les instruments de musique
Here you find a list of vocabulary for 60+ French musical instruments. You’ll find that learning how to say these words is easy as many of them are the same in English or very similar.
To talk about playing a musical instrument use either the verbs jouer (to play) or faire (to make or do). Both verbs are followed by de + instrument name. Examples:
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- Je joue du violin. I play the violin.
- Je joue de la flûte. I play the flute.
- Je fais du piano. I play the piano.
- Je fais de la guitare. I play the guitar.
Table of Contents
String instruments – les Instruments à cordes
- violin le violon
- cello le violoncelle
- electric guitar la guitare électrique
- guitar la guitare
- acoustic guitar la guitare acoustique
- upright base la contrebasse
- viola l’alto
- la harpe la harpe
- mandolin la mandoline
- banjo le banjo
- sitar le sitar
- base guitar la guitare basse
Woodwind instruments – les instruments à vent
- bassoon le basson
- saxophone le saxophone
- oboe le hautbois
- flute la flûte
- piccolo le piccolo
- clarinet la clarinette
- base clarinet la clarinette basse
- recorder la flûte à bec
Brass instruments – les cuivres
- trombone le trombone
- French horn le cor d’harmonie
- English horn le cors anglais
- trumpet la trompette
- bugle le clairon
- tuba le tuba
Keyboard instruments – les instruments à clavier
- piano le piano
- organ l’orgue
- accordion l’accordéon
- electric piano le piano électrique
- harpsichord le clavecin
- electric organ l’orgue électrique
Percussion instruments – les instruments de percussion
- bass drum la grosse caisse
- bongos le bongo
- brush le bali
- castanets les castagnettes
- cymbals les cymbales
- drums, drum set la batterie
- drum sticks les baguettes
- drum la caisse de batterie
- glockenspiel le glockenspiel
- gong le gong
- hi-hat le charleston
- kettle drum la timbale
- marimba le marimba
- pedal la pédale
- sleighbells les grelots
- snare drum la caisse claire
- tambourine le tambourin
- tom-toms les tam-tams
- triangle le triangle
- tubular bells le carillon
- xylophone le xylophone
Other
- harmonica le harmonica
- zither la cithare
Related lessons:
More resources:
If you've found this post useful you might want to considering looking at our post covering the best apps for learning French. We've looked a total 33 apps and have written comprehensive reviews of Rosetta Stone, Pimsleur and FrenchPod101.
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Bonjour! My name is David Issokson. I'm based in Victor, Idaho (near Jackson, Wyoming) and have helped hundreds of students to learn French online since 2013.
