four
/fuʁ/masculine
The French word for oven is four.
The word four refers to a chamber used for baking or heating.
Meaning: chamber used for baking or heating (noun)
Which one should you use?
To specify the type of oven, you can use different phrases: four à micro-ondes is used for a microwave oven, while four à bois refers specifically to a wood-fired oven.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word four is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/fuʁ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often confuse the French word four with the English number 'four'. However, they are unrelated in meaning.
Did you know?
- In French slang, the word four can be used to describe a complete failure or a 'flop', particularly in a theatrical or artistic context.
- The French term four à pain was historically a communal village center where residents would bring their dough to be baked by a professional.
- French uses the word four for a kiln used in pottery or brickmaking, meaning one word covers both baking bread and firing ceramics.
Examples in context
- Le four est chaud.The oven is hot.This sentence shows how to describe the temperature of the four.Tatoeba #11611239 by Aiji, translation #3436612 by CK
- J'ai allumé le four.I lit the oven.This sentence is useful for saying that you have lit the four.Tatoeba #6285851 by Aiji, translation #5851838 by CK
- Le four est en marche.The oven is on.This sentence shows how to say the four is currently running.Tatoeba #8593858 by Micsmithel, translation #10650144 by sundown
- Je cuis mon pain dans le four.I bake my bread in the oven.
- Je prépare un délicieux gâteau dans le four.I'm baking a delicious cake in the oven.
- 72 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Chloé are preparing a meal in the kitchen.
- HugoChloé, est-ce que tu peux ouvrir le four ?Chloé, can you open the oven?
- ChloéOui, je vérifie la cuisson du gâteau.Yes, I am checking how the cake is baking.
- HugoLe four semble bien chaud.The oven seems quite hot.
- ChloéOui, il est parfait pour la pizza.Yes, it is perfect for the pizza.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “oven” translations and entries four, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
