baume pour les lèvres
masculine
The English phrase "lip balm" is baume pour les lèvres in French. Wiktionary also lists crème pour les lèvres.
Meaning: substance topically applied to the lips of the mouth (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | Note |
|---|---|
| baume pour les lèvres | masculine |
| crème pour les lèvres | feminine |
The term refers to a substance applied topically to the lips. You can use the specific phrase baume à lèvres hydratant to mean "moisturizing lip balm" or stick à lèvres cicatrisant to mean "healing lip balm".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase baume pour les lèvres literally translates to "balm for the lips".
Which one should you use?
The shorter form baume à lèvres is a very common and natural alternative to baume pour les lèvres. Use baume pour les lèvres for a waxy or oil-based balm, whereas crème pour les lèvres implies a more liquid or lotion-like consistency.
Did you know?
- In France, lip care is often categorized under parapharmacie, a specialized section of a pharmacy that sells health and beauty products without a prescription.
- While baume pour les lèvres is the standard term, French speakers often use the word stick borrowed from English to describe the physical shape of the product.
- The word crème shares a root with the Greek χρῖσμα, which relates to the act of anointing with oil.
Examples in context
- Excusez-moi, avez-vous du baume pour les lèvres?Excuse me, do you have any lip balm?
- Où est-ce que je peux trouver un stick à lèvres?Where can I find a lip balm?
- T'as un baume à lèvres? J'ai les lèvres sèches.Do you have lip balm? My lips are dry.
- Je cherche un cicatrisant pour les lèvres, le froid a abîmé ma peau.I'm looking for a healing lip balm, the cold weather damaged my skin.
- J'ai oublié mon baume pour les lèvres.I forgot my lip balm.
- Il faut acheter un baume pour les lèvres.We need to buy a lip balm.
- Ce baume pour les lèvres sent très bon.This lip balm smells very good.
Example conversation
Manon and Gabriel are packing for a hiking trip.
- ManonEst-ce que tu as pris ton baume pour les lèvres ?Did you take your lip balm?
- GabrielOui, je l'ai mis dans mon sac.Yes, I put it in my bag.
- ManonParfait, il fait très sec dehors.Perfect, it is very dry outside.
- GabrielOn ne veut pas avoir les lèvres gercées.We don't want to have chapped lips.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lip balm” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries baume, crème, les, pour, CC BY-SA 4.0.
