How to Say "Gerund" in French

gérondif

/ʒe.ʁɔ̃.dif/masculine

Gerund in French is gérondif, the grammar term for the verb form used as a verbal noun.

gérondif is the term French grammar books and teachers use for this verb form.

Meaning: verb form functioning as a verbal noun (noun)

Which one should you use?

gérondif refers specifically to the form built with en, while participe présent refers to the present participle standing on its own.

gérondif is a masculine noun. The French gerund is built by placing en before the present participle, following the pattern en + participe présent.

gérondif is pronounced /ʒe.ʁɔ̃.dif/, in three syllables, with a nasal vowel in the middle.

The term gérondif is a linguistic false friend to English speakers. While the English 'gerund' is a noun, the French gérondif is actually a verbal form that acts as an adverb to describe how an action is performed.
The word gérondif traces its roots back to the Latin word gerundus, which means 'that which is to be carried out'. This connects the grammatical term to the ancient concept of a future passive participle.
In French, using the gérondif can imply a means or a method of doing something, effectively translating to 'by doing' in English.

Elle aime nager.
She likes swimming.
Le gérondif exprime une action simultanée.
The gerund expresses a simultaneous action.
Il est difficile de comprendre ce gérondif.
It is difficult to understand this gerund.
Tu dois utiliser le gérondif ici.
You must use the gerund here.

Léa and Hugo are studying French grammar together.

Léa

Est-ce que ce mot est un gérondif ?
Is this word a gerund?
Hugo

Non, c'est un participe présent.
No, it is a present participle.
Léa

Ah, je confonds souvent le gérondif avec ça.
Ah, I often confuse the gerund with that.
Hugo

Ne t'inquiète pas, c'est normal.
Don't worry, it's normal.

Sources

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