Sports Vocabulary in French

Names of individual sports in French:

• Mountaineering "Alpinisme" in French: The sport of climbing mountains.
• Track and Field "Athlétisme" in French: Various athletic disciplines such as running, jumping, and throwing.
• Boxing "Boxe" in French: A combat sport where opponents throw punches at each other.
• Running "Course" in French: The act of moving swiftly on foot.
• Biking "Cyclisme" in French: Riding a bicycle.
• Dancing "Danse" in French: Performing rhythmic movements to music.
• Hand-gliding "Deltaplane" in French: Gliding through the air using a lightweight, non-motorized aircraft.
• Horseback Riding "Équitation" in French: Riding horses.
• Ice Climbing "Escalade glaciaire" in French: Climbing frozen ice formations.
• Fencing "Escrime" in French: A sport involving swordplay.
• Weightlifting "Haltérophilie" in French: Lifting heavy weights.
• Jujitsu "Jiu-jitsu" in French: A Japanese martial art emphasizing ground fighting techniques.
• Karate "Karaté" in French: A martial art from Japan.
• Walking "Marche" in French: Moving on foot at a leisurely pace.
• Bodybuilding "Musculation" in French: Strength training to build muscle.
• Swimming "Natation" in French: The act of swimming.
• Skydiving "Parachutisme" in French: Jumping from an aircraft with a parachute.
• Figure Skating "Patinage artistique" in French: Performing graceful movements on ice.
• Speed Skating "Patinage de vitesse" in French: Racing on ice skates.
• Hiking "Randonnée": in French Walking in natural environments.
• Bungee Jumping "Saut à l’élastique" in French: Jumping from a high point with an elastic cord.
• Skateboarding "Skateboard" in French: Riding a skateboard.
• Downhill Skiing, Alpine Skiing "Ski de descente" in French: Skiing down slopes.
• Cross Country Skiing "Ski de fond" in French: Skiing across flat or hilly terrain.
• Tennis "Tennis" in French: Playing tennis.
• Shooting "Tir" in French: Using firearms or bows for target practice.
• Biking "Vélo" in French: Riding a bicycle.
• Sailing "Voile" in French: Sailing boats on water.
• Golf: Playing golf.
• Windsurfing "Windsurf" in French: Riding a board with a sail attached, propelled by the wind.
• Yoga "Yoga" in French: A practice that combines physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation. Yoga promotes flexibility, strength, and relaxation.
• Zumba: A dance fitness program that incorporates Latin and international music.

Names of collective sports in French:

• American Football "Le football américain" in French: A contact sport played with an oval ball, involving tackling and strategic plays.
• A bat-and-ball game "Le cricket" in French: A bat-and-ball game played on a rectangular field, popular in countries like England, Australia, and India.
• Baseball "Le base-ball" in French: A bat-and-ball game played on a diamond-shaped field, where teams take turns batting and fielding.
• Basketball "Le basket-ball" in French: A team sport played with a ball, where players score points by shooting the ball through a hoop.
• Football "Le football" in French: A team sport played with a round ball, where players aim to score goals by kicking the ball into the opposing team’s net.
• Handball "Le handball" in French: A team sport played with a ball, involving passing and shooting goals into a net.
• Ice Hockey "Le hockey sur glace" in French: A fast-paced sport played on ice with sticks and a puck.
• Rugby "Le rugby" in French: A contact sport played with an oval ball, similar to American football but without protective gear.
• Volleyball "Le volley-ball" in French: A team sport played with a ball over a net, where teams try to score points by hitting the ball into the opponent’s court.
• Water Polo "Le water-polo" in French: A team sport played in a pool, where players pass and shoot a ball into the opponent’s goal.

How do you describe your favourite sport in French?

• I play tennis: "Je joue au tennis".
• He plays football: "Il joue au football".
• We play basketball: "Nous jouons au basket-ball.
• Do you play chess? "Jouez-vous aux échecs ?"
• They play cards: "Ils jouent aux cartes".

• I like tennis because it’s a great way to stay active: "J’aime le tennis parce que c’est un excellent moyen de rester actif."
• He enjoys soccer because it’s a team sport: "Il aime le football parce que c’est un sport d’équipe."
• She loves basketball because it’s fast-paced and exciting: "Elle adore le basket-ball parce que c’est rapide et excitant."
• They prefer swimming because it’s refreshing: "Ils préfèrent la natation parce que c’est rafraîchissant."
• We enjoy cycling because it allows us to explore scenic routes: "Nous aimons le cyclisme parce que cela nous permet d’explorer des itinéraires pittoresques."
• We play volleyball because it’s a fun beach sport: "Nous jouons au volley-ball parce que c’est un sport amusant à la plage."
• They train in boxing because it’s a great way to relieve stress: "Ils s’entraînent à la boxe parce que c’est un excellent moyen de soulager le stress."
• He enjoys running because it clears his mind: "Il aime courir parce que cela lui vide l’esprit."
• She loves ice skating because it feels like gliding: "Elle adore le patinage sur glace parce que cela donne l’impression de glisser."
• She practices gymnastics because it improves flexibility and strength: "Elle fait de la gymnastique parce que cela améliore la flexibilité et la force."