How to Say "Spruce" in French

épicéa

/e.pi.se.a/masculine

The English word spruce is translated into French as épicéa. Wiktionary also lists épinette.

Meaning: tree from the genus Picea (noun)

Ways to say it

“spruce” in French
French	IPA	Note
épicéa	/e.pi.se.a/	masculine
épinette	/e.pi.nɛt/	Canada, feminine

The term refers to trees from the genus Picea.

While both are conifers, épicéa refers specifically to spruce, whereas sapin refers to fir.

In Canada, particularly in Quebec, the term épinette is commonly used to refer to a spruce tree.

épicéa is a masculine noun, and its plural form is épicéas. The Canadian term épinette is a feminine noun.

The word is pronounced /e.pi.se.a/ and has 4 syllables.

In a non-botanical context, épinette refers to a small keyboard instrument known in English as a spinet.
The Canadian French term épinette is actually a diminutive of épine, meaning 'spine' or 'thorn'. This linguistic connection highlights the prickly, needle-like appearance of the spruce branches.
In the French language, épicéa and pesse are doublets, meaning they both derive from the same Latin root picea.

Le sapin, l'épicéa et le pin font partie des conifères.
The fir, the spruce and the pine are all conifers.
This sentence is useful for distinguishing different types of conifers like the épicéa.
Tatoeba #6071241 by christian63, translation #6381305 by tinowls
« C'est quelle sorte de bois ? » « C'est de l'épicéa. »
"What sort of wood is that?" "It's spruce."
This sentence shows how to identify the type of wood using épicéa.
Tatoeba #12795378 by lbdx, translation #11785332 by sundown
De jeunes arbres ont été plantés dans le parc : tilleuls, érables, épicéas et genévriers.
Young trees were planted in the park: linden, maple, spruce and juniper.
This sentence provides a list of various trees including the plural form épicéas.
Tatoeba #11241483 by lbdx, translation #10457175 by AlanF_US
Ce bois est extrait d'un sapin majestueux.
This wood is extracted from a majestic spruce.
La forêt est peuplée d'épicéas centenaires.
The forest is populated with centennial spruce trees.
La forêt boréale est remplie d'épinettes majestueuses.
The boreal forest is filled with majestic spruce trees.
L'écorce des épicéas est rugueuse et grise.
The bark of the spruce trees is rough and grey.
Un magnifique sapin de Noël.
A beautiful Christmas spruce tree.
Un petit sapin charmant.
A charming little spruce tree.
Les aiguilles du sapin sentent délicieusement la résine.
The spruce's needles smell wonderfully of resin.
Le sapin est un arbre conifère.
Spruce is a coniferous tree.

Emma and Lucas are walking through a forest.

Emma

Regarde cet épicéa, il est immense !
Look at that spruce, it is huge!
Lucas

C'est vrai, il domine tout le paysage.
That's true, it dominates the whole landscape.
Emma

Est-ce qu'il y a d'autres épicéas ici ?
Are there other spruces here?
Lucas

Oui, regarde vers la colline là-bas.
Yes, look towards the hill over there.

Sources

Wiktionary, “spruce” translations and entries épicéa, épinette, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
Word origins: Wiktionary entries épicéa, épinette, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.

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