Caught in a sudden downpour in Paris? The first word you'll probably reach for is parapluie. It's the classic, go-to way to say 'umbrella' in French, and it will serve you well in most situations.

But what if you want to sound more like a local or describe a specific type of umbrella? French offers a surprising number of alternatives, from slang terms to more old-fashioned or specific words.

Let's dive into nine different ways to talk about an umbrella, so you're prepared for any rainy day conversation!

1. The standard 'umbrella' – un parapluie

The most common and standard word for 'umbrella' in French is un parapluie. This is the word you will hear and use in virtually all situations when referring to an umbrella for rain.

To help you remember it, let's break the word down. It's a compound word made of two parts:

• para-: A prefix meaning 'against' or 'protection from'.
• pluie: The French word for 'rain'. So, a parapluie is literally an 'against-rain' or 'rain-protector'.

Un parapluie is a masculine noun, so you always use masculine articles like un or le. The plural form is des parapluies. The spelling of the noun itself does not change, only the article before it.

You will often use parapluie with specific verbs. The most common ones are:

• Ouvrir un parapluie: to open an umbrella
• Fermer un parapluie: to close an umbrella
• Prendre un parapluie: to take an umbrella

It's important not to confuse un parapluie with its sunny-day equivalent, un parasol. While a parapluie protects you from the pluie (rain), a parasol protects you from the soleil (sun). In French, these two items are distinct and not interchangeable.

💡 * Il pleut, n'oublie pas de prendre ton parapluie.

• Mon parapluie est cassé, le vent était trop fort.
• Peux-tu m'aider à fermer ce parapluie ?
• J'ai acheté un joli parapluie rouge.

The slang term for 'umbrella' – un pépin

While the standard French word for 'umbrella' is un parapluie, you might occasionally encounter the slang term un pépin. This is a classic piece of French argot (slang) that adds a bit of color to the language.

Before you start using it, there's a crucial point to understand. The word pépin has another, much more common slang meaning: 'a glitch,' 'a hitch,' or 'a small problem.' For example, J'ai eu un pépin avec ma voiture means 'I had a problem with my car.'

Because of this dual meaning, context is everything. If someone is talking about the rain (la pluie), it's safe to assume pépin refers to an umbrella. In most other situations, it almost certainly means 'problem.'

The use of pépin for 'umbrella' is considered a bit old-fashioned (vieilli) today. While many French speakers will understand it, it's not commonly used by younger generations. It carries a slightly vintage, charming feel, much like the object it describes.

Our advice? It's a great word to know and recognize, especially if you watch older French films or speak with older people. However, to ensure you're always understood clearly, it's best to stick with using un parapluie in your own conversations.

💡 * Il pleut des cordes, n'oublie pas ton pépin ! (It's raining cats and dogs, don't forget your umbrella!)

• J'ai perdu mon pépin hier dans le métro. (I lost my umbrella yesterday on the metro.)
• Ouvre ton pépin, il commence à pleuvoir. (Open your umbrella, it's starting to rain.)
• Attention au double sens : J'ai un petit pépin, je ne peux pas venir. (Be careful of the double meaning: I have a small problem, I can't come.)

The old-fashioned slang for 'umbrella' – un riflard

While the common and correct word for 'umbrella' in French is un parapluie, there exists a much more colorful and old-fashioned slang term: un riflard.

Un riflard is a word from French argot (slang) that specifically means 'umbrella'. It carries a vintage, almost theatrical feel and is considered very dated in modern French.

This term was more prevalent in the first half of the 20th century. You're most likely to encounter it in classic French films (especially film noir), old songs, or in literature from that era, used to add authentic flavor to the dialogue.

In contemporary conversation, using un riflard would be unusual and might mark you as a fan of old movies or someone intentionally using nostalgic language. For everyday use, always stick to un parapluie.

Learning words like riflard is a fantastic way to connect with French culture on a deeper level. It's a key that unlocks a specific historical and cultural context, even if it's not a word you'll use in your next conversation.

💡 * Il pleut des cordes, sors ton riflard ! (It's raining cats and dogs, get out your umbrella!)

• Le détective a secoué son riflard avant d'entrer dans le bar. (The detective shook his umbrella before entering the bar.)
• Mon grand-père est le seul que je connaisse qui utilise encore le mot 'riflard'. (My grandfather is the only one I know who still uses the word 'riflard'.)
• C'est quoi ce vieux riflard cassé ? (What is this old broken umbrella?)

The 'sun umbrella' or 'parasol' – une ombrelle

The 'sun umbrella' or 'parasol' – une ombrelle

Une ombrelle is the specific French term for a parasol or sun umbrella. It is used exclusively for protection from the sun, distinguishing it from un parapluie, which is an umbrella for rain.

The word ombrelle derives from ombre, which means 'shade' or 'shadow'. This connection makes its meaning easy to remember: it's a small object that creates shade.

As indicated by the article une, ombrelle is a feminine noun. Therefore, any adjectives describing it must also be in the feminine form, such as 'une ombrelle blanche' (a white parasol).

💡 * Elle a ouvert son ombrelle pour se protéger du soleil.

• J'ai oublié mon ombrelle à la plage.
• Les terrasses des cafés sont pleines d'ombrelles colorées.
• C'est une petite ombrelle en dentelle, très élégante.

The 'beach umbrella' – un parasol

In French, the word for a large umbrella used for sun protection is un parasol. This term specifically refers to the type you'd find at a beach, on a patio, or in a garden.

The word's origin makes its meaning clear: it combines para- (meaning 'against' or 'protection from') and sol (from soleil, meaning 'sun'). So, a parasol is literally something that protects you 'against the sun'.

Un parasol is a masculine noun. Therefore, you must use masculine articles and adjectives with it, such as un parasol, le parasol, or un grand parasol (a big umbrella).

It's crucial not to confuse un parasol with un parapluie. A parapluie (para- + pluie 'rain') is a personal umbrella used to protect against rain. Using one for the other would sound unnatural.

The most common verbs associated with a parasol are ouvrir (to open) and fermer (to close). You might need to open it when the sun is strong or close it when it gets windy.

💡 * On a besoin d'un parasol pour la plage cet après-midi.

• Peux-tu m'aider à ouvrir le parasol, s'il te plaît ?
• Le vent est trop fort, il faut fermer le parasol.
• Nous nous sommes assis à l'ombre d'un grand parasol rouge.

The 'folding umbrella' – un parapluie pliant

In French, the term for a 'folding umbrella' is quite literal and straightforward: un parapluie pliant. This is the standard and most common way to refer to this useful object.

The phrase is a simple combination of a noun and an adjective. Parapluie means 'umbrella,' and pliant is the adjective derived from the verb plier (to fold), meaning 'folding.' Together, they literally mean 'a folding umbrella.'

The word parapluie itself is interesting. It's a compound of para-, a prefix meaning 'against' or 'protection from,' and pluie, the French word for 'rain.' So, a parapluie is literally a device for 'protection from the rain.'

A key point for learners is that parapluie is a masculine noun. Therefore, you must use the masculine articles un (a) or le (the). For example, you would say un parapluie pliant or le parapluie pliant.

This term is used universally in all contexts, whether you're shopping in a department store, talking about the weather, or looking for your umbrella in your bag. There are no common slang alternatives, making un parapluie pliant a reliable phrase to learn and use.

💡 * J'ai besoin d'acheter un parapluie pliant pour mon voyage. (I need to buy a folding umbrella for my trip.)

• Mon parapluie pliant est assez petit pour tenir dans ma poche de manteau. (My folding umbrella is small enough to fit in my coat pocket.)
• As-tu vu mon parapluie pliant noir ? Je ne le trouve plus. (Have you seen my black folding umbrella? I can't find it anymore.)
• Un parapluie pliant est plus pratique qu'un grand parapluie. (A folding umbrella is more practical than a large umbrella.)

The 'golf umbrella' – un parapluie de golf

The French term for a 'golf umbrella' is a straightforward and literal translation: un parapluie de golf. This makes it easy to remember for English speakers.

The phrase is composed of two parts: 'un parapluie', which means 'an umbrella', and the prepositional phrase 'de golf', which means 'of golf'. When combined, they specifically describe a large umbrella designed for or similar to those used in golf.

While it literally means 'golf umbrella', the term is commonly used to refer to any large, sturdy umbrella, not just one used on a golf course. It implies an umbrella that offers more coverage and is more robust than a standard one.

💡 * Il pleut des cordes, heureusement que j'ai mon parapluie de golf. (It's raining cats and dogs, luckily I have my golf umbrella.)

• Ce parapluie de golf est assez grand pour nous deux. (This golf umbrella is big enough for both of us.)
• J'ai acheté un parapluie de golf pour sa solidité contre le vent. (I bought a golf umbrella for its sturdiness against the wind.)

The historical term for a 'sun-or-rain umbrella' – un en-tout-cas

The historical term for a 'sun-or-rain umbrella' – un en-tout-cas.

Literally translating to 'in any case,' the name en-tout-cas perfectly captures its dual function. It's an umbrella designed to be used 'in any case'—whether to provide shade from the sun or protection from the rain.

This term is somewhat dated and evokes the elegance of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It describes an accessory that was sturdier than a typical lace parasol (une ombrelle) but often more ornate than a simple rain umbrella (un parapluie).

Today, the word parapluie is used almost exclusively for a rain umbrella. However, you might encounter en-tout-cas in classic literature, historical descriptions, or antique shops. Recognizing it provides a richer understanding of French cultural history.

💡 * Au début du siècle, une dame élégante avait toujours son en-tout-cas.

• Le ciel est incertain, je vais prendre mon en-tout-cas, juste au cas où.
• J'ai trouvé un magnifique en-tout-cas avec un manche en ivoire chez un antiquaire.

1. How to Say 'Cocktail Umbrella' in French

The most common way to say 'cocktail umbrella' in French is by using a descriptive phrase: un petit parapluie en papier. Unlike English, French doesn't have a single, dedicated word for this item.

Let's deconstruct the phrase to understand its meaning. Un petit parapluie translates to 'a small umbrella', and the final part, en papier, means 'made of paper'. So, you are literally saying 'a small umbrella made of paper'.

This phrase is used in any context where you'd refer to a cocktail umbrella. You might also encounter a slightly shorter variation, un parapluie de cocktail (literally 'a cocktail's umbrella'), which is also perfectly correct and easily understood.

💡 * Le barman a décoré le verre avec un petit parapluie en papier.

• J'aimerais un petit parapluie en papier dans mon jus d'ananas, s'il vous plaît.
• Les boissons tropicales sont souvent servies avec un parapluie de cocktail coloré.
• Elle a gardé le petit parapluie en papier en souvenir.

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

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

Our list features the most common word for 'umbrella' in French, parapluie. But are there others? While parapluie is universally understood, you might occasionally hear older, regional, or more poetic terms for this rainy-day essential.

To explore regional variations, you can do an online search for “comment dire parapluie en français québécois” or for other specific Francophone regions you're interested in.

You might find some interesting synonyms or related terms this way. As always, be sure to check a word’s definition and see it used in context before you start using it yourself.

Pay attention as you read, watch French films, or listen to weather reports in French. You may discover different ways people refer to this common accessory.

And if you’re looking for other vocabulary related to rain and weather, the WordReference entry for parapluie is an excellent resource to explore!

I hope you found this guide helpful for your next jour de pluie (rainy day). To finish, here's a classic line from French poet Paul Verlaine that perfectly captures a rainy mood: Il pleure dans mon coeur / Comme il pleut sur la ville. (It weeps in my heart / As it rains on the town.)