French · Travel & Getting Around
"Bicycle" in French: vélo
le vélo
Bicycle in French is le vélo. Say à vélo for by bike and faire du vélo for riding. Bicyclette exists but vélo is the everyday word.
Commute
Je vais au bureau à vélo.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce vélo
Say it
vay-LOH
/ve.lo/
vay-LOH. Soft v; stress on lo. Short and clear.
"Bicycle" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| le vélo | the bicycle / bike Default. | Default. |
| à vélo | by bike Transport. | Transport. |
| faire du vélo | to bike / go cycling Activity. | Activity. |
| un vélo électrique | an e-bike Modern option. | Modern option. |
How to use vélo in real life
- 1Commute
Je vais au bureau à vélo.
I go to the office by bike.
À vélo.
- 2Weekend
On fait du vélo le long du canal.
We're cycling along the canal.
Faire du vélo.
- 3Locking up
Attache ton vélo près de l'entrée.
Lock your bike near the entrance.
Ton vélo.
Mistakes English speakers make with vélo
Incorrect: La vélo.
Correct: Le vélo.
Vélo is masculine.
Incorrect: En vélo (common mix-up)
Correct: À vélo.
The set phrase is à vélo for by bike.
Good to know
French cities embrace vélo lanes and Vélib'-style shares. Saying à vélo is as normal as en métro. Helmet habits vary by city and age.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Choosing how to get across town
ChatPal
On y va à vélo ou en bus ?
Shall we go by bike or by bus?
You
À vélo, il fait beau.
By bike—it's nice out.
ChatPal
Ok, je prends mon vélo bleu.
Okay, I'll take my blue bike.
You
Moi le vélo de location.
I'll take the rental bike.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Bicycle" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Bicycle" in French
How do you say bicycle in French?
Le vélo.
How do I say by bike?
À vélo.
How do you say to go cycling?
Faire du vélo.
Is vélo masculine?
Yes.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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