French · Nature, Animals & Weather
"Horse" in French: cheval
le cheval
Horse in French is le cheval, masculine. The plural is les chevaux. À cheval means on horseback. You hear it in countryside and sports talk.
At a riding school
Je monte à cheval le samedi matin.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce cheval
Say it
luh shuh-VAL
/ʃə.val/
Shuh-VAL. Ch like sh, and al as al. Plural chevaux: shuh-VOH.
"Horse" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| le cheval | the horse Singular. | Singular. |
| les chevaux | the horses Plural -aux. | Plural -aux. |
| à cheval | on horseback Riding. | Riding. |
| un cheval de trait | a draft horse Type. | Type. |
How to use cheval in real life
- 1At a riding school
Je monte à cheval le samedi matin.
I ride horseback on Saturday mornings.
À cheval.
- 2Farm visit
Le cheval dans le pré s'appelle Hugo.
The horse in the field is called Hugo.
Le cheval.
- 3Watching a show
Ces chevaux sont magnifiques au galop.
These horses are magnificent at a gallop.
Chevaux plural.
Mistakes English speakers make with cheval
Incorrect: Les chevals sont dehors.
Correct: Les chevaux sont dehors.
Plural of cheval is chevaux.
Incorrect: La cheval est noir.
Correct: Le cheval est noir.
Cheval is masculine.
Good to know
France has deep equestrian culture from Camargue horses to Paris racecourses. Saying faire du cheval means to ride as a hobby.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Visiting a countryside stable
ChatPal
Tu veux caresser le cheval ?
Do you want to stroke the horse?
You
Doucement. Ce cheval a l'air calme.
Gently. This horse looks calm.
ChatPal
Oui. Plus tard on voit les autres chevaux.
Yes. Later we'll see the other horses.
You
Super. J'apporte une carotte.
Great. I'll bring a carrot.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Horse" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Horse" in French
What is the plural of cheval?
Chevaux.
How do I say on horseback?
À cheval.
Is cheval masculine?
Yes: le cheval.
How do you pronounce cheval?
Shuh-VAL.
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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