Aïd
/a.id/
Eid in French is Aïd, the name of the Muslim religious festivals.
Aïd is used for both major festivals, which are usually named in full as Aïd-el-Fitr and Aïd-el-Adha.
Meaning: Muslim religious festival (name)
Which one should you use?
Aïd-el-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, and Aïd-el-Adha is the festival of sacrifice.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because Aïd starts with a vowel, the article le shortens to l', as in l'Aïd. The specific festival names are usually written with hyphens.
How do you pronounce it?
Aïd is pronounced /a.id/, in two syllables. The two dots on the i show that it is said separately from the a.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not drop the two dots on the i. Without them the word would read as one sound.
When do people say it?
To wish someone a happy Eid you can say Joyeux Aïd or the more formal Bonne fête de l'Aïd. A longer formal wish is Que cette journée d'Aïd vous soit joyeuse, may this Eid day bring you joy.
Did you know?
- In French-speaking North Africa, you will often hear the phrase Aïd Mabrouk alongside French greetings, blending the two languages during the celebration.
- While 'Aïd' is the name of the festival, French speakers often use the common phrase Bonne fête to wish someone well, which is the same way they celebrate a 'name day'.
- While English uses 'Eid' as a general term, French speakers often specify the festival by using the phrase la fête du sacrifice to refer to Aïd-el-Adha.
Examples in context
- Nous célébrerons l'Aïd-el-Fitr demain.We will celebrate Eid ul-Fitr tomorrow.l'Aïd-el-Fitr is the full name of the festival that ends Ramadan.Tatoeba #547939 by sacredceltic, translation #505890 by FeuDRenais
- Les Algériens égorgent leurs moutons le jour de l'aïd devant leurs enfants.Algerians slaughter their sheep on the day of Eid in front of their children.l'aïd is written here in lower case, which you will also see in French texts.Tatoeba #8114984 by Igider, translation #8114983 by Igider
- L'Aïd approche à grands pas.Eid is approaching fast.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about upcoming holiday plans.
- NathanTu fais quoi pour l'Aïd ?What are you doing for Eid?
- LéaJe vais voir ma famille, Nathan.I'm going to see my family, Nathan.
- NathanC'est une excellente idée, Léa.That's a great idea, Léa.
- LéaMerci, j'ai hâte d'y être !Thanks, I can't wait!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “eid” translations and entries Aïd, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
