French · Nature, Animals & Weather

"Grass" in French: herbe

l'herbe

Say it: lehrbfeminine · l'herbenoun/ɛʁb/

Grass in French is often l'herbe, feminine. S'asseoir sur l'herbe means to sit on the grass. Pelouse is the lawn, especially a mown park lawn.

Picnic

On s'assoit sur l'herbe près du lac.
We're sitting on the grass by the lake.
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How to pronounce herbe

Say it

lehrb

/ɛʁb/

Herbe: EHRB (silent h). With elision: lehrb. Pelouse: puh-LOOZ.

"Grass" in French: quick reference

FrenchEnglish
l'herbethe grass

General grass / greenery.

sur l'herbeon the grass

Picnics.

la pelousethe lawn

Mown park grass.

herbe coupéefreshly cut grass

Smell / gardening.

How to use herbe in real life

  1. 1Picnic

    On s'assoit sur l'herbe près du lac.

    We're sitting on the grass by the lake.

    Sur l'herbe.

  2. 2Park sign

    Ne marchez pas sur l'herbe ici.

    Don't walk on the grass here.

    Common rule.

  3. 3Garden

    L'herbe pousse trop vite ce printemps.

    The grass is growing too fast this spring.

    L'herbe.

Mistakes English speakers make with herbe

Incorrect: Le herbe est verte.

Correct: L'herbe est verte.

Use elision: l'herbe.

Incorrect: Assieds-toi sur le grass.

Correct: Assieds-toi sur l'herbe.

Use herbe, not English grass.

Good to know

City parks may say Pelouse interdite or Autorisé sur la pelouse. Herbe can also mean weed/herb in cooking (herbes de Provence), so context matters.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Park picnic

  1. ChatPal

    On mange sur l'herbe ?

    Shall we eat on the grass?

  2. You

    Oui, l'herbe est sèche ici.

    Yes, the grass is dry here.

  3. ChatPal

    Parfait, j'étale la couverture.

    Perfect, I'll spread the blanket.

  4. You

    Je sors le panier.

    I'll get the basket out.

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"Grass" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Grass" in French

How do you say grass in French?

L'herbe; lawn often pelouse.

How do you say on the grass?

Sur l'herbe.

Herbe vs pelouse?

Herbe is grass in general; pelouse is a lawn.

How do you pronounce herbe?

EHRB.

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