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Springy French Vocabulary
Easter’s date changes every year: it occurs on the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the vernal equinox – so somewhere between 22 March and 25 April.
In 2021, Easter is on 4 April; next year it will be 17 April. The week immediately preceding Easter (Sunday to Saturday) is called Holy Week. Here’s all the French vocabulary you need to celebrate this Christian period of renewal.
Easter | le Pâques, les Pâques (f) | |
Passover | la Pâque | |
spring | le printemps | |
Lent | le carême | |
Holy Week | la Semaine Sainte | |
Palm Sunday | dimanche des Rameaux Pâques fleuries |
|
Shrove Tuesday | mardi gras | |
Ash Wednesday | mercredi des Cendres | |
Maundy Thursday | jeudi saint | |
Good Friday | vendredi saint | |
Easter Sunday | le dimanche de Pâques | |
Easter Day | le jour de Pâques | |
Easter Monday | lundi de Pâques |
French Easter expressions
Joyeuses Pâques ! Bonnes Pâques ! | Happy Easter! | |
Noël au balcon, Pâques au tison | A warm Christmas means a cold Easter | |
À Pâques ou à la Trinité | very late, never |
basket | un panier | |
to bless | bénir | |
branch | un rameau | |
bunny | un lapin | |
chick | un poussin | |
chocolate | le chocolat | |
chocolate egg | un œuf en chocolat | |
church | une église | |
church bell | une cloche | |
daffodil | une jonquille | |
Easter (adjective) | pascal* | |
Easter brioche | la gâche de Pâques | |
Easter egg hunt | la chasse aux œufs | |
Easter procession | un défilé pascal | |
egg | un œuf | |
fast day | un jour de jeûne | |
to fly | voler | |
flying bell | une cloche volante | |
hen | une poule | |
lamb | un agneau | |
meatless meal | un repas maigre | |
nest | un nid | |
to paint | peindre | |
Pope | le pape | |
pork | le porc | |
priest | prêtre | |
rabbit | un lapin | |
to ring, toll | sonner | |
wing | une aile | |
woven palm leaves | palmes tressées |
* Boys and girls born on or near Easter are often named Pascal and Pascale.
Think you’ve got it? Test yourself on some French Easter terms with this fill-in-the-blank exercise: Joyeuses Pâques
Combine Easter vocabulary with future conjugations in this one: Pâques chez Lise
Or how about a writing challenge? Easter Decorations
Note: You must be logged into your Progress with Lawless French account to do these exercises. If you don’t have one, sign up – it’s free!
French listening practice
- DIY œuf avec message surprise à l’intérieur
- D’où viennent les œufs de Pâques ?
- La chasse aux œufs
- Milo : Les œufs en chocolat
More from LKL
French vocabulary for other holidays

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