Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| terrain de jeu | /tɛ.ʁɛ̃ d(ə) ʒø/ /te.ʁɛ̃ d(ə) ʒø/ |
masculine |
| aire de jeux | /ɛʁ də ʒø/ | feminine |
| plaine de jeux | /plɛn də ʒø/ | feminine |
| cour de récréation | /kuʁ də ʁe.kʁe.a.sjɔ̃/ | feminine |
A playground is an open space for children to play in. You can use aire de jeux for a general play area or playground found in parks or public spaces. The form aire de jeu can refer to smaller play areas like those in shopping centers or indoor playgrounds. You can also use the more specific term aire de jeux pour enfants for a children's playground.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase terrain de jeu is composed of terrain (ground/field) and de jeu (of play).
Which one should you use?
While aire de jeux is used for general public play areas, use cour de récréation specifically when referring to a school playground. For an outdoor playground, you can use terrain de jeu extérieur and for an adventure playground, use terrain de jeu d'aventure.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Belgium, the term plaine de jeux is commonly used for a playground.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make aire de jeux plural, add an s to aire to get aires de jeux.
How do you pronounce it?
/tɛ.ʁɛ̃ d(ə) ʒø/
Did you know?
- The French word jeu for 'play' comes from the Latin iocus, which is the direct ancestor of the English word 'joke'.
- While English speakers use 'recreation' for many activities, the French récréation is used almost strictly in the context of the school break time.
- In France, the cour de récréation is often the site of a very specific social hierarchy and traditional games that differ from the free play in an aire de jeux.
Examples in context
- Il y a une aire de jeux dans notre quartier.There is a playground in our neighborhood.This sentence is useful for mentioning a playground in a neighborhood using aire de jeux.Tatoeba #12197665 by lbdx, translation #5820594 by OsoHombre
- Il y a beaucoup d'enfants dans la cour de récréation.There are a lot of kids on the playground.This sentence is useful for describing many children on a playground using cour de récréation.Tatoeba #10968807 by lbdx, translation #10843829 by ddnktr
- Les écolières sautent à la corde dans la cour de récréation.The schoolgirls are jumping rope on the playground.This sentence is useful for describing schoolgirls jumping rope on a playground using cour de récréation.Tatoeba #11148091 by lbdx, translation #7668028 by karloelkebekio
- Les enfants adorent passer du temps sur le terrain de jeu.Children love spending time at the playground.
- Les enfants se retrouvent souvent à l'aire de jeux après l'école.Children often gather at the playground after school.
- Nous allons à l'aire de jeu du centre commercial.We are going to the shopping mall playground.
- Les enfants adorent jouer sur le terrain de jeu.Children love playing at the playground.
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Hugo are walking in a park.
- ChloéOù est le terrain de jeu pour les enfants ?Where is the playground for the children?
- HugoLe terrain de jeu est juste là, derrière l'arbre.The playground is right there, behind the tree.
- ChloéC'est un très beau terrain de jeu.It is a very beautiful playground.
- HugoOui, et il est très grand.Yes, and it is very large.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “playground” translations and entries terrain de jeu, aire de jeux, plaine de jeux, cour de récréation, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aire, cour, de, jeu, récréation, terrain, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
