Vocabulary Lesson

French Technology Vocabulary

In this short lesson, you'll master essential technology vocabulary in French. After learning the words, use the flashcards or quiz to reinforce your knowledge.

A1-C1 Audio Included Quiz Flashcards
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French Technology Vocabulary

Start with the most common words, then expand your knowledge with intermediate and advanced vocabulary.

Beginner (A1)

  • internet l'internet
  • computer l'ordinateur
  • screen l'écran
  • mouse la souris
  • keyboard le clavier
  • email le mail
  • laptop le portable
  • headphones les écouteurs

Elementary (A2)

  • speaker l'enceinte
  • printer l'imprimante
  • battery la batterie
  • camera la caméra
  • USB drive la clé USB
  • attachment la pièce jointe
  • tablet la tablette
  • webcam la webcam
  • bluetooth le bluetooth
  • charger le chargeur
  • cable le câble
  • folder le dossier
  • file le fichier
  • microphone le microphone
  • password le mot de passe
  • browser le navigateur
  • robot le robot
  • scanner le scanner
  • website le site web
  • smartphone le smartphone
  • download le téléchargement
  • wifi le wifi

Intermediate & Advanced (B1-C1)

  • application l'application
  • screenshot la capture d'écran
  • update la mise à jour
  • memory la mémoire
  • backup la sauvegarde
  • bug le bug
  • cloud le cloud
  • code le code
  • cookie le cookie
  • hard drive le disque dur
  • drone le drone
  • developer le développeur/la développeuse
  • software le logiciel
  • hardware le matériel
  • modem le modem
  • monitor le moniteur
  • touchpad le pavé tactile
  • pixel le pixel
  • network le réseau
  • spam le spam
  • storage le stockage
  • upload le téléversement
  • fan le ventilateur
  • virus le virus
  • data les données
  • power supply l'alimentation
  • wearable l’objet connecté
  • interface l'interface
  • bandwidth la bande passante
  • database la base de données
  • graphic card la carte graphique
  • motherboard la carte mère
  • RAM la mémoire vive
  • programming la programmation
  • startup la startup
  • VPN le VPN
  • sensor le capteur
  • framework le framework
  • malware le logiciel malveillant
  • firewall le pare-feu
  • hacker le pirate informatique
  • processor le processeur
  • router le routeur
  • script le script
  • server le serveur
  • algorithm l'algorithme
  • artificial intelligence l'intelligence artificielle
  • cybersecurity la cybersécurité
  • augmented reality la réalité augmentée
  • virtual reality la réalité virtuelle
  • encryption le chiffrement

Practice What You've Learned

Review your French technology vocabulary and test your knowledge with interactive practice.

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Put your new technology vocabulary into practice and see how many words you can remember.

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Practice with flashcards

Review French technology vocabulary and strengthen your memory with interactive flashcards.

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Example Sentences

In proper context. With highlighted verbs and adjectives.

Beginner & Elementary (A1-A2)

Basic sentences introducing everyday verbs and descriptive adjectives related to technology.

  • Je télécharge un fichier sur mon ordinateur. I am downloading a file onto my computer.
  • Il clique sur le lien avec la souris. He clicks on the link with the mouse.
  • Tu imprimes le document ce matin. You are printing the document this morning.
  • Nous rechargeons la batterie du portable. We are recharging the laptop battery.
  • Vous tapez le mot de passe sur le clavier. You type the password on the keyboard.
  • Mon nouvel ordinateur est très rapide. My new computer is very fast.
  • L'écran de la tablette est cassé. The tablet screen is broken.
  • Ce site web est vraiment utile pour étudier. This website is really useful for studying.
  • Ma batterie est complètement vide. My battery is completely empty.
  • La connexion wifi est très lente ici. The wifi connection is very slow here.

Intermediate & Advanced (B1-C1)

More complex technology contexts featuring technical verbs and descriptive adjectives.

  • Le développeur corrigera ce bug dans la prochaine mise à jour. The developer will fix this bug in the next update.
  • Nous sauvegardons nos données sur le cloud chaque soir. We back up our data to the cloud every evening.
  • L'entreprise chiffre toutes les informations confidentielles. The company encrypts all confidential information.
  • Cet algorithme analyse le comportement des utilisateurs. This algorithm analyzes user behavior.
  • Vous devez configurer le pare-feu avant de vous connecter au réseau. You must configure the firewall before connecting to the network.
  • La mémoire vive de ce serveur est insuffisante. The RAM on this server is insufficient.
  • Cette application utilise une technologie innovante. This application uses innovative technology.
  • Le réseau sans fil de l'université est sécurisé. The university wireless network is secure.
  • La carte graphique est compatible avec ce processeur. The graphics card is compatible with this processor.
  • L'intelligence artificielle devient de plus en plus puissante. Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly powerful.

Frequently Asked Questions

Essential guide to navigating technology and computing terms in French.

In daily speech, French tech terminology mixes official French words with widespread loanwords:

  • Le mail / le courriel: While "le courriel" is official (especially in Quebec and formal French), "le mail" or "l'email" is widely used in everyday conversation in France.
  • Envoyer un mail: "To send an email."
  • Une pièce jointe: "An email attachment."
  • En copie (CC): "Carbon copy", used when adding someone in CC.

Here are essential verbs used daily when interacting with software and digital devices:

  • Cliquer (sur): To click (on a button or link).
  • Télécharger: To download content from the internet onto a local device.
  • Téléverser / Importer: To upload content from a local device to a server or cloud.
  • Sauvegarder: To save or back up files to prevent data loss.
  • Supprimer: To delete a file, email, or application.

Protecting digital data requires specific terminology in French-speaking personal and professional settings:

  • Le mot de passe: Password (often abbreviated as "MdP" in online forms).
  • Le chiffrement: Encryption, the process of securing data.
  • Le pare-feu: Firewall, which protects networks against unauthorized access.
  • Un logiciel malveillant / un virus: Malware / virus.
  • La double authentification: Two-factor authentication (2FA).

The word "portable" functions as an adjective meaning "portable" and as a noun for mobile devices:

  • Le portable / le téléphone portable: Commonly refers to a mobile phone or smartphone in everyday speech.
  • L'ordinateur portable: Refers specifically to a laptop computer.
  • Le smartphone: Borrowed from English and widely used alongside "portable" for touch-screen mobile devices.
  • La tablette: Refers specifically to a tablet computer like an iPad.

Language regulatory bodies in France (Académie française) and Quebec (OQLF) actively promote French alternatives to English tech jargon:

  • L'ordinateur: Coined in 1955 by linguist Jacques Perret to translate "computer" instead of adopting the English term.
  • Le logiciel: Coined to replace "software", blending "logique" (logic) and "matériel" (hardware).
  • Le bogue / bug: Officially "bogue" in formal language, though "bug" remains ubiquitous in casual speech.
  • L'infonuagique / le cloud: "Infonuagique" is the official French term for cloud computing, though "le cloud" is common in France.

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