orthographe
/ɔʁ.to.ɡʁaf/feminine
The French word for spelling is orthographe.
orthographe refers to the subject of orthography or the system of correct written forms. While it describes the correctness of writing, the verb épeler is used when you are actually reciting the letters of a word aloud. To refer to a digital spelling checker, you would use correcteur orthographique.
Meaning: the practice, ability, or subject of forming words with letters, or of reading the letters of words, orthography (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
French speakers in France predominantly use orthographe as the standard term for spelling.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'a spelling mistake', you link the noun faute (mistake) with orthographe using the preposition de (d'), resulting in une faute d'orthographe.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɔʁ.to.ɡʁaf/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using orthographe to refer to the physical action of 'spelling out' a word. Instead, use the verb épeler for that action.
Did you know?
- The French Academy, or Académie française, periodically suggests reforms to simplify orthographe by removing unnecessary letters, but these changes are often resisted by the public.
- Unlike English where 'spelling' can be a hobby (like spelling bees), orthographe in France is viewed more as a rigid academic requirement and a marker of social class.
- Because orthographe is notoriously difficult, the French have a dedicated term dictée for the school exercise of writing down a text read aloud to test spelling.
Examples in context
- Il y a ici une faute d'orthographe.There's a spelling mistake here.This sentence shows how to identify a spelling mistake using orthographe.Tatoeba #1103546 by sacredceltic, translation #8160153 by TheNightAvl
- Je suis pas très bon en orthographe.I'm not very good at spelling.This sentence describes a person's ability or skill in orthographe.Tatoeba #11991304 by marmarell, translation #8382701 by CK
- Nous corrigeons les fautes d'orthographe.We are correcting spelling mistakes.This sentence demonstrates the act of correcting mistakes related to orthographe.Tatoeba #8603107 by Micsmithel, translation #1700600 by Amastan
- L'orthographe de ce mot est complexe.The spelling of this word is complex.
- Pouvez-vous épeler votre nom, s'il vous plaît?Can you spell your name, please?
- Mon correcteur orthographique me corrige constamment.My spelling checker keeps correcting me all the time.
- 40 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa is helping Nathan with his French homework.
- LéaTu as fait une erreur d'orthographe ici.You made a spelling mistake here.
- NathanAh mince, l'orthographe est difficile pour moi.Oh shoot, spelling is difficult for me.
- LéaC'est normal, il y a beaucoup de règles.That's normal, there are a lot of rules.
- NathanMerci de m'aider, Léa.Thank you for helping me, Léa.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “spelling” translations and entries orthographe, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
