à faire froid dehors. (Put on a sweater, it's starting to get cold outside.)

The slightly more formal 'undershirt' – un tricot de peau

Let's look at a slightly more traditional and formal term for an undershirt: un tricot de peau.

Literally translating to 'a knit of skin,' the name itself suggests a garment worn directly against the body for warmth and comfort. It evokes a sense of a classic, functional undergarment.

This term often carries a more classic or even old-fashioned connotation. You might think of it as the kind of simple, functional undershirt your grandfather would wear. While perfectly understood, it's less common among younger generations who might prefer débardeur or a simple t-shirt.

Un tricot de peau specifically refers to a classic undershirt, often with short sleeves, made of a simple knit material like cotton. It's distinct from a débardeur (tank top) and is used purely as an undergarment, not as outerwear.

The term is masculine and invariable in its core meaning. The plural form would be des tricots de peau.

💡 * En hiver, mon grand-père porte toujours un tricot de peau sous sa chemise. (In winter, my grandfather always wears an undershirt under his shirt.)

• J'ai acheté un lot de tricots de peau en coton pour rester au chaud. (I bought a pack of cotton undershirts to stay warm.)
• Ce n'est pas un t-shirt à porter dehors, c'est un tricot de peau. (It's not a t-shirt to wear outside, it's an undershirt.)
• Il a enlevé sa chemise et n'était plus qu'en tricot de peau. (He took off his shirt and was just in his undershirt.)

The 'tank top' – un débardeur

The primary French term for a 'tank top' is un débardeur.

Un débardeur refers to a sleeveless, collarless shirt worn by any gender. It is commonly used for sports, during hot weather, or as casual wear, much like its English equivalent.

The noun débardeur is masculine. Consequently, it is always preceded by masculine articles such as un (a) or le (the). For example, you would say, "J'aime le débardeur bleu" (I like the blue tank top).

Interestingly, the word débardeur originally meant 'docker' or 'longshoreman,' as these workers traditionally wore this type of shirt for manual labor that required freedom of arm movement.

💡 * Il fait chaud, je vais mettre un débardeur. (It's hot, I'm going to put on a tank top.)

• J'ai acheté un débardeur en coton pour aller à la salle de sport. (I bought a cotton tank top to go to the gym.)
• Elle porte un joli débardeur noir. (She is wearing a pretty black tank top.)
• Combien coûtent ces débardeurs ? (How much do these tank tops cost?)

1. The Classic French 'Tank Top' – Un Marcel

Beyond the beret and the striped shirt lies another iconic piece of French attire: un marcel. This is the specific French term for what English speakers might call a tank top, A-shirt, or string vest. It carries a distinct cultural image tied to French daily life.

A marcel is a sleeveless undershirt, typically made of ribbed cotton. It is characterized by its large armholes and a low, scooped neckline, designed for comfort and ventilation, especially in warm weather. It's considered a classic, functional undergarment.

The term's origin is quite literal. It's named after Marcel Eisenberg, a 19th-century hosiery manufacturer whose company, Marcel, was among the first to mass-produce this style. The brand name quickly became the generic term for the garment itself.

In French culture, the marcel is often associated with the working class, summer holidays, and a certain old-fashioned masculinity. It can sometimes evoke the stereotype of the beauf (a French 'redneck'), but it's also simply seen as a practical garment for hot days, worn by men of all ages.

Today, the marcel is worn both as an undershirt and, increasingly, as a standalone top during a heatwave (une canicule). While the classic white version is the most famous, modern versions are available in many colors and are a staple of casual summer wear in France.

💡 * Pendant la canicule, tous les hommes dans la rue portaient un marcel.

• Mon père met toujours un marcel blanc sous ses chemises en hiver.
• Il a une collection de marcels de toutes les couleurs pour l'été.
• Ce n'est pas très élégant de dîner au restaurant en marcel.

The 'long-sleeved t-shirt' – un t-shirt à manches longues

To say 'long-sleeved t-shirt' in French, the direct and most common translation is un t-shirt à manches longues. This phrase is straightforward, widely understood, and used in everyday conversation and retail.

Let's deconstruct the French term to understand its logic. Un t-shirt is simply 'a t-shirt.' The core of the description is à manches longues. Here, manches means 'sleeves,' and longues means 'long.' The preposition à functions here to mean 'with,' so you are literally saying 'a t-shirt with long sleeves.'

The grammar is a key learning point. The noun manche (sleeve) is feminine. Since there are two sleeves, we use the plural form, manches. In French, adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. Therefore, the adjective long becomes the feminine plural longues to match manches.

For comparison, a standard t-shirt is often just called un t-shirt. If you need to be specific, you would say un t-shirt à manches courtes (a t-shirt with short sleeves). Notice the structure is identical; only the adjective changes from longues to courtes (short, feminine plural).

💡 * J'ai besoin d'un nouveau t-shirt à manches longues pour l'hiver.

• Elle porte un t-shirt à manches longues sous son pull.
• Combien coûte ce t-shirt à manches longues bleu ?
• Pour la randonnée, un t-shirt à manches longues est recommandé pour se protéger du soleil.

The 'polo shirt' – un polo

The French word for a 'polo shirt' is simply un polo. It's a direct borrowing from English, which makes it very easy for learners to remember and use correctly.

In French, polo is a masculine noun. Consequently, you should always use masculine articles like un (a/an) or le (the). For example, you would say le polo bleu for 'the blue polo shirt'.

💡 * J'ai acheté un nouveau polo pour l'été.

• Il porte un polo blanc avec un jean.
• Ce polo est en coton de haute qualité.
• Tu préfères le polo rouge ou le polo vert ?

The generic 'top' – un haut

The most general and useful term for any piece of clothing worn on the upper body is un haut.

Pronounced simply as 'oh', un haut is a masculine noun. This versatile word is the direct French equivalent of the English 'a top'.

Un haut is a catch-all term. It can refer to a t-shirt, a blouse, a sweater, a tank top, or any other garment for the torso. This makes it incredibly practical, especially when you don't know the specific name of an item.

You'll hear and use this word most often while shopping or talking about outfits. While more specific terms like un t-shirt exist, un haut is perfect for general descriptions.

💡 * Je cherche un haut pour aller avec ce pantalon. (I'm looking for a top to go with these pants.)

• J'aime beaucoup ton haut, où l'as-tu acheté ? (I really like your top, where did you buy it?)
• Elle portait un simple haut blanc et un jean. (She was wearing a simple white top and jeans.)

1. The 'crew neck t-shirt' – un t-shirt à col rond

The standard French term for a 'crew neck t-shirt' is un t-shirt à col rond. This is the phrase you will commonly see in stores and hear in conversation when referring to this specific style of shirt.

Let's break down the phrase. Un t-shirt is, unsurprisingly, 'a t-shirt.' The key descriptive part is à col rond. In this context, col means 'collar' and rond means 'round.' So, the literal translation is 'a t-shirt with a round collar.'

The preposition à is frequently used in French to describe a specific feature or characteristic of an item, especially clothing. This structure is very common. For example, a V-neck t-shirt is called un t-shirt à col V.

Un t-shirt à col rond is a universal term used for men's, women's, and children's clothing. It is the standard, non-slang term you would use in any situation, from casual conversation to shopping in a department store.

💡 * J'ai besoin d'un nouveau t-shirt à col rond noir. (I need a new black crew neck t-shirt.)

• Elle porte un t-shirt à col rond sous sa veste. (She is wearing a crew neck t-shirt under her jacket.)
• Combien coûte ce t-shirt à col rond ? (How much does this crew neck t-shirt cost?)
• Les t-shirts à col rond sont plus confortables pour moi. (Crew neck t-shirts are more comfortable for me.)

Are there other ways to say 't-shirt' in French?

Are there other ways to say “t-shirt” in French?

Our list features the most common ways to say “t-shirt” in French, from the standard un t-shirt to the more descriptive un maillot à manches courtes. However, French is a living language with various regionalisms and slang terms you might encounter.

You can explore these variations by searching online for phrases like “comment dire t-shirt en français québécois” to learn terms specific to French-speaking Canada or other regions.

When you discover a new synonym, it’s a great practice to check its definition and look for examples of it used in context—for instance, on French retail websites or in fashion blogs—before using it yourself.

Pay close attention as you watch French films, browse online shops, or listen to native speakers. You'll start to notice the subtle differences in how people refer to this everyday item of clothing.

And if you're looking to expand your vocabulary about clothing in general, a great resource is the Larousse dictionary entry for vêtement (clothing), which can lead you to many related terms.

I hope this article has helped you feel more confident when talking about clothes in French. To finish, here's a perfect quote from French fashion icon Coco Chanel: “La simplicité est la clé de toute véritable élégance.” (Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance.) — a fitting thought for the humble t-shirt!