French · Nature, Animals & Weather
"Lake" in French: lac
le lac
Lake in French is le lac, masculine : un lac, au bord du lac. You say le lac d'Annecy or simply le lac when the place is clear. Lac is short and stays lac in the plural : les lacs.
Weekend plans
On va au lac dimanche s'il fait beau.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce lac
Say it
luh lak
/lak/
Lak, like English "lack" without a hard k release. Un lac: uhn lak.
"Lake" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| le lac | the lake Masculine. | Masculine. |
| au lac | to / at the lake Going there. | Going there. |
| au bord du lac | by the lake Location. | Location. |
| les lacs | the lakes Plural. | Plural. |
How to use lac in real life
- 1Weekend plans
On va au lac dimanche s'il fait beau.
We're going to the lake Sunday if the weather's nice.
Au lac for destination.
- 2Describing a view
Le lac est calme ce matin.
The lake is calm this morning.
Le lac as subject.
- 3Giving directions
Le camping est juste au bord du lac.
The campsite is right by the lake.
Au bord du lac.
Mistakes English speakers make with lac
Incorrect: On nage dans la lac.
Correct: On nage dans le lac.
Lac is masculine: le lac.
Incorrect: Je vais à le lac.
Correct: Je vais au lac.
À + le becomes au.
Good to know
French lakes from Annecy to the Vosges are summer escapes. Saying on se baigne dans le lac is normal ; watch local rules about swimming zones.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Arriving for a picnic by the water
ChatPal
Tu vois le lac derrière les arbres ?
Do you see the lake behind the trees?
You
Oui. On s'installe au bord du lac ?
Yes. Shall we set up by the lake?
ChatPal
Parfait. L'eau du lac doit être fraîche.
Perfect. The lake water must be chilly.
You
Je trempe juste les pieds alors.
I'll just dip my feet 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"Lake" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Lake" in French
Is lac masculine?
Yes: le lac, un lac.
How do I say to the lake?
Au lac.
How do you say by the lake?
Au bord du lac.
Does lac change in the plural?
Add s: les lacs.
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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