French · Travel & Getting Around

"Castle" in French: château

le château

Say it: shah-TOHmasculine · le châteaunoun/ʃɑ.to/

Castle in French is le château, masculine: un château de la Loire. Plural is châteaux with x. Château fort stresses a fortified castle.

Weekend trip

On visite un château dimanche matin.
We're visiting a castle Sunday morning.
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How to pronounce château

Say it

shah-TOH

/ʃɑ.to/

Château: shah-TOH. Soft ch; ô like o in note. Plural châteaux same sound.

"Castle" in French: quick reference

FrenchEnglish
le châteauthe castle / château

Palace-style or fortress.

un château forta fortified castle

Medieval fort.

les châteauxthe castles

Plural in -x.

visiter un châteauto visit a castle

Tourism.

How to use château in real life

  1. 1Weekend trip

    On visite un château dimanche matin.

    We're visiting a castle Sunday morning.

    Un château.

  2. 2Photo stop

    Le château se reflète dans la rivière.

    The castle is reflected in the river.

    Le château.

  3. 3History talk

    Ces châteaux datent du seizième siècle.

    These castles date from the sixteenth century.

    Châteaux plural.

Mistakes English speakers make with château

Incorrect: La château est grand.

Correct: Le château est grand.

Château is masculine.

Incorrect: Des châteaus magnifiques.

Correct: Des châteaux magnifiques.

Plural takes x: châteaux.

Good to know

Châteaux de la Loire are a classic trip. In wine talk, château can also mean an estate — context tells fortress vs winery.

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Planning a Loire day

  1. ChatPal

    On commence par quel château ?

    Which castle do we start with?

  2. You

    Le château le plus proche de la gare.

    The castle closest to the station.

  3. ChatPal

    Ensuite on enchaîne sur un autre château.

    Then we'll continue to another castle.

  4. You

    Parfait, j'apporte mon appareil.

    Perfect — I'll bring my camera.

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"Castle" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Castle" in French

How do you say castle in French?

Le château (masculine).

How do you spell the plural?

Châteaux (with x).

What is a château fort?

A fortified / medieval castle.

How do you pronounce château?

shah-TOH.

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  4. Step 4: Use it in real scenarios

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