How to Say “Stone” in French

Ways to say it

In French, the word you choose for stone depends on the size, type and context of the object. For a general or formal term, use pierre. If you are talking about a small, irregular stone or a pebble, use caillou. For geological formations or large masses of stone, use roche. If you are referring to a specific large, steep or imposing mass of rock, use roc. For a rock, use rocher, for a boulder use gros caillou and for a pebble use gravillon. If the stone is a precious or rare mineral like a gem, use pépite. To describe something constructed of stone, you can use the phrases de pierre or en pierre.

Which one should you use?

There are several distinctions between the forms. Pierre is the most general and formal term. In contrast, caillou is an informal term used specifically for small, irregular stones or pebbles. While roche is used for large masses of stone or geological formations, roc is more literary or dramatic, referring to a crag or a massive, imposing rock.

Related words

Constructed of stone (adj): de pierre, en pierre.

To pelt with stones (verb): lapider.

How does it change in a sentence?

The plural of the feminine noun pierre is pierres. The masculine noun caillou follows a specific rule for words ending in -ou, making its plural cailloux.

How do you pronounce it?

/pjɛʁ/