fusée
/fy.ze/feminine
The English word 'rocket' can be translated into French as fusée or roquette.
Meaning: vehicle (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| fusée | /fy.ze/ | feminine |
| roquette | /ʁɔ.kɛt/ | feminine |
Both terms refer to a rocket, but they are used to describe different scales and types of vehicles.
Which one should you use?
fusée is used for large-scale space exploration vehicles or spacecraft. In contrast, roquette is used for smaller-scale projectiles, such as missiles or fireworks.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Belgium, fusée is commonly used just like in France.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both fusée and roquette are feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/fy.ze/
Did you know?
- In French, the word roquette is also the common name for 'arugula' or 'rocket' salad greens.
- The word roquette shares a linguistic root with the Latin word erūca, which means 'caterpillar'.
Examples in context
- Ils ont lancé une fusée.They launched a rocket.This sentence is useful for seeing the verb used with fusée.Tatoeba #4626810 by sacredceltic, translation #306126 by CK
- La fusée est en orbite autour de la Lune.The rocket is in orbit around the moon.This sentence shows the use of fusée in the context of orbital movement.Tatoeba #4873816 by Julien_PDC, translation #29381 by CM
- La fusée a explosé sur la rampe de lancement.The rocket exploded on the launch pad.This sentence illustrates a situation involving fusée and a launch pad.Tatoeba #8915788 by lbdx, translation #5391648 by Hybrid
- J'ai toujours rêvé de devenir astronaute et de voyager dans une fusée vers les étoiles.I always dreamt of becoming an astronaut and traveling to the stars in a rocket.
- 11 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan and Manon are watching a space launch on TV.
- NathanRegarde la fusée au loin !Look at the rocket in the distance!
- ManonElle est vraiment impressionnante, cette fusée.That rocket is truly impressive.
- NathanLe décollage de la fusée était parfait.The rocket launch was perfect.
- ManonOui, c'est un spectacle magnifique.Yes, it is a magnificent sight.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rocket” translations and entries fusée, roquette, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries fusée, roquette, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
