football
/fut.bol/Europe, masculine
The French word for soccer is football. Wiktionary also lists soccer.
Meaning: game (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| football | /fut.bol/ /fut.bal/ |
Europe, masculine |
| soccer | /sɔ.kœʁ/ (Europe) /sɔ.kɚ/ |
Canada, masculine |
The term refers to the sport of soccer.
Which one should you use?
In most French-speaking regions, the term used is football, whereas soccer is used specifically in Canada to distinguish the sport from American football.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Canada, the term soccer is often used instead of le foot.
How do you pronounce it?
/fut.bol/
Did you know?
- While football refers to the sport, the word ballon is used to describe the physical object. Calling the ball a football in France is rare and sounds like an anglicism.
- The French word ballon is used for soccer but also for any inflated ball, whereas balle is used for smaller balls like those in tennis or golf.
- In casual conversation, French speakers almost always shorten football to le foot. Using the full word football in a social setting can sound overly formal or academic.
Examples in context
- Il joue au football.He plays soccer.Tatoeba #130909 by nimfeo, translation #290024 by CK
- Il adore le football.He loves soccer.This sentence demonstrates expressing an affection for the sport.Tatoeba #130908 by nimfeo, translation #2136093 by CK
- Tom joue au football.Tom is playing soccer.This sentence shows how to use the phrase with a specific subject name.Tatoeba #8703580 by Julien_PDC, translation #6849044 by CK
- Je suis un grand fan de football.I am a big soccer/football fan
- Je regarde un match de foot ce soir.I'm watching a soccer/football match tonight
- Tu joues au soccer cet après-midi?Are you playing soccer this afternoon?
- 130 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about sports at a park.
- NathanTu aimes le football ?Do you like soccer?
- ManonOui, j'adore le football.Yes, I love soccer.
- NathanEst-ce que tu joues au football ?Do you play soccer?
- ManonNon, je regarde juste le football à la télé.No, I just watch soccer on TV.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “soccer” translations and entries football, soccer, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
