French · Nature, Animals & Weather
"Island" in French: île
l'île
Island in French is l'île, feminine: une île grecque, les îles. The circumflex î is required in careful spelling. Île déserte is a desert island.
Holiday plans
On passe une semaine sur une île.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce île
Say it
leel
/il/
Île: eel. With article: leel. Same sound as il without the L ending feel.
"Island" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| l'île | the island Geography. | Geography. |
| une île | an island Indefinite. | Indefinite. |
| les îles | the islands Plural. | Plural. |
| une île déserte | a desert island Fantasy/travel. | Fantasy/travel. |
How to use île in real life
- 1Holiday plans
On passe une semaine sur une île.
We're spending a week on an island.
Une île.
- 2Map talk
L'île est reliée au continent par un pont.
The island is linked to the mainland by a bridge.
L'île.
- 3Photos
Ces îles sont magnifiques vues du bateau.
These islands are gorgeous from the boat.
Ces îles.
Mistakes English speakers make with île
Incorrect: Le île est belle.
Correct: L'île est belle.
Elision: l'île, and île is feminine.
Incorrect: Une island volcanique.
Correct: Une île volcanique.
Use île, not English island.
Good to know
Keep the î in île — French spelling cares about the circumflex. Corsica is often une île in everyday talk; overseas territories use îles too.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Booking a ferry
ChatPal
Tu préfères quelle île pour le week-end ?
Which island do you prefer for the weekend?
You
L'île la plus calme, sans trop de monde.
The calmest island, without too many people.
ChatPal
Cette île a un ferry tôt le matin.
That island has an early morning ferry.
You
Réserve deux places alors.
Book two seats then.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Island" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Island" in French
How do you say island in French?
L'île (feminine).
Why the accent on î?
Standard spelling is île with a circumflex.
How do you say islands?
Les îles.
How do you pronounce île?
eel; l'île ≈ leel.
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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