herbe
/ɛʁb/feminine
The English phrase 'grass' is translated into French as herbe.
The word herbe refers to the ground cover plant itself.
Meaning: ground cover plant (noun)
Which one should you use?
While herbe refers to the plant, French uses more specific terms for managed greenery: pelouse is a feminine noun used for the grassy area of a garden or a park and gazon is a masculine noun that specifically refers to a lawn.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
herbe is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɛʁb/
Did you know?
- In French, the word herbe is used for any non-woody plant, meaning 'grass' and 'herb' are the same word. An English speaker would use different words for a lawn and a cooking ingredient, but a French speaker uses herbe for both.
- The word herbe is a common slang term for cannabis in France, mirroring the English use of 'grass'.
- The word herbe is derived from the Latin herba, which originates from the Proto-Indo-European root *gʰreH₁- meaning 'to grow' or 'become green'.
Examples in context
- Je fume de l’herbe.I smoke grass.This sentence shows how herbe can be used in a slang context.Tatoeba #10682153 by AutoBot, translation #11041336 by shekitten
- L'herbe a un goût amer.Grass tastes bitter.This sentence describes the taste of herbe.Tatoeba #946619 by sacredceltic, translation #7061547 by Dalyup
- Nous pondons sur l'herbe.We lay on the grass.This sentence describes the action of laying on herbe.Tatoeba #8623896 by Aiji, translation #249009 by CK
- La tonte régulière de l'herbe permet d'obtenir un gazon sain et esthétiquement agréable.Regular mowing of the grass allows for a healthy and aesthetically pleasing lawn.
- J'aime marcher pieds nus sur la pelouse.I enjoy walking barefoot on the grass.
- Mon voisin a un beau gazon dans son jardin.My neighbor has a beautiful lawn in his garden.
- 99 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Emma are sitting in a park.
- GabrielL'herbe est confortable, n'est-ce pas ?The grass is comfortable, isn't it?
- EmmaOui, Gabriel, c'est parfait pour se reposer.Yes, Gabriel, it is perfect for resting.
- GabrielEst-ce que tu as apporté un plaid ?Did you bring a blanket?
- EmmaNon, mais l'herbe est assez douce.No, but the grass is soft enough.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “grass” translations and entries herbe, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries herbe, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
