When you think of the verb 'to play' in French, the word jouer probably comes to mind first. And you're not wrong! It's the most common translation. However, the French language is full of nuances.

Depending on whether you're playing a sport, a musical instrument, or just 'playing around,' you might need a different verb entirely. Using the right word will not only make your French sound more natural but also more precise.

Ready to level up your game? Let's explore 9 different ways to say 'to play' in French!

The standard 'to play' (for sports and games) – jouer à

The fundamental verb for 'to play' in the context of sports and games in French is jouer à. It's the direct equivalent you'll use in most everyday situations.

Unlike English, where you say 'I play tennis,' in French, you cannot simply put the game after the verb. You must use the preposition à (meaning 'at' or 'to') between jouer and the activity.

This is the most important rule: the preposition à must merge, or contract, with the definite article (le, la, les) that precedes the game or sport. This is not optional.

• à + le (masculine) becomes au
• à + la (feminine) stays à la
• à + l' (vowel start) stays à l'
• à + les (plural) becomes aux

Most sports are masculine in French, so you will frequently use jouer au. For example: jouer au football (to play soccer), jouer au tennis (to play tennis), and jouer au basketball (to play basketball).

For feminine activities, you use jouer à la, like in jouer à la pétanque. For plural games, such as cards or chess, you must use the plural form jouer aux. Common examples include jouer aux cartes (to play cards) and jouer aux échecs (to play chess).

Be careful not to confuse this with playing a musical instrument. For instruments, French uses the structure jouer de (e.g., jouer du piano). Using jouer à for an instrument is a common mistake for learners.

💡 * Je joue au football tous les week-ends.

• Elle adore jouer à la pétanque dans le parc.
• Nous jouons aux échecs pour exercer notre esprit.
• Vous jouez souvent aux jeux vidéo ?
• Mon père m'a appris à jouer au tennis.

The 'to play' (for musical instruments) – jouer de

When talking about playing a musical instrument in French, you don't just use the verb jouer (to play) on its own. The correct and complete phrase is jouer de, which directly translates to 'to play of' or 'to play from'.

The structure is always jouer de + [definite article] + [instrument]. The preposition de is absolutely essential and signals that the action of 'playing' is related to a musical instrument.

The preposition de must contract with the definite articles le and les. This is not optional. The rules are:

• de + le becomes du (e.g., jouer du piano)
• de + la remains de la (e.g., jouer de la guitare)
• de + l' remains de l' (e.g., jouer de l'accordéon)
• de + les becomes des (e.g., jouer des percussions)

A common point of confusion for learners is the difference between playing an instrument and playing a sport. For sports and games, French uses the construction jouer à. For example, jouer au football (to play soccer) or jouer aux cartes (to play cards). Remember: jouer de for instruments, jouer à for games and sports.

The verb jouer is a regular -er verb, which makes it easy to conjugate. For example, in the present tense: je joue, tu joues, il/elle joue, nous jouons, vous jouez, ils/elles jouent.

💡 * Il joue du piano tous les jours.

• Est-ce que tu sais jouer de la guitare ?
• Mon grand-père jouait de l'accordéon dans sa jeunesse.
• Ils jouent des percussions dans un groupe de rock.

The 'to play' (as in 'to have fun') – s'amuser

When the goal isn't playing a specific game but rather expressing enjoyment or 'having fun,' the French verb you need is s'amuser. It's the go-to term for describing a good time.

The direct translation of s'amuser is 'to have fun' or 'to enjoy oneself'. It captures the feeling of being entertained or amused, separating it from the action-oriented verb jouer (to play a game/sport).

S'amuser is a pronominal verb, meaning the action reflects back on the subject. You can think of it as 'to amuse oneself'. This requires a reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nous, vous, se) that must agree with the subject.

Aside from the reflexive pronoun, amuser conjugates like a regular -er verb. The present tense conjugation is: je m'amuse (I have fun), tu t'amuses (you have fun), il/elle s'amuse (he/she has fun), nous nous amusons (we have fun), vous vous amusez (you have fun), ils/elles s'amusent (they have fun).

This verb is extremely common in everyday speech. A classic phrase you'll hear often is the command Amuse-toi bien ! (Have fun!) when speaking to one person, or Amusez-vous bien ! when speaking to a group or formally.

💡 * Les enfants s'amusent dans le parc. (The children are having fun in the park.)

• Je m'amuse beaucoup à apprendre le français. (I have a lot of fun learning French.)
• On s'est bien amusés à la fête hier soir. (We had a great time at the party last night.)
• Amuse-toi bien pendant ton voyage ! (Have a good time on your trip!)

The 'to play' (as in 'to kid around') – rigoler

The verb rigoler is the go-to informal term for 'to laugh,' but it's also commonly used to mean 'to joke' or 'to kid around'.

Rigoler directly translates to 'to laugh' and is a more casual alternative to the standard verb rire. Think of it as the difference between 'to laugh' and 'to have a laugh' in English.

In conversation, rigoler is frequently used to express disbelief or to clarify if someone is joking. The phrase Tu rigoles ? is the equivalent of 'Are you kidding me?' and captures the sense of 'playing around' verbally.

It's crucial not to confuse rigoler with jouer. While both can relate to 'playing,' jouer is used for games, sports, or musical instruments. Rigoler, on the other hand, is strictly for laughter, joking, and having fun in a lighthearted way.

💡 * On a bien rigolé pendant les vacances. (We had a good laugh during the vacation.)

• Tu rigoles ? Ce n'est pas possible ! (Are you kidding? That's not possible!)
• Arrête de rigoler, la situation est sérieuse. (Stop joking around, the situation is serious.)
• Il a dit ça pour rigoler, ne t'inquiète pas. (He said that just for fun, don't worry.)

The 'to play' (a role in a performance) – interpréter

When discussing an actor playing a role in a film, play, or series, the specific and most appropriate French verb is interpréter.

Interpréter literally translates to 'to interpret.' This emphasizes the artistic effort of an actor bringing a character to life, distinguishing it from the more general verb jouer (to play).

This verb is most commonly used in formal contexts like film reviews, critical analysis, and interviews related to cinema, theater, or television.

The typical sentence structure is straightforward: [actor] interprète [le rôle de] [character]. As a regular '-er' verb, its conjugation follows a predictable pattern.

While its primary use in performance is 'to play a role,' remember that interpréter also means 'to interpret' in other contexts, such as interpreting a text, a language, or a dream.

💡 * Marion Cotillard a brillamment interprété Édith Piaf.

• Quel acteur va interpréter le méchant dans le prochain film ?
• J'aime la manière dont elle interprète son personnage.
• Il est connu pour interpréter des rôles très complexes.

The 'to play' (as in 'to tease') – taquiner

The 'to play' (as in 'to tease') – taquiner

When you want to express the idea of teasing, ribbing, or playfully making fun of someone in French, the go-to verb is taquiner. Crucially, it implies a lighthearted and affectionate tone. It's the kind of joking that happens between people who are comfortable with each other, not mean-spirited bullying.

You'll hear taquiner used frequently among friends, family, and romantic partners. It's the perfect word for describing gentle mockery or winding someone up for fun. For instance, you might taquiner a friend about their favorite sports team losing or a sibling about a funny childhood memory.

Taquiner is a regular -er verb, making it straightforward to conjugate. It acts directly on an object, so the structure is always taquiner quelqu'un (to tease someone). For example, Elle adore taquiner son mari sur sa cuisine translates to 'She loves to tease her husband about his cooking.'

💡 * Arrête de me taquiner, ce n'est pas drôle ! (Stop teasing me, it's not funny!)

• Il la taquine gentiment sur sa nouvelle coiffure. (He's gently teasing her about her new hairstyle.)
• Les frères et sœurs passent leur temps à se taquiner. (Siblings spend their time teasing each other.)
• Je ne le pensais pas, c'était juste pour te taquiner. (I didn't mean it, it was just to tease you.)

1. The 'to play' (as in 'to mess around') – batifoler

The verb batifoler means 'to play,' but specifically in the sense of 'frolicking,' 'messing around,' or 'gamboling.' It describes a lighthearted, carefree, and often aimless type of play, distinct from the more structured verb jouer (to play a game/sport).

Batifoler is often used to describe the playful actions of children, young animals, or even couples. It can carry a slightly amorous or flirtatious connotation, suggesting a playful romance. For example, you might see puppies or a young couple batifoler.

While perfectly understood, batifoler can sometimes sound a bit literary or slightly old-fashioned. It adds a charming, descriptive touch to your language, evoking images of carefree fun. It conjugates like a regular -er verb (je batifole, tu batifoles, il batifole).

💡 * Les enfants batifolaient dans le jardin sans se soucier de rien. (The children were frolicking in the garden without a care in the world.)

• On les a vus batifoler sur la plage au coucher du soleil. (We saw them messing around on the beach at sunset.)
• Arrête de batifoler et viens m'aider ! (Stop messing around and come help me!)

The 'to play' (as in 'to gamble' or 'bet') – miser

The 'to play' (as in 'to gamble' or 'bet') – miser

When the context is gambling, betting, or wagering money, the correct French verb is miser. It directly translates to 'to bet' or 'to stake'.

Miser is often followed by the preposition sur, which means 'on'. You would say you miser sur a horse, a team, or a specific outcome. For example, miser sur le rouge means 'to bet on red' in roulette.

Beyond the casino, miser sur is also used figuratively to mean 'to count on' or 'to bank on'. This implies placing one's hopes or confidence in something or someone, much like placing a bet.

💡 * Il a misé 100 euros sur le cheval gagnant. (He bet 100 euros on the winning horse.)

• Je mise sur toi pour finir ce projet à temps. (I'm counting on you to finish this project on time.)
• L'entreprise mise tout sur sa nouvelle technologie. (The company is banking everything on its new technology.)
• À la roulette, elle mise toujours sur le numéro 7. (At roulette, she always bets on the number 7.)

1. The Verb for 'to entertain oneself': Se Divertir

When you want to express the idea of having fun, enjoying oneself, or being entertained, the key French verb is se divertir. This is a reflexive verb, meaning the action is performed by the subject on the subject itself. The pronoun se changes to match the person doing the action (e.g., je me divertis for 'I have fun').

Se divertir follows the pattern of regular -ir verbs, but you must always include the correct reflexive pronoun. Here is its conjugation in the present tense (le présent):

Use se divertir for general amusement or entertainment. It's different from jouer, which means 'to play' in the context of a specific game, sport, or instrument. Se divertir describes the overall state of having a good time.

The noun form of this verb is le divertissement, which translates to 'entertainment,' 'amusement,' or 'pastime.' For instance, Le cinéma est mon divertissement préféré. (The cinema is my favorite entertainment.)

💡 * Les enfants se divertissent dans le jardin. (The children are having fun in the garden.)

• Comment vous divertissez-vous le week-end ? (How do you have fun on the weekend?)
• Je me suis bien diverti à la fête hier soir. (I had a good time at the party last night.)
• Elle se divertit en écoutant de la musique. (She entertains herself by listening to music.)

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

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

Our list covers the most common ways to say 'to play' in French, focusing on the essential verbs jouer and faire. But French, like any rich language, has many other specific and idiomatic expressions for different kinds of play.

You can discover more verbs by looking up specific activities. For example, search for 'how to say to tease in French' (taquiner) or 'how to say to entertain in French' (divertir or s'amuser).

When you encounter a new verb, pay close attention to the context. Some phrases are very specific, like se la jouer (to show off or pretend to be something you're not), and can't be used in other situations.

As you immerse yourself in French media—watching films, listening to music, or reading books—notice how characters describe their leisure activities. This is one of the best ways to learn authentic, natural-sounding vocabulary.

If you want to explore more synonyms or related concepts, a great starting point is a French dictionary or thesaurus. The online dictionary WordReference is particularly helpful for its forums where native speakers discuss nuances.

I hope this article has helped you understand the playful side of the French language! We'll leave you with a fitting quote from French poet Charles Baudelaire: Le génie, c'est l'enfance retrouvée à volonté. (Genius is nothing more nor less than childhood recovered at will.)