Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| navire | /na.viʁ/ | masculine |
| vaisseau | /vɛ.so/ /ve.so/ |
masculine |
| bateau | /ba.to/ | masculine |
In French, there are several ways to refer to a large water craft depending on the context. For a sailing ship, you can use Un voilier. If you are referring specifically to a cruise ship, use Un paquebot de croisière. To specify a military vessel, use the term navire de guerre.
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends on the scale and tone. Bateau is the most common and general term for any watercraft, though it often refers to smaller vessels that English speakers would call 'boats'. Navire is a more formal or technical term used specifically for large, commercial or naval vessels. Vaisseau is a poetic or archaic term used in literature, and it is also used to refer to spaceships (vaisseaux spatiaux). Additionally, paquebot is a masculine noun used for large passenger ships.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The words navire, vaisseau, bateau and paquebot are all masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
navire is pronounced /na.viʁ/ and has two syllables.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use navire or bateau when you mean the English verb 'to ship' in the sense of sending a parcel or container. Instead, use the verbs expédier or poster.
Did you know?
- The word vaisseau is used in French anatomy to describe 'blood vessels' vaisseaux sanguins.
- The word vaisseau comes from the Latin 'vasculum', which means 'small vessel' or 'container'.
- While navire is used for ships, the related word nave in French refers to the central part of a church.
Examples in context
- Ohé, du bateau !Ship ahoy!This sentence shows how to use bateau in a traditional maritime call.Tatoeba #1451538 by sacredceltic, translation #1451529 by Eldad
- Le bateau coule !The ship is sinking!This sentence demonstrates a common way to say a bateau is sinking.Tatoeba #891817 by sacredceltic, translation #1177634 by bart
- Le bateau a coulé.The ship sank.This sentence shows the past tense of the verb for a bateau sinking.Tatoeba #1383073 by sacredceltic, translation #5091697 by AlanF_US
- Le navire de croisière était impressionnant.The cruise ship was impressive.
- Le bateau est arrivé au port hier.The ship arrived at the port yesterday.
- Je prends un paquebot pour ma croisière.I am taking a ship for my cruise.
- J'ai vu un superbe navire aujourd'hui.I saw a magnificent ship today.
- 269 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At a harbor watching the arrivals.
- EmmaRegarde ce grand navire !Look at that large ship!
- HugoIl est impressionnant, ce navire.That ship is impressive.
- EmmaHugo, est-ce un navire de guerre ?Hugo, is it a warship?
- HugoNon, c'est un navire de commerce.No, it is a merchant ship.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ship” translations and entries navire, vaisseau, bateau, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bateau, navire, vaisseau, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
