file
/fil/feminine
The English phrase "queue" can be translated into French as file or queue.
Meaning: line of people (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| file | /fil/ | feminine |
| queue | /kø/ | feminine |
Both file and queue are used to refer to a line of people. To describe the action of waiting in a line or queuing up, use the verbal phrase faire la queue. Additionally, you can use se mettre en ligne to mean putting oneself at the end of a queue.
Which one should you use?
While both words mean a line, queue is more common in spoken, informal French than file. Note that queue can also refer to the physical tail of an animal.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Both file and queue are feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/fil/
Did you know?
- In modern slang, la queue is often used as a vulgar term for the penis. Use file or faire la queue in formal settings to avoid any unintentional double entendres.
- The English word 'queue' and the French queue are actually distant cousins of the musical term 'coda'. All three words trace their lineage back to the Latin word 'cauda', which means 'tail'.
- The term faire la queue literally translates to 'making the tail', treating the line of people as a single biological extension.
Examples in context
- Il y a une file.There's a queue.The sentence is useful for noting the existence of a file.Tatoeba #2941476 by sacredceltic, translation #10691879 by sundown
- Faites la queue !Queue up!The sentence is useful for an imperative command to queue up using queue.Tatoeba #10509423 by pkill, translation #6284127 by megamanenm
- Tom faisait la queue.Tom was standing in the queue.The sentence is useful for describing someone who was making a queue.Tatoeba #8412189 by lbdx, translation #10700681 by sundown
- Veuillez vous mettre dans la file, s'il vous plaît.Please get in line.
- Il y a beaucoup de monde dans la ligne d'attente.There are many people in the queue.
- On attend depuis longtemps dans la file.We've been waiting for a long time in the queue.
- 29 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two people are waiting to buy tickets at a cinema.
- GabrielLa file est très longue ici.The line is very long here.
- LéaOui, mais ça va vite.Yes, but it moves fast.
- GabrielTu veux attendre avec moi ?Do you want to wait with me?
- LéaD'accord, on attend ensemble.Okay, let's wait together.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “queue” translations and entries file, queue, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries file, queue, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
