Chose is undoubtedly the most common and versatile way to say "thing" in French. But let's be honest, relying on it all the time can make your French sound a bit repetitive and, well, a little boring!

As you advance in your French learning, you'll discover that the language offers a rich vocabulary to express the idea of a 'thing' with more nuance, precision, and even a touch of flair.

So, if you're ready to expand your French vocabulary beyond 'chose' and sound more like a native speaker, let's explore 9 fantastic alternatives to say 'thing' in French!

The standard 'thing' – chose

Chose is the most common and versatile word for 'thing' in French.

Unlike many French nouns, chose is always feminine, regardless of the 'thing' it refers to. So you'll always use la chose (the thing) or une chose (a thing) in the singular, and les choses (the things) or des choses (some things) in the plural.

You can use chose in almost any context, from casual conversation to more formal writing. It's the perfect all-purpose word when you can't think of a more specific noun, or when you want to keep something general.

While chose simply means 'thing', its versatility allows for a wide range of expressions and can sometimes imply a certain vagueness or generality.

When chose is modified by an adjective, the adjective usually follows chose and agrees in gender and number (feminine plural for choses). For example, une belle chose (a beautiful thing), des choses importantes (important things). It can also be used with demonstrative pronouns like cette chose (this thing) or ces choses (these things).

For instance, C'est une bonne chose (It's a good thing) uses bonne (feminine singular) to agree with chose. Or, J'ai beaucoup de choses à faire (I have a lot of things to do) shows its plural usage.

Beyond its literal meaning, chose appears in many common French expressions. These phrases often don't translate literally, so it's good to learn them as a whole, such as quelque chose (something) or pas grand-chose (not much).

Fortunately, understanding chose is quite straightforward due to its broad meaning. The context will almost always make it clear what 'thing' is being referred to, even when used vaguely.

In French culture, using chose can sometimes soften a statement or keep it non-committal, much like 'stuff' or 'things' in English. It's a fundamental word that reflects a pragmatic approach to language.

💡 * C'est une bonne chose. (It's a good thing.)

J'ai beaucoup de choses à faire. (I have a lot of things to do.)

Qu'est-ce que c'est cette chose ? (What is this thing?)

Dis-moi quelque chose. (Tell me something.)

Les petites choses de la vie. (The little things in life.)

The 'matter' or 'affair' – affaire

The “matter” or “affair” – affaire

The French word affaire is a versatile noun that can be translated in several ways, most commonly as “matter,” “business,” or “deal.” However, it's also famously known for its meaning of a “romantic affair.”

In its most frequent everyday usage, une affaire refers to a general “matter,” “issue,” “business,” or “deal.” It's a broad term that can apply to various situations, from professional transactions to personal concerns.

While often sensationalized, une affaire can indeed mean a “romantic affair” or “illicit relationship.” This particular meaning is widely recognized, but it's important to remember it's just one facet of the word's extensive vocabulary.

In professional settings, une affaire is frequently used to describe a “business deal,” a “case” (legal), or a “transaction.” For instance, une bonne affaire means “a good deal” or “a bargain,” indicating something favorable in a business context.

Beyond business, affaire can simply refer to a “situation” or “thing.” For example, if something is “your business” to handle, you might say C'est ton affaire. It implies responsibility or involvement in a particular matter.

When used in its plural form, les affaires often takes on a slightly different meaning, typically referring to “belongings,” “personal effects,” or “business affairs” in a broader sense. For example, faire ses affaires means “to pack one's bags.”

💡 * C'est une bonne affaire ! (It's a good deal!)

J'ai une affaire à régler. (I have a matter to sort out/deal with.)

Il a eu une affaire avec sa secrétaire. (He had an affair with his secretary.)

Occupe-toi de tes affaires ! (Mind your own business!)

Je dois faire mes affaires avant de partir. (I need to pack my bags before leaving.)

The informal 'thingy' or 'stuff' – truc

The informal “thingy” or “stuff” – truc. This word is one of the most versatile and frequently used informal nouns in French, essentially meaning 'thing', 'stuff', or 'thingy'.

Truc is highly informal and incredibly common in everyday French conversation. It's the go-to word when you can't remember the precise name of an object, or when you want to refer to something vaguely.

Think of truc as a placeholder for almost anything – an object, an idea, a task, or even a skill. It's often used when you're being casual, or when the specific term isn't important.

Grammatically, truc is a masculine noun. You'll always use it with masculine articles, like un truc (a thing) or le truc (the thing). It can be pluralized as des trucs or les trucs.

Beyond simply meaning 'thing', truc appears in many common expressions. For example, 'C'est pas mon truc' means 'It's not my thing' or 'It's not my cup of tea', referring to a preference or interest. 'Avoir le truc' can mean 'to have the knack' or 'to know how to do something'.

💡 * C'est quoi ce truc ? (What is this thingy?)* J'ai un truc à te dire. (I have something to tell you.)* Il a un truc bizarre dans la main. (He has a strange thing in his hand.)* Le cinéma, c'est vraiment pas mon truc. (Cinema is really not my thing.)* J'ai oublié le truc pour ouvrir la bouteille. (I forgot the thingy to open the bottle.)

The 'whatsit' or 'thingamajig' – machin

The 'whatsit' or 'thingamajig' – machin

Machin is a versatile French word used to refer to an object, person, or concept whose name you can't recall, don't know, or don't want to specify. It translates to 'whatsit,' 'thingamajig,' 'thingy,' or even 'you-know-who' in English.

Grammatically, machin is a masculine noun. However, its purpose is to be a generic placeholder, so it can stand in for objects or even people of any gender. When referring to a person whose name is forgotten, it often becomes 'Monsieur Machin' or 'Madame Machin'.

Using machin implies an informal and casual tone. It's common in everyday conversation among friends or family, but generally avoided in formal writing or professional settings.

💡 * Passe-moi le machin, s'il te plaît. (Pass me the thingy, please.)

Comment s'appelle ce machin ? (What's that whatsit called?)

J'ai vu Monsieur Machin hier. (I saw Mr. Thingamajig yesterday.)

Tu te souviens du machin qu'on a fait ? (Do you remember the thing we did?)

Où est le machin pour ouvrir la bouteille ? (Where's the thingamajig to open the bottle?)

The 'doohickey' or 'gadget' – bidule

Bidule is a versatile French slang term used to refer to an object, thing, or gadget whose name you can't recall, or don't want to specify.

It's an informal, somewhat playful word, similar to 'thingamajig,' 'doohickey,' or 'whatsit' in English.

You'll often hear bidule when someone is pointing to an item, or describing a piece of equipment without knowing or needing its precise name.

Interestingly, bidule is masculine, but it can refer to feminine objects as well. It's about the placeholder function, not the object's actual gender.

Use bidule in casual conversations when you're referring to an unspecified object, or when its specific name isn't important.

💡 * Passe-moi le bidule, s'il te plaît. (Pass me the doohickey, please.)

J'ai oublié le nom de ce bidule. (I forgot the name of this thingamajig.)

C'est quoi ce bidule que tu as acheté ? (What's that gadget you bought?)

Il faut brancher le bidule ici. (You need to plug the thingy in here.)

The 'object' – objet

In French, the word objet directly translates to 'object' in English. It refers to a tangible item, a physical thing that can be seen or touched.

Objet is a masculine noun. This means it's used with masculine articles like un (a/an) and le (the), as in un objet or le vieil objet (the old object).

Beyond physical items, objet can also refer to an abstract concept, a goal, or a focus of attention. For instance, 'l'objet de mon étude' means 'the object of my study,' or 'l'objet de son désir' for 'the object of his desire.'

You'll often encounter objet in phrases like objet d'art (art object/artwork), objet trouvé (found object), or when discussing the purpose of something: Quel est l'objet de votre visite ? (What is the purpose/object of your visit?)

💡 * J'ai trouvé un objet étrange dans le jardin. (I found a strange object in the garden.)

C'est l'objet de ma passion. (It's the object of my passion.)

Le musée expose de nombreux objets anciens. (The museum exhibits many ancient objects.)

Quel est l'objet de cette réunion ? (What is the purpose/object of this meeting?)

The 'item' or 'article' – article

In French, the word article is a versatile term that can refer to an 'item' or an 'article' in various contexts. It's a fundamental word with multiple applications.

Beyond its literal translation as 'article' (like a newspaper article or a grammatical article), article often means 'item,' especially when referring to merchandise or goods. For instance, you might see it used for clothing items or products in a store.

It's important to note that article is always a masculine noun in French. Therefore, it's always preceded by a masculine singular determiner, such as un or l'.

💡 * J'ai lu un article intéressant sur l'économie ce matin. (I read an interesting article about the economy this morning.)

Cet article de mode est très populaire. (This fashion item/article is very popular.)

Combien coûtent ces articles ? (How much do these items cost?)

L'article défini est 'le' ou 'la'. (The definite article is 'le' or 'la'.)

Veuillez vérifier les articles de votre panier. (Please check the items in your cart.)

1. The 'element' or 'component' – élément

The French word élément (masculine noun) translates directly to “element” or “component” in English.

This versatile term is widely used across various domains. It can refer to a fundamental constituent of something, a part of a larger whole, or even an abstract factor.

In science, un élément refers to a chemical element. In technology or construction, it denotes a component or a part of a system.

You will frequently encounter élément in the expression être dans son élément, which means “to be in one’s element” or “to feel perfectly comfortable and at ease in a particular situation.”

💡 * Les éléments chimiques sont fondamentaux pour comprendre la matière. (Chemical elements are fundamental for understanding matter.)

Ce logiciel est composé de plusieurs éléments distincts. (This software is made up of several distinct components.)

Elle est vraiment dans son élément quand elle parle en public. (She is really in her element when she speaks in public.)

Quels sont les éléments clés de votre proposition ? (What are the key elements of your proposal?)

The 'detail' or 'particular' – détail

The French word for 'detail' or 'particular' is détail. It's a very common noun used to refer to specific aspects or elements of something larger.

It is a masculine noun, so you'll always use un détail (a detail) or le détail (the detail). It functions much like its English counterpart, indicating a small, individual part of a whole.

To refer to multiple specifics, the plural form is les détails. You'll frequently encounter expressions like en détail (in detail) and un petit détail (a small detail).

The word is often used in conversational phrases such as sans entrer dans les détails (without going into the details) or chaque détail compte (every detail matters), emphasizing the importance of specifics.

💡 *Je t'expliquerai tous les détails plus tard. (I will explain all the details to you later.)
*C'est un petit détail, mais il est important. (It's a small detail, but it's important.)
*Peux-tu me donner plus de détails sur le projet ? (Can you give me more details about the project?)
*Il a décrit la scène en détail. (He described the scene in detail.)
*Ne t'inquiète pas pour les détails, concentre-toi sur l'essentiel. (Don't worry about the details, focus on the main point.)

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

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

Our list features the most common ways to say “thing” in French. But the French language is rich with nuances, offering many other terms, from formal to casual, and even regional or slang expressions that might not be covered here.

You can also do an online search for “comment dire chose en ___” followed by a specific Francophone country or region, or even for specific contexts like “slang for thing”.

You might find some interesting synonyms for chose (thing) or related expressions on this list. As always, make sure to check a word’s definition and try to see it used in context before you incorporate it into your vocabulary.

Pay attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — you may discover different ways to talk about ‘things’ depending on the context and formality.

And if you’re looking for even more nuances or specific terms for ‘things’ in French, the WordReference entry for chose is an excellent place to start!

I hope you found this article helpful. Here’s what I think is the perfect quote to finish it with, courtesy of Paul Émile Victor: La seule chose qu'on est sûr de ne pas réussir est celle qu'on ne tente pas. (The only thing we are sure not to succeed at is the one we don't attempt.)

9 ways to say "thing" in French