paroles
feminine, plural
The English phrase "lyrics" is translated into French as paroles.
paroles is a feminine plural noun used to refer to the words of a song.
Meaning: the words to a song (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word paroles literally means "words", specifically referring to spoken words or utterances.
How does it change in a sentence?
While paroles is the plural form used for song lyrics, the singular form parole refers to the act of speaking or a single spoken word.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the word lyrique to mean lyrics. However, lyrique is an adjective meaning "lyrical" and cannot be used as a noun to refer to the words of a song.
Did you know?
- The French word parole is the root of the English word 'parole' used in the legal system, referring to the 'word' or promise of a prisoner to behave.
- If you tell a French person J'ai la parole, you are not saying you have the lyrics, but rather that it is your turn to speak in a conversation.
- The phrase paroles en l'air describes words that are empty, meaningless or spoken without intention, literally meaning 'words in the air'.
Examples in context
- J'écris toutes les paroles.I write all the lyrics.This sentence is useful for practicing the verb phrase for writing lyrics using paroles.Tatoeba #8352398 by Aiji, translation #5747564 by CM
- Traduis-tu des paroles de chansons ?Do you translate lyrics?This sentence is useful for asking about the translation of paroles.Tatoeba #4636149 by sacredceltic, translation #1840575 by Amastan
- Nous ne connaissons pas les paroles.We don't know the lyrics.This sentence is useful for expressing a lack of knowledge regarding the paroles of a song.Tatoeba #7236806 by Aiji, translation #2281801 by CK
- 15 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Gabriel are at a cafe listening to music.
- EmmaTu connais les paroles de cette chanson, Gabriel ?Do you know the lyrics to this song, Gabriel?
- GabrielNon, je ne connais pas du tout les paroles.No, I don't know the lyrics at all.
- EmmaC'est dommage, car les paroles sont très émouvantes.That's a shame, because the lyrics are very moving.
- GabrielJe vais essayer de les apprendre.I will try to learn them.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lyrics” translations and entries paroles, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
