French Architecture Terms

Lexique de l’architecture

On this page you will find a complete list of French vocabulary words for architecture styles and building types. Almost all of the words associated with architecture (l’architecture) are the same in English and French. This is because a lot of the words in English were borrowed from French before and during the Renaissance period.

Vocabulary list

When sightseeing in France you might find some of these terms useful.

gothique gothic
baroque baroque
Renaissance Renaissance
rococo rococo
néoclassique neoclassic
art nouveau art nouveau
art déco art deco
le frontation pediment
la frise frieze
l’arc arch
le chœur choir
l’architrave architrave
le fleuron finial
la colonne pillar
la corniche cornice
la tour tower
le pignon gable
la flèche spire
la tourelle turret
la douve moat
le dôme dome
la cathédrale cathedrale
le gratte-ciel sky-scraper
le bâtiment building
le château chateau/castle
l’église church
la mosquée mosque
le temple temple
la synagogue synagogue
le pont bridge

David Issokson is a lifelong language enthusiast. His head is swimming with words and sounds as he speaks over six languages. Of all the languages he speaks, he's the most passionate about French! David has helped hundreds of students to improve their French in his private online lessons. When procrastinating working on his site, FrenchLearner.com, David enjoys his time skiing and hiking in Teton Valley, Idaho.

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