cours
/kuʁ/
The English phrase 'classes' is translated into French as cours.
The term cours is used to refer to academic lessons or subjects.
Which one should you use?
While cours refers to individual lessons or subjects, the word classe refers to the group of students or the physical classroom environment.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word cours is invariable in its spelling for both singular and plural forms. The distinction is made by the article or context.
How do you pronounce it?
/kuʁ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use classe when they mean the academic lessons or lectures, but in French, cours is the standard term for the lessons themselves.
Did you know?
- The word cours is a homonym in French. Depending on the context, it can mean a lesson, the flow of a river, or the current exchange rate of a currency.
- The word cours is a doublet of the English word 'course'. Both evolved from the Latin cursus, which originally described the act of running or a race track.
- In English, one can 'take a class', but in French, you often suivre un cours, which means to 'follow' a lesson, suggesting a more active, continuous movement.
Examples in context
- J'ai séché les cours.I cut classes.This sentence is useful for learning how to say one cut classes using cours.Tatoeba #5959559 by MarieAnne, translation #5958622 by CK
- J'apprécie tous mes cours.I like all my classes.This sentence is useful for expressing how one appreciates all one's classes using cours.Tatoeba #2384038 by sacredceltic, translation #2377437 by CK
- Tu as séché trop de cours.You've skipped too many classes.This sentence is useful for saying someone has skipped too many classes using cours.Tatoeba #10940214 by lbdx, translation #2541133 by CK
- Le cours de françaisThe French class
- Le cours d'histoireThe history class
- la leçon de mathématiquesThe math lesson
- la séance de chimieThe chemistry session
- J'étudie différentes matièresI study different subjects
- Ce sont les disciplines les plus importantesThese are the most important subjects
- 69 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan and Manon are discussing their university schedule.
- NathanTu as beaucoup de cours aujourd'hui ?Do you have a lot of classes today?
- ManonOui, j'ai trois cours cet après-midi.Yes, I have three classes this afternoon.
- NathanMoi, je n'ai aucun cours demain.Me, I don't have any classes tomorrow.
- ManonTu as de la chance, Nathan !You are lucky, Nathan!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry cours, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cours, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
