skateboard
/skɛt.bɔʁd/masculine
The English phrase 'skateboard' can be translated into French as skateboard, skate or planche à roulettes.
Meaning: sports/recreation platform on wheels (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| skateboard | /skɛt.bɔʁd/ | masculine |
| planche à roulettes | dated, feminine | |
| skate | /sket/ | masculine |
The term refers to a recreational platform on wheels. To describe the activity of skateboarding, French speakers typically use the verbal phrase faire du skate rather than a single verb.
What does it mean word for word?
The term planche à roulettes is a literal description consisting of planche (board) and à roulettes (with wheels).
Which one should you use?
Planche à roulettes is a more traditional term that is increasingly replaced by English loanwords in casual speech. planche à roulettes feels more dated.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
skateboard and skate are masculine nouns. The term planche à roulettes is a feminine noun. In informal French, the word skater is used as a verb meaning 'to skateboard', although this is an anglicism.
How do you pronounce it?
/skɛt.bɔʁd/
Did you know?
- The word planche in planche à roulettes shares an ancient ancestor with the English word 'phalanx', referring to a military formation. This connects a simple wooden board to the concept of a tight, organized line of soldiers.
Examples in context
- Tu ne peux pas skater ici.You can't skateboard here.This sentence uses the verb skate to show where one cannot perform the activity.Tatoeba #3457416 by GB3, translation #2273982 by CK
- Quand vous faites du skateboard, ça vous met les genoux à rude épreuve.When you skateboard, it puts quite a strain on your knees.This sentence uses the noun skateboard to describe the physical strain of the sport on the body.Tatoeba #6327638 by nimfeo, translation #406982 by Scott
- Je vais faire du skate cet après-midi.I'm going skateboarding this afternoon.
- Est-ce que tu sais faire des figures en skate ?Can you do tricks on a skateboard?
- J'ai acheté une nouvelle planche à roulettes hier.I bought a new skateboard yesterday.
- Les skates sont interdits dans ce parc.Skateboards are not allowed in this park.
- J'ai acheté un nouveau skateboard.I bought a new skateboard.
Example conversation
Gabriel is showing Léa his new hobby in a park.
- LéaC'est quoi ce truc ?What is that thing?
- GabrielC'est mon nouveau skateboard.It's my new skateboard.
- LéaTu sais en faire ?Do you know how to use it?
- GabrielPas encore, mais je vais apprendre.Not yet, but I'm going to learn.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “skateboard” translations and entries skateboard, planche à roulettes, skate, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries planche, skate, skateboard, à, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
