French · Nature, Animals & Weather
"Heat" in French: chaleur
la chaleur
Heat in French is la chaleur, feminine. Quelle chaleur ! is the go-to complaint on a hot day. Une vague de chaleur is a heat wave.
Leaving a metro station
La chaleur dans le métro est insupportable.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce chaleur
Say it
sha-LUR
/ʃa.lœʁ/
Chaleur: sha-LUR. Soft ch; the eu is like the u in fur for many speakers. Final r is soft.
"Heat" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| la chaleur | the heat Weather and temperature feel. | Weather and temperature feel. |
| quelle chaleur ! | what heat! / it's so hot! Instant reaction outdoors. | Instant reaction outdoors. |
| une vague de chaleur | a heat wave News and forecasts. | News and forecasts. |
| la chaleur étouffante | stifling heat Extra-strong complaint. | Extra-strong complaint. |
How to use chaleur in real life
- 1Leaving a metro station
La chaleur dans le métro est insupportable.
The heat in the metro is unbearable.
Common city gripe.
- 2Planning a hike
On part tôt pour éviter la chaleur.
We're leaving early to avoid the heat.
Éviter la chaleur = dodge midday heat.
- 3Kitchen comment
Ferme le four, ça dégage trop de chaleur.
Close the oven—it's giving off too much heat.
Heat from appliances too.
Mistakes English speakers make with chaleur
Incorrect: Il y a beaucoup de heat dehors.
Correct: Il y a beaucoup de chaleur dehors.
Use chaleur, not English heat.
Incorrect: Le chaleur est forte.
Correct: La chaleur est forte.
Chaleur is feminine: la chaleur.
Good to know
Summer chatter in France circles chaleur, canicule, and seeking l'ombre. Shops may close for a pause during peak heat; water fountains and parks become meeting points.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Meeting outdoors at noon
ChatPal
Quelle chaleur aujourd'hui !
What heat today!
You
Oui, cette chaleur me donne mal à la tête.
Yes, this heat is giving me a headache.
ChatPal
On se met à l'ombre ? La chaleur sera moins rude.
Shall we sit in the shade? The heat will be less harsh.
You
Bonne idée, j'apporte de l'eau.
Good idea—I'll bring water.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Heat" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Heat" in French
How do you say heat in French?
La chaleur.
How do you say it's so hot?
Quelle chaleur ! or Il fait très chaud.
How do you say heat wave?
Une vague de chaleur, or une canicule for a severe spell.
How do you pronounce chaleur?
sha-LUR.
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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