Level A1-A2 (Beginner)
Updated December 18, 2025 — Lesson written by French teacher David Issokson for students who want to learn French online, with native audio by Marie Assel Cambier, a voice artist from France.
This definitive guide features all the French Christmas vocabulary including 70 words and phrases you must know for this holiday season. Joyeux Noël !
As an online French Teacher and founder of FrenchLearner.com, I created this list of vocabulary and traditions. I personally curated this resource with the goal of helping students master pronunciation with native audio by professional voice artist Marie Assel Cambier
✨ Complete French Christmas Vocabulary & Phrases
💌 French Christmas Greetings & Wishes
- Joyeux Noël! Merry Christmas!
- Joyeuses Fêtes / Bonnes Fêtes de Fin d’Année! Happy Holidays!
- Meilleurs Vœux! Seasons Greetings!
🎅 The Holiday Season (Le Temps des Fêtes)
- Noël Christmas
- le vingt-cinq décembre December 25
- la soirée du 24 décembre Christmas Eve
- les fêtes de fin d’année holiday season
- le réveillon de Noël Christmas Eve
- le Jour de Noël Christmas Day
- le Père Noël Santa Claus
- Saint Nicolas
- les traditions de Noël Christmas traditions
🎄 The Christmas Tree (Le Sapin de Noël)
- le sapin de Noël Christmas tree
- 🎁 le cadeau de Noël Christmas gift
- le papier cadeau wrapping paper
- la boule de Noël Christmas tree bulb
- l’objet décoratif ornament
- l’étoile star
- 👼 l’ange angel
- le santon saint figurine
- la chaussette de Noël Christmas stocking
- le sommet du sapin the top of the tree
- la guirlande de Noël Christmas wreath, tinsel
- le sapin artificiel fake plastic Christmas tree
- les cheveux d’anges tinsel strands
🎀 French Christmas Decorations
- les guirlandes électriques Christmas lights (outdoor/indoor)
- la carte de vœux greeting card
- ☃️ un bonhomme de neige snowman
- le ruban ribbon
- le sucre d’orge candy cane
- le bonhomme de pain d’épice gingerbread man
- la bougie candle
- le gui mistletoe
- ❄️ la neige snow
- la crèche nativity scene
- le berger shepherd
- le berceau manger
- le traîneau sleigh
🍽️ French Christmas Food & Dinner
- le foie gras le foie gras
- le repas de Noël, le souper de Noël (Canada) Christmas dinner
- les huîtres oysters
- le saumon fumé smoked salmon
- l’oie (f) goose
- le pain calendal Christmas loaf
- le magret de canard duck breast
- le homard lobster
- 🦃 la dinde turkey
- la farce stuffing
- la sauce le jus de viande gravy
- la sauce aux canneberges cranberry sauce
- le rôti de bœuf, rosbif roast beef
- le jambon ham
- la bûche de Noël Yule log
- le lait de poule egg nog
⛪ Religious & Traditional Vocabulary
- l’église (f) church
- le christianisme Christianity
- la messe de minuit midnight mass
- la naissance birth
- Jésus de Nazareth Jesus of Nazareth
- la ville de Bethléem The city of Bethlehem
- le solstice d’hiver winter solstice
➡️ Common French Christmas Verbs
- croire au Père Noël to believe in Santa Claus
- fêter Noël to celebrate Christmas
- échanger les cadeaux to exchange gifts
- déballer un cadeau to unwrap a gift
- partager un repas to share a meal
- 🧸 jouer avec les jouets to play with the toys
- aller à l’église to go to church
French Christmas Vocabulary — Reference Card
This reference card shows the most common French Christmas words and helps you quickly recognize festive vocabulary during the holidays.
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🔗 More Christmas lessons:
🔤 Word of the Day Christmas Lessons
👉 Noël — Christmas »
👉 Joyeux Noël — Merry Christmas »
👉 Le sapin de Noël — Christmas Tree »
👉 La boule de Noël — Christmas tree ornament »
👉 Père Noël — Santa Claus »
👉 Bûche de Noël — yule log »
👉 Saumon fumé — smoked salmon »
👉 Les huitres — oysters »
👉 Foie gras »
👉 Cadeau — present »
👉 Réveillon — Christmas and New Year’s Eve dinners »
🎶 Christmas Songs & Culture
👉 French Christmas Songs (full list)
👉 Petit Papa Noël
👉 Douce nuit, sainte nuit
🎊 New Year’s
👉 Bonne Année — Happy New Year »
👉 Meilleurs vœux — best wishes »
🚀 Continue growing your French vocabulary!
👉 French Word of the Day »
👉 French Vocabulary lists »
👉 French for beginners guide »
👉 French song lyrics hub »
👉 French conjugations hub
French Christmas Vocabulary — FAQ
How do you say “Happy Holidays” or “Merry Christmas” in French?
The most common greeting is Joyeux Noël! You can also wish someone Joyeuses Fêtes or Bonnes Fêtes de Fin d’Année (Happy Holidays), or offer Meilleurs Vœux! (Season’s Greetings)
What are traditional French Christmas foods?
A traditional French Christmas dinner (le repas de Noël or le réveillon de Noël) includes delicacies like le foie gras, les huîtres (oysters), and poultry like la dinde (turkey) or l’oie (goose). The dessert centerpiece is always la bûche de Noël (Yule log cake).
What is the French name for Santa Claus, and when are gifts opened?
Santa Claus in French is le Père Noël. He traditionally delivers le cadeau de Noël (Christmas gift) on la soirée du 24 décembre (Christmas Eve) or le Jour de Noël (Christmas Day).
What are some common French Christmas decorations?
Key decorations include le sapin de Noël (Christmas tree), la crèche (nativity scene), and les boules de Noël (ornaments). Homes are also decorated with les guirlandes électriques (Christmas lights) and sometimes le gui (mistletoe).
D’accord! Merci, Manu A!