French Musical Instruments Vocabulary

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

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David Issokson

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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