L'hiver is the most common way to say “winter” in French. But the language of Molière has many more evocative ways to describe the chilliest time of year.

As you learn French, you'll want to do more than just state the season; you'll want to paint a picture with your words! Knowing these different terms will help you sound more like a native speaker and appreciate the nuances of the language.

Let’s look at 9 ways to say “winter” in French!

The standard 'winter' – l'hiver

The fundamental and most direct word for 'winter' in French is l'hiver. It is a masculine noun, so you'll always see it as un hiver or l'hiver. Remembering its gender is crucial for correct adjective agreement. The 'h' is silent (an h muet), so the word is pronounced like 'lee-ver'.

To say 'in the winter' or 'during winter', the correct preposition is en. For instance, En hiver, les jours sont plus courts (In winter, the days are shorter). Notice that you do not use the article l' when using en with seasons. This is a common rule for all seasons in French.

When you need to refer to a specific winter, the structure changes slightly:

cet hiver - this winter (Note the use of cet instead of ce because hiver begins with a vowel sound).
l'hiver dernier - last winter
l'hiver prochain - next winter

The adjective derived from hiver is hivernal (masculine) or hivernale (feminine), which means 'wintry' or 'of winter'. You can use it to describe things like des conditions hivernales (wintry conditions) or un sport hivernal (a winter sport).

L'hiver is also a key part of common French culture and vocabulary. The term les sports d'hiver refers to 'winter sports' like skiing and snowboarding. The verb hiberner (to hibernate) is directly related to the season, describing how animals (and sometimes people!) get through the cold months.

💡 * J'adore l'hiver parce que j'aime la neige.

Cet hiver, nous partons en vacances à la montagne.

Les températures hivernales peuvent être très basses dans cette région.

En hiver, il fait nuit très tôt.

The 'cold season' – la saison froide

While French has specific names for the four seasons, a common and useful phrase you'll hear is la saison froide, which literally translates to 'the cold season'.

La saison froide is a general term used to describe the colder period of the year. It's not an official season but rather a descriptive way to refer to the months when the weather is chilly, often encompassing late autumn, all of winter, and sometimes early spring.

It's important to distinguish la saison froide from l'hiver (winter). L'hiver refers specifically to the astronomical or meteorological season, typically from December to March. La saison froide, on the other hand, is more about the overall feeling and can start in October or November and last until April, depending on the region and the year's weather.

You'll often hear this phrase in everyday conversation, particularly when discussing health ('It's the season for colds'), clothing ('I need to buy a new coat for the cold season'), or general plans ('We travel less during the cold season').

Think of la saison froide as a practical and flexible term. It focuses on the experience of cold weather rather than the strict calendar dates of a season, making it a very natural and common expression for French speakers.

💡 * Pendant la saison froide, j'aime boire du chocolat chaud.

Il faut bien se couvrir durant la saison froide pour ne pas tomber malade.

Les jours sont beaucoup plus courts pendant la saison froide.

Nous préparons la maison pour la saison froide en vérifiant le chauffage.

The 'wintry period' – la période hivernale

A term you might encounter, especially in news or official communications, is la période hivernale, which literally translates to 'the wintry period' or 'the winter period'.

In France, la période hivernale has a specific administrative and legal meaning. It officially runs from November 1st to March 31st each year.

This period is most famous for la trêve hivernale (the winter truce). This is a law that protects tenants from eviction during these cold months.

During la trêve hivernale, a landlord cannot legally evict a tenant from their primary residence, even with a court order. This is to prevent people from becoming homeless during the coldest time of the year.

While its strongest association is with the eviction truce, you might also hear la période hivernale used more generally to simply refer to the winter season, especially when discussing weather, energy consumption, or seasonal activities.

💡 * Pendant la période hivernale, les expulsions locatives sont suspendues.

La trêve hivernale commence le 1er novembre et se termine le 31 mars.

La consommation d'électricité augmente fortement durant la période hivernale.

Il faut être prudent sur les routes pendant la période hivernale à cause du verglas.

The 'big cold' – le grand froid

The phrase le grand froid literally translates to "the big cold" or "the great cold."

This term is used to describe a period of intense, severe cold. It's the French equivalent of a "deep freeze," an "arctic blast," or a significant "cold snap." It implies a period of dangerously low temperatures that are well below the seasonal average.

You will frequently hear le grand froid in weather forecasts and news reports when meteorologists are warning of an upcoming period of extreme cold. In everyday conversation, people use it to emphasize that the weather isn't just chilly, but exceptionally and bitingly cold.

Using le grand froid is much stronger than simply saying il fait froid (it's cold). The addition of grand (big/great) elevates the phrase to describe a notable and often hazardous weather event, prompting people to take extra precautions.

💡 * Météo-France annonce l'arrivée du grand froid pour la semaine prochaine. (The French weather service is announcing the arrival of the deep freeze for next week.)

Pendant le grand froid, n'oubliez pas de protéger vos canalisations. (During the deep freeze, don't forget to protect your pipes.)

C'est le grand froid ; je ne sors pas sans mon bonnet et mes gants. (It's an arctic blast; I'm not going out without my hat and gloves.)

Les agriculteurs s'inquiètent de l'impact du grand froid sur les cultures. (Farmers are worried about the impact of the severe cold on the crops.)

The 'heart of winter' – le cœur de l'hiver

The French expression for the 'heart of winter' is le cœur de l'hiver.

Literally translating to "the heart of winter," this poetic phrase refers to the coldest, deepest, and most intense period of the winter season, typically January and February in the Northern Hemisphere.

This is a descriptive and somewhat literary expression. You'll find it in books, articles, and weather reports, but it's also used in everyday conversation to emphasize the severity of the cold.

The structure is simple: le cœur (the heart) + de l' (of the) + hiver (winter). The apostrophe in de l' is used because the word hiver begins with a silent 'h', which is treated like a vowel.

The phrase evokes a strong sense of stillness, deep cold, and short days. It captures the feeling of winter being at its absolute peak, just before the first signs of spring begin to emerge.

💡 * En plein cœur de l'hiver, tout le paysage était blanc. (In the heart of winter, the whole landscape was white.)

C'est difficile de se motiver au cœur de l'hiver. (It's hard to get motivated in the heart of winter.)

Nous avons visité Québec au cœur de l'hiver et il faisait -20 degrés. (We visited Quebec in the heart of winter and it was -20 degrees.)

The 'dead season' – la morte-saison

To talk about the 'off-season' or 'dead season' in business and tourism, the French use the very evocative expression la morte-saison.

Literally translating to 'the dead season,' la morte-saison refers to a period of the year when commercial activity, particularly in tourism, is at its lowest. It is the direct opposite of la haute saison (the high season).

This term is frequently used in the hospitality and retail sectors. A seaside resort in winter or a ski station in summer would be in its morte-saison. During this quiet period, businesses often carry out maintenance, offer significant discounts, or close temporarily.

A very common and slightly less dramatic alternative is la basse saison (the low season). While both terms denote an off-peak period, la morte-saison more strongly emphasizes a near-total lack of activity.

💡 * Pendant la morte-saison, de nombreux hôtels de la côte sont fermés.

Les prix sont beaucoup plus bas durant la morte-saison.

Nous profitons de la morte-saison pour rénover le restaurant.

C'est la morte-saison, il n'y a pas un seul touriste en ville.

The 'bad season' – la mauvaise saison

The expression la mauvaise saison literally translates to “the bad season.” It’s a common, informal way to refer to the colder, rainier, and darker months of the year, generally encompassing late autumn and winter.

You'll often hear this phrase used when people are complaining about the weather, the lack of sunlight, or the tendency to get sick more often. It captures the general feeling of the less pleasant part of the year, as opposed to a specific season like l'hiver (winter) or l'automne (autumn).

The opposite of la mauvaise saison is la belle saison, which means “the beautiful season” and refers to spring and summer. Using these two phrases shows a more nuanced and natural understanding of French conversational terms for the seasons.

💡 * Pendant la mauvaise saison, il fait nuit très tôt. (During the bad season, it gets dark very early.)

Je déteste la mauvaise saison, je suis toujours malade. (I hate the bad season, I'm always sick.)

Il faut bien se couvrir pour sortir pendant la mauvaise saison. (You have to bundle up well to go out during the bad season.)

The 'frosty weather' – le temps de gel

The 'frosty weather' – le temps de gel

Le temps de gel directly translates to 'weather of frost' or 'freezing weather.' It is composed of le temps (the weather) and le gel (the frost/freeze). This phrase is used to describe atmospheric conditions where the temperature is at or below 0°C (32°F).

This term is commonly used in weather forecasts, especially during winter, to warn about conditions that can lead to icy roads or damage to plants. It describes a period of sustained cold rather than a single frosty morning.

The concept is closely linked to the verb geler, which means 'to freeze'. You might hear a weather reporter say, « Il va geler cette nuit », meaning 'It is going to freeze tonight', indicating the arrival of un temps de gel.

💡 * Attention, avec ce temps de gel, les routes peuvent être glissantes. (Be careful, with this freezing weather, the roads can be slippery.)

Les agriculteurs craignent le temps de gel pour leurs récoltes. (Farmers fear the frosty weather for their crops.)

En hiver, le temps de gel est fréquent dans cette région. (In winter, freezing weather is common in this region.)

1. Understanding 'Le Temps des Neiges'

The French expression le temps des neiges literally translates to 'the time of snows'. The use of the plural 'neiges' (snows) adds a poetic and slightly old-fashioned feel, evoking a period or season characterized by snowfall rather than a single event.

Beyond its literal meaning, le temps des neiges is often used figuratively to refer to a bygone era or a time that is long past. It carries a sense of nostalgia and the irrevocable passage of time, similar to the English expression 'the snows of yesteryear'.

This phrase is famously linked to the poem 'Ballade des dames du temps jadis' by the 15th-century poet François Villon. The poem's well-known refrain, 'Mais où sont les neiges d'antan?' ('But where are the snows of yesteryear?'), solidified this connection between snow and the distant past.

While not a common phrase in everyday casual conversation, le temps des neiges is understood in literary or more formal contexts. You might encounter it in books, poetry, or reflective writing when an author wants to evoke a sense of nostalgia for a past that is gone forever.

💡 * Il se souvient avec nostalgie du temps des neiges de sa jeunesse.

Ce vieux château nous rappelle le temps des neiges, une époque révolue.

Ses histoires parlaient toujours du temps des neiges, quand le monde semblait plus simple.

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

This article has focused on the most direct and common word for winter: hiver. However, the French language is full of poetic and descriptive alternatives that can add nuance and color to your vocabulary.

You can discover more by exploring French literature or searching online for phrases like 'expressions sur la saison froide' (expressions about the cold season). This will often lead you to more figurative language.

When you find a synonym for hiver, like 'la saison froide' or a more literary term, always check its context. Some phrases are best suited for poetry or formal writing rather than everyday conversation.

Pay close attention when you listen to French songs, watch movies, or read books. Notice how the winter season is described. This immersion is one of the best ways to pick up authentic, natural-sounding vocabulary.

For a deeper look at words related to seasons and weather, the Larousse dictionary entry for hiver is an excellent starting point. It often includes related expressions and common phrases.

I hope this guide has helped you understand how to talk about winter in French. Let's end with a beautiful and hopeful quote from Albert Camus: 'Au milieu de l'hiver, j'ai découvert en moi un invincible été.' (In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.)

'9 ways to say "winter" in French'