A peony is a beautiful flower known for its vibrant colors and sweet fragrance. It’s a popular bloom in gardens around the world, especially during spring and early summer. If you’re learning French, you might want to know how to say “peony” in French, especially if you enjoy discussing flowers or want to talk about your garden.
In French, the word for peony is “pivoine.” This word sounds quite different from its English counterpart, but it’s easy to remember once you learn how to pronounce it. Whether you’re talking about flowers in your garden or describing a bouquet, knowing how to say “pivoine” will help you sound more fluent in French and make your conversations more interesting.
Ways to say “Peony” in French
Here are several ways to say “peony” in French, along with their pronunciation, meaning, and examples of how you can use them in sentences.
1. Pivoine (pee-vwah-n)
- Meaning: The standard word for “peony” in French.
- In a Sentence:
- “J’ai planté une pivoine dans mon jardin.” (I planted a peony in my garden.)
- “Les pivoines sont magnifiques au printemps.” (Peonies are beautiful in the spring.)
2. Pivoine de Chine (pee-vwah-n duh sheen)
- Meaning: This refers to the Chinese peony, a specific variety.
- In a Sentence:
- “La pivoine de Chine est connue pour ses grandes fleurs.” (The Chinese peony is known for its large flowers.)
- “Elle adore les pivoines de Chine.” (She loves Chinese peonies.)
3. Pivoine herbacée (pee-vwah-n air-bah-say)
- Meaning: Herbaceous peony, a type of peony that dies back to the ground each winter.
- In a Sentence:
- “La pivoine herbacée fleurit chaque printemps.” (The herbaceous peony blooms every spring.)
- “Les pivoines herbacées sont très faciles à cultiver.” (Herbaceous peonies are very easy to grow.)
4. Pivoine arbustive (pee-vwah-n ar-boos-teev)
- Meaning: Tree peony, a variety that grows like a shrub.
- In a Sentence:
- “Les pivoines arbustives sont plus grandes que les autres.” (Tree peonies are larger than the others.)
- “La pivoine arbustive a des fleurs magnifiques.” (The tree peony has beautiful flowers.)
5. Pivoine à fleurs doubles (pee-vwah-n ah flur doo-bluh)
- Meaning: Peony with double flowers, a variety that has extra petals.
- In a Sentence:
- “Elle a acheté des pivoines à fleurs doubles.” (She bought double-flowered peonies.)
- “Les pivoines à fleurs doubles sont particulièrement élégantes.” (Double-flowered peonies are particularly elegant.)
6. Pivoine de jardin (pee-vwah-n duh zhar-dahn)
- Meaning: Garden peony, a common type of peony grown in gardens.
- In a Sentence:
- “J’ai vu des pivoines de jardin chez mon voisin.” (I saw garden peonies at my neighbor’s.)
- “Les pivoines de jardin sont les plus populaires.” (Garden peonies are the most popular.)
7. Pivoine rose (pee-vwah-n rohz)
- Meaning: Pink peony, referring to a specific color of peony.
- In a Sentence:
- “La pivoine rose est ma fleur préférée.” (The pink peony is my favorite flower.)
- “Elle a décoré sa maison avec des pivoines roses.” (She decorated her house with pink peonies.)
8. Pivoine blanche (pee-vwah-n blahnsh)
- Meaning: White peony, referring to a peony with white petals.
- In a Sentence:
- “Les pivoines blanches sont parfaites pour un mariage.” (White peonies are perfect for a wedding.)
- “J’aime planter des pivoines blanches près de ma porte.” (I like planting white peonies near my door.)
9. Pivoine parfumée (pee-vwah-n par-fyoo-may)
- Meaning: Fragrant peony, referring to peonies that have a strong, pleasant scent.
- In a Sentence:
- “Cette pivoine parfumée embaume toute la pièce.” (This fragrant peony fills the room with scent.)
- “Les pivoines parfumées sont idéales pour les bouquets.” (Fragrant peonies are ideal for bouquets.)
10. Pivoine géante (pee-vwah-n zhee-ant)
- Meaning: Giant peony, referring to particularly large peonies.
- In a Sentence:
- “Les pivoines géantes peuvent mesurer jusqu’à 50 cm de large.” (Giant peonies can grow up to 50 cm wide.)
- “Elle a une pivoine géante dans son jardin.” (She has a giant peony in her garden.)
11. Pivoine à fleurs simples (pee-vwah-n ah flur sahm-pluh)
- Meaning: Single-flowered peony, a variety with fewer petals.
- In a Sentence:
- “J’aime les pivoines à fleurs simples car elles semblent naturelles.” (I like single-flowered peonies because they look natural.)
- “Les pivoines à fleurs simples sont moins courantes.” (Single-flowered peonies are less common.)
12. Pivoine tigrée (pee-vwah-n tee-gray)
- Meaning: Tiger-striped peony, a rare variety with unique streaked petals.
- In a Sentence:
- “Cette pivoine tigrée a des couleurs étonnantes.” (This tiger-striped peony has stunning colors.)
- “Les pivoines tigrées sont très prisées des collectionneurs.” (Tiger-striped peonies are highly sought after by collectors.)
13. Pivoine du Japon (pee-vwah-n dyoo zha-pon)
- Meaning: Japanese peony, referring to a specific variety native to Japan.
- In a Sentence:
- “La pivoine du Japon est très populaire au printemps.” (The Japanese peony is very popular in spring.)
- “Il a planté plusieurs pivoines du Japon dans son jardin.” (He planted several Japanese peonies in his garden.)
14. Pivoine hybride (pee-vwah-n eeb-ree-d)
- Meaning: Hybrid peony, referring to a crossbreed variety.
- In a Sentence:
- “Les pivoines hybrides sont souvent plus résistantes.” (Hybrid peonies are often more resilient.)
- “Les pivoines hybrides peuvent avoir une grande variété de couleurs.” (Hybrid peonies can come in a wide range of colors.)
15. Pivoine sauvage (pee-vwah-n sah-vahj)
- Meaning: Wild peony, referring to a naturally occurring variety of peony.
- In a Sentence:
- “La pivoine sauvage pousse dans les forêts de montagne.” (The wild peony grows in the mountain forests.)
- “Les pivoines sauvages sont moins cultivées que les autres.” (Wild peonies are less cultivated than the others.)
16. Pivoine de printemps (pee-vwah-n duh prahn-tahmp)
- Meaning: Spring peony, referring to a variety that blooms in the spring.
- In a Sentence:
- “Les pivoines de printemps annoncent l’arrivée du beau temps.” (Spring peonies signal the arrival of good weather.)
- “Elle adore les pivoines de printemps, surtout celles aux couleurs vives.” (She loves spring peonies, especially those with bright colors.)
17. Pivoine double (pee-vwah-n doo-bluh)
- Meaning: Double peony, a variety with extra petals.
- In a Sentence:
- “La pivoine double est une fleur magnifique et dense.” (The double peony is a magnificent and dense flower.)
- “Il a planté plusieurs pivoines doubles dans son jardin.” (He planted several double peonies in his garden.)
18. Pivoine de couleur vive (pee-vwah-n duh koo-lur veev)
- Meaning: Bright-colored peony, referring to a peony with vivid colors.
- In a Sentence:
- “Les pivoines de couleur vive illuminent le jardin.” (Bright-colored peonies brighten up the garden.)
- “Elle a acheté des pivoines de couleur vive pour son balcon.” (She bought bright-colored peonies for her balcony.)
19. Pivoine fleurie (pee-vwah-n fluh-ree)
- Meaning: Flowery peony, used to emphasize a peony in full bloom.
- In a Sentence:
- “La pivoine fleurie est un symbole du printemps.” (The flowery peony is a symbol of spring.)
- “Ils ont pris une photo de la pivoine fleurie.” (They took a picture of the flowery peony.)
20. Pivoine précieuse (pee-vwah-n preh-syu-uhs)
- Meaning: Precious peony, used for particularly rare or valuable peonies.
- In a Sentence:
- “Elle a trouvé une pivoine précieuse dans une pépinière.” (She found a precious peony at a nursery.)
- “Les pivoines précieuses sont très recherchées.” (Precious peonies are highly sought after.)
21. Pivoine d’Orient (pee-vwah-n doh-ree-ahn)
- Meaning: Oriental peony, referring to a type of peony native to Asia.
- In a Sentence:
- “La pivoine d’Orient a une forme très élégante.” (The Oriental peony has a very elegant shape.)
- “Les pivoines d’Orient sont couramment cultivées en Chine.” (Oriental peonies are commonly grown in China.)
22. Pivoine d’été (pee-vwah-n day-tay)
- Meaning: Summer peony, referring to peonies that bloom in summer.
- In a Sentence:
- “Les pivoines d’été ont une couleur éclatante.” (Summer peonies have a vibrant color.)
- “Nous avons planté des pivoines d’été autour du lac.” (We planted summer peonies around the lake.)
23. Pivoine à pétales multiples (pee-vwah-n ah pet-al mool-tee-pl)
- Meaning: Multi-petaled peony, a variety with many petals.
- In a Sentence:
- “Les pivoines à pétales multiples ont une apparence dense.” (Multi-petaled peonies have a dense appearance.)
- “Elle adore les pivoines à pétales multiples.” (She loves multi-petaled peonies.)
24. Pivoine persane (pee-vwah-n per-zahn)
- Meaning: Persian peony, a type that originates from Persia (modern-day Iran).
- In a Sentence:
- “Les pivoines persanes ont des pétales larges et colorés.” (Persian peonies have large, colorful petals.)
- “Elle a une pivoine persane dans son jardin.” (She has a Persian peony in her garden.)
25. Pivoine cultivée (pee-vwah-n kool-tee-vay)
- Meaning: Cultivated peony, referring to peonies grown for ornamental purposes.
- In a Sentence:
- “Les pivoines cultivées sont souvent plus grandes que les sauvages.” (Cultivated peonies are often larger than wild ones.)
- “Ils ont un magnifique champ de pivoines cultivées.” (They have a beautiful field of cultivated peonies.)
Other Ways to Say “Peony” in French
Here are Other Ways to Say “Peony” in French, organized into a markdown table with pronunciation, meanings, and example sentences:
| Other ways to say | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example Sentences |
| Pivoine à grande fleur | (pee-vwah-n ah grahnd flur) | Large-flowered peony, a variety with big, showy blooms. | “Les pivoines à grande fleur attirent tous les regards.” (Large-flowered peonies attract all eyes.)”Elle a planté des pivoines à grande fleur près de son portail.” (She planted large-flowered peonies near her gate.) |
| Pivoine d’automne | (pee-vwah-n doh-tohn) | Autumn peony, a type that blooms later in the year. | “Les pivoines d’automne sont rares mais magnifiques.” (Autumn peonies are rare but beautiful.)”J’ai vu des pivoines d’automne au marché.” (I saw autumn peonies at the market.) |
| Pivoine de Hollande | (pee-vwah-n duh hoh-lahnd) | Dutch peony, referring to a variety of peony grown in the Netherlands. | “La pivoine de Hollande est une fleur très robuste.” (The Dutch peony is a very sturdy flower.)”Il a des pivoines de Hollande dans son jardin.” (He has Dutch peonies in his garden.) |
| Pivoine à grandes pétales | (pee-vwah-n ah grahnd pet-al) | Peony with large petals. | “Les pivoines à grandes pétales sont incroyablement belles.” (Peonies with large petals are incredibly beautiful.)”Elle préfère les pivoines à grandes pétales aux autres.” (She prefers peonies with large petals to the others.) |
| Pivoine estivale | (pee-vwah-n eh-stee-val) | Summer peony, typically blooming during the summer months. | “La pivoine estivale est un classique du jardin d’été.” (The summer peony is a classic in the summer garden.)”Nous avons décoré la table avec des pivoines estivales.” (We decorated the table with summer peonies.) |
| Pivoine à fleurs de soie | (pee-vwah-n ah flur duh swah) | Silk-flowered peony, a term for a very delicate, almost silky flower. | “Les pivoines à fleurs de soie sont si fragiles.” (Silk-flowered peonies are so fragile.)”Elle aime les pivoines à fleurs de soie pour leur douceur.” (She likes silk-flowered peonies for their softness.) |
| Pivoine géorgienne | (pee-vwah-n zhor-zhyen) | Georgian peony, referring to a historical variety named after Georgia. | “La pivoine géorgienne est célèbre pour ses couleurs vives.” (The Georgian peony is famous for its bright colors.)”J’ai trouvé une pivoine géorgienne dans un vieux jardin.” (I found a Georgian peony in an old garden.) |
| Pivoine sauvage de montagne | (pee-vwah-n sah-vahj duh mohn-ta-nye) | Mountain wild peony, a variety that grows in higher altitudes. | “Les pivoines sauvages de montagne sont protégées.” (Mountain wild peonies are protected.)”Ils ont trouvé des pivoines sauvages de montagne en randonnée.” (They found mountain wild peonies while hiking.) |
| Pivoine royale | (pee-vwah-n ro-yahl) | Royal peony, a term for particularly magnificent or rare peonies. | “La pivoine royale a des pétales d’une couleur étonnante.” (The royal peony has petals of an astonishing color.)”Elle a reçu une pivoine royale pour son anniversaire.” (She received a royal peony for her birthday.) |
| Pivoine parfumée de Chine | (pee-vwah-n par-fyoo-may duh sheen) | Fragrant Chinese peony, referring to a peony variety from China. | “La pivoine parfumée de Chine emplit toute la pièce.” (The fragrant Chinese peony fills the entire room.)”Il a offert une pivoine parfumée de Chine à sa mère.” (He gave his mother a fragrant Chinese peony.) |
| Pivoine décorative | (pee-vwah-n day-koh-rah-teev) | Decorative peony, used for ornamental purposes. | “Les pivoines décoratives sont parfaites pour les bouquets.” (Decorative peonies are perfect for bouquets.)”Elle adore les pivoines décoratives dans ses arrangements floraux.” (She loves decorative peonies in her floral arrangements.) |
| Pivoine éclatante | (pee-vwah-n ay-klah-tahnt) | Radiant peony, used to describe peonies with vibrant, glowing colors. | “Les pivoines éclatantes attirent tous les regards.” (The radiant peonies attract all attention.)”Les pivoines éclatantes ajoutent de la couleur à n’importe quel jardin.” (Radiant peonies add color to any garden.) |
| Pivoine naine | (pee-vwah-n nayn) | Dwarf peony, a smaller variety of peony. | “Les pivoines naines sont parfaites pour les petits jardins.” (Dwarf peonies are perfect for small gardens.)”Elle a planté des pivoines naines dans son jardin urbain.” (She planted dwarf peonies in her urban garden.) |
| Pivoine à fleurs denses | (pee-vwah-n ah flur dahns) | Dense-flowered peony, a type with tightly packed petals. | “Les pivoines à fleurs denses sont superbes pour les bouquets.” (Dense-flowered peonies are wonderful for bouquets.)”J’ai acheté des pivoines à fleurs denses pour ma maman.” (I bought dense-flowered peonies for my mom.) |
| Pivoine pastel | (pee-vwah-n pah-stel) | Pastel peony, referring to peonies with soft, light colors. | “Les pivoines pastel créent une ambiance calme dans le jardin.” (Pastel peonies create a calm atmosphere in the garden.)”Elle a un vase rempli de pivoines pastel.” (She has a vase filled with pastel peonies.) |
| Pivoine en bouton | (pee-vwah-n ahn boo-tohn) | Peony in bud, a term for a peony that is not yet fully bloomed. | “La pivoine en bouton est aussi belle que lorsqu’elle est fleurie.” (The peony in bud is just as beautiful as when it’s in full bloom.)”Regarde cette pivoine en bouton, elle va éclore bientôt.” (Look at this peony in bud, it will bloom soon.) |
| Pivoine lustrée | (pee-vwah-n loo-stray) | Shiny or glossy peony, used for peonies with a particularly shiny appearance. | “Les pivoines lustrées brillent sous le soleil.” (The shiny peonies glow under the sun.)”Elle a décoré sa maison avec des pivoines lustrées.” (She decorated her house with glossy peonies.) |
| Pivoine rosée | (pee-vwah-n roh-zay) | Rosy peony, a variety with a gentle, rosy color. | “Les pivoines rosées sont parfaites pour un jardin romantique.” (Rosy peonies are perfect for a romantic garden.)”Elle a acheté des pivoines rosées pour son mariage.” (She bought rosy peonies for her wedding.) |
Response to “Peony” in French
When someone says “peony” in French, or “pivoine”, you might want to respond in different ways depending on the context. Here are some typical responses you could use when talking about this beautiful flower.
C’est une fleur magnifique ! (seh-t uh flur mah-nyee-feek)
- Meaning: “It’s a magnificent flower!”
- In a Sentence:
- “La pivoine est vraiment une fleur magnifique.” (The peony is really a magnificent flower.)
- “Oui, la pivoine est splendide au printemps !” (Yes, the peony is splendid in the spring!)
J’adore les pivoines ! (jah-dor lay pee-vwah-n)
- Meaning: “I love peonies!”
- In a Sentence:
- “Les pivoines sont mes fleurs préférées.” (Peonies are my favorite flowers.)
- “J’adore les pivoines, surtout les roses.” (I love peonies, especially the pink ones.)
La pivoine est-elle en fleurs ? (lah pee-vwah-n eh-tel ahn flur)
- Meaning: “Is the peony in bloom?”
- In a Sentence:
- “Je me demande si la pivoine est en fleurs.” (I wonder if the peony is in bloom.)
- “Est-ce que la pivoine de ton jardin est en fleurs ?” (Is the peony in your garden in bloom?)
Les pivoines sont très parfumées. (lay pee-vwah-n sohn tray par-fyoo-may)
- Meaning: “Peonies are very fragrant.”
- In a Sentence:
- “Les pivoines embaument toute la pièce.” (The peonies fill the room with scent.)
- “Les pivoines de Chine sont particulièrement parfumées.” (The Chinese peonies are particularly fragrant.)
Où puis-je acheter des pivoines ? (oo pwee-zhuh ash-tay day pee-vwah-n)
- Meaning: “Where can I buy peonies?”
- In a Sentence:
- “Je veux planter des pivoines dans mon jardin. Où puis-je les acheter ?” (I want to plant peonies in my garden. Where can I buy them?)
- “Où puis-je acheter des pivoines roses ?” (Where can I buy pink peonies?)
Les pivoines de couleur vive sont magnifiques ! (lay pee-vwah-n duh koo-lur veev sohn mah-nyee-feek)
- Meaning: “Bright-colored peonies are magnificent!”
- In a Sentence:
- “Les pivoines rouges et oranges sont particulièrement éclatantes.” (Red and orange peonies are particularly vibrant.)
- “J’adore les pivoines de couleur vive dans le jardin.” (I love the bright-colored peonies in the garden.)
La pivoine est un symbole du printemps. (lah pee-vwah-n eh-tuhN sahm-bol doo prahn-tahmp)
- Meaning: “The peony is a symbol of spring.”
- In a Sentence:
- “Les pivoines fleurissent dès que le printemps arrive.” (Peonies bloom as soon as spring arrives.)
- “La pivoine symbolise la beauté du printemps.” (The peony symbolizes the beauty of spring.)
C’est une bonne idée pour décorer ! (seh-t uh boon ee-day poor day-ko-ray)
- Meaning: “It’s a good idea for decoration!”
- In a Sentence:
- “Les pivoines font une belle décoration de mariage.” (Peonies make a beautiful wedding decoration.)
- “C’est une excellente idée d’ajouter des pivoines à l’intérieur !” (It’s a great idea to add peonies to the interior!)
La pivoine est une fleur très élégante. (lah pee-vwah-n eh-toon flur tray eh-lay-gahnt)
- Meaning: “The peony is a very elegant flower.”
- In a Sentence:
- “J’adore les pivoines pour leur élégance.” (I love peonies for their elegance.)
- “La pivoine est l’une des fleurs les plus élégantes de mon jardin.” (The peony is one of the most elegant flowers in my garden.)
C’est incroyable à quel point elles peuvent être grandes. (seh an-kweh-ree-ah-bluh ah kel pwah-uhN ell puh-vent ehtr grahnd)
- Meaning: “It’s incredible how big they can get.”
- In a Sentence:
- “Les pivoines géantes peuvent atteindre 50 cm de large !” (Giant peonies can reach 50 cm wide!)
- “Les pivoines dans ce jardin sont incroyablement grandes.” (The peonies in this garden are incredibly big.)
J’ai vu des pivoines dans un magnifique jardin japonais. (zhay voo day pee-vwah-n dahN uh mah-nyee-feek zhar-dahn zha-poh-nay)
- Meaning: “I saw peonies in a beautiful Japanese garden.”
- In a Sentence:
- “Les pivoines du Japon sont magnifiques pendant la saison des fleurs.” (Japanese peonies are beautiful during the flower season.)
- “Le jardin japonais où j’ai vu les pivoines était incroyable.” (The Japanese garden where I saw the peonies was incredible.)
Tu sais qu’il existe des pivoines de toutes les couleurs ? (too seh keel ex-eest day pee-vwah-n duh toot lay koo-lur)
- Meaning: “Did you know there are peonies in all colors?”
- In a Sentence:
- “Oui, il y a des pivoines blanches, roses, rouges et même violettes !” (Yes, there are white, pink, red, and even purple peonies!)
- “Les pivoines viennent dans tant de couleurs différentes.” (Peonies come in so many different colors.)
C’est une excellente fleur pour attirer les abeilles. (seh-t uhN ex-sel-lahnt flur poor ah-teer lay zah-bay)
- Meaning: “It’s an excellent flower to attract bees.”
- In a Sentence:
- “Les pivoines attirent beaucoup d’abeilles dans le jardin.” (Peonies attract a lot of bees in the garden.)
- “Je plante des pivoines parce qu’elles aident à attirer les pollinisateurs.” (I plant peonies because they help attract pollinators.)
Exercise to Practice Saying “Peony” in French
Here are 12 fill-in-the-blank exercises that use the different ways to say “peony” in French. Complete the sentences using the correct form of “pivoine” or one of its variations, based on the context. After each exercise, you will find the answers and the English translation of the sentences.
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “pivoine”:
- Les _________ de Chine fleurissent au printemps.
- (The peonies from China bloom in the spring.)
- Elle a planté des _________ roses dans son jardin.
- (She planted pink peonies in her garden.)
- Nous avons vu des _________ géantes lors de notre voyage en montagne.
- (We saw giant peonies during our mountain trip.)
- La _________ est une fleur très parfumée.
- (The peony is a very fragrant flower.)
- Les _________ sont parfaites pour un mariage décoratif.
- (The peonies are perfect for a decorative wedding.)
- Mon grand-père cultive des _________ herbacées dans son jardin.
- (My grandfather grows herbaceous peonies in his garden.)
- J’ai acheté des _________ pour mettre sur la table du dîner.
- (I bought peonies to put on the dinner table.)
- Les _________ de Hollande sont particulièrement résistantes au froid.
- (The Dutch peonies are particularly resistant to cold.)
- Regarde cette _________ rose qui commence à s’épanouir !
- (Look at this pink peony that is starting to bloom!)
- Il a une collection de _________ à fleurs doubles dans son jardin.
- (He has a collection of double-flowered peonies in his garden.)
- Les _________ de montagne sont rares et difficiles à trouver.
- (The mountain peonies are rare and hard to find.)
- Les _________ décoratives ajoutent de la couleur à n’importe quel jardin.
- (The decorative peonies add color to any garden.)
Answers:
- pivoines de Chine
(The peonies from China bloom in the spring.) - pivoines roses
(She planted pink peonies in her garden.) - pivoines géantes
(We saw giant peonies during our mountain trip.) - pivoine
(The peony is a very fragrant flower.) - pivoines
(The peonies are perfect for a decorative wedding.) - pivoines herbacées
(My grandfather grows herbaceous peonies in his garden.) - pivoines
(I bought peonies to put on the dinner table.) - pivoines de Hollande
(The Dutch peonies are particularly resistant to cold.) - pivoine
(Look at this pink peony that is starting to bloom!) - pivoines à fleurs doubles
(He has a collection of double-flowered peonies in his garden.) - pivoines de montagne
(The mountain peonies are rare and hard to find.) - pivoines décoratives
(The decorative peonies add color to any garden.)
Conclusion
In this article, we’ve explored how to say “peony” in French, which is “pivoine”. We also learned about different types and variations of peonies, from pivoines de Chine (Chinese peonies) to pivoines géantes (giant peonies), and how to describe them based on their color, size, and fragrance. Understanding these different expressions will help you talk more vividly about peonies in French and engage in conversations about flowers with greater confidence.
Whether you’re a garden enthusiast, preparing a floral arrangement, or simply interested in the beauty of peonies, learning these terms can make your conversations more interesting and fun. Keep practicing by using the exercises and responses we covered, and soon you’ll be able to discuss peonies and many other flowers with ease in French. Happy learning!
