Learning how to say words in different languages can be fun and useful. One word that comes up often in conversations is “rose.” It’s not just a beautiful flower, but also a common word in many different cultures. If you’re traveling to a French-speaking country, or if you simply want to impress your friends with your French skills, knowing how to say “rose” in French is a good place to start.
In French, the word for “rose” is the same as in English: rose. However, the pronunciation is different. By learning the correct way to say it, you can sound more natural when speaking French. In this article, you’ll discover how to say “rose” in French, other ways to talk about it, and how to respond when someone mentions it in conversation. Let’s get started!
Ways to Say “Rose” in French
The word rose in French is quite simple. Here are different ways to say it, along with their meanings and pronunciation:
Rose (roh-z)
Applicable for: Describing the flower
Meaning: The same as in English—this refers to the rose flower.
In a Sentence:
- Elle a planté des roses dans le jardin. (She planted roses in the garden.)
- Cette rose est très belle. (This rose is very beautiful.)
Fleur de rose (flur duh rohz)
Applicable for: A more poetic or formal way of referring to the rose
Meaning: Literally translates to “flower of rose,” but used for special or poetic references.
In a Sentence:
- La fleur de rose est un symbole d’amour. (The rose flower is a symbol of love.)
- Il lui a offert une fleur de rose. (He gave her a rose flower.)
Rosier (roh-zee-ay)
Applicable for: Referring to a rose bush
Meaning: A rose bush, where roses grow.
In a Sentence:
- Le rosier dans le jardin a beaucoup de fleurs. (The rose bush in the garden has many flowers.)
- Mon rosier a des épines. (My rose bush has thorns.)
Rose rouge (roh-z roozh)
Applicable for: Referring to a red rose
Meaning: A red rose, often used to express love or passion.
In a Sentence:
- Elle lui a offert une rose rouge. (She gave him a red rose.)
- Les roses rouges symbolisent l’amour. (Red roses symbolize love.)
Rose blanche (roh-z blahnsh)
Applicable for: Referring to a white rose
Meaning: A white rose, often representing purity or remembrance.
In a Sentence:
- Elle porte une rose blanche dans ses cheveux. (She wears a white rose in her hair.)
- Les roses blanches sont utilisées lors des funérailles. (White roses are used at funerals.)
Rose jaune (roh-z zhohn)
Applicable for: Referring to a yellow rose
Meaning: A yellow rose, often symbolizing friendship or joy.
In a Sentence:
- J’ai reçu une rose jaune de ma meilleure amie. (I received a yellow rose from my best friend.)
- Les roses jaunes sont des symboles d’amitié. (Yellow roses are symbols of friendship.)
Rose rose (roh-z rohz)
Applicable for: Referring to a pink rose
Meaning: A pink rose, typically associated with gratitude or admiration.
In a Sentence:
- Elle a offert une rose rose à sa maman. (She gave a pink rose to her mom.)
- Les roses roses sont parfaites pour exprimer de l’admiration. (Pink roses are perfect for expressing admiration.)
Pétale de rose (peh-tal duh rohz)
Applicable for: Referring to a rose petal
Meaning: A rose petal, the individual parts of a rose flower.
In a Sentence:
- Les pétales de rose tombent doucement au sol. (The rose petals fall gently to the ground.)
- Elle a décoré la table avec des pétales de rose. (She decorated the table with rose petals.)
Rose sauvage (roh-z sah-vee-aj)
Applicable for: Referring to a wild rose
Meaning: A wild or natural rose that grows freely.
In a Sentence:
- Elle a trouvé une rose sauvage dans la forêt. (She found a wild rose in the forest.)
- Les roses sauvages ont un parfum unique. (Wild roses have a unique scent.)
Rose parfumée (roh-z par-fyu-may)
Applicable for: Referring to a fragrant rose
Meaning: A rose with a strong, pleasant fragrance.
In a Sentence:
- La rose parfumée emplit l’air de son odeur. (The fragrant rose fills the air with its scent.)
- J’adore les roses parfumées dans mon jardin. (I love the fragrant roses in my garden.)
Rose de jardin (roh-z duh zhar-dahn)
Applicable for: Referring to a garden rose
Meaning: A rose that is cultivated in a garden.
In a Sentence:
- Les roses de jardin ont différentes couleurs. (Garden roses come in many colors.)
- Elle prend soin de ses roses de jardin chaque jour. (She takes care of her garden roses every day.)
Rose éternelle (roh-z eh-tehr-nel)
Applicable for: Referring to an everlasting or preserved rose
Meaning: A rose that lasts forever, often used for gifts.
In a Sentence:
- Elle a reçu une rose éternelle pour son anniversaire. (She received an everlasting rose for her birthday.)
- Les roses éternelles sont très populaires comme souvenirs. (Everlasting roses are very popular as keepsakes.)
Bouquet de roses (boo-kay duh roh-z)
Applicable for: Referring to a bouquet of roses
Meaning: A bunch of roses arranged together.
In a Sentence:
- Il lui a offert un bouquet de roses rouges. (He gave her a bouquet of red roses.)
- Le bouquet de roses sent tellement bon. (The bouquet of roses smells so good.)
Roserie (roh-zer-ee)
Applicable for: A rose garden or a place where roses grow
Meaning: A garden dedicated to growing roses.
In a Sentence:
- Nous avons visité une roserie magnifique à Paris. (We visited a beautiful rose garden in Paris.)
- La roserie est ouverte au public tous les week-ends. (The rose garden is open to the public every weekend.)
Rose de Provence (roh-z duh pro-vahns)
Applicable for: Referring to a rose from Provence
Meaning: A variety of rose from the Provence region in France.
In a Sentence:
- Les roses de Provence sont très populaires dans les marchés. (Roses from Provence are very popular in markets.)
- Elle a un parfum doux, typique des roses de Provence. (It has a sweet fragrance, typical of roses from Provence.)
Rose ancienne (roh-z an-syen)
Applicable for: Referring to an old-fashioned or antique rose
Meaning: An older variety of rose, often with a nostalgic or classic appeal.
In a Sentence:
- Les roses anciennes ont des couleurs plus profondes. (Old-fashioned roses have deeper colors.)
- J’aime les roses anciennes pour leur beauté traditionnelle. (I love antique roses for their traditional beauty.)
Rose de thé (roh-z duh tay)
Applicable for: Referring to a tea rose
Meaning: A variety of rose with small, delicate flowers.
In a Sentence:
- La rose de thé est souvent utilisée dans les parfums. (The tea rose is often used in perfumes.)
- Elle a planté des roses de thé dans son jardin. (She planted tea roses in her garden.)
Rose trémière (roh-z tray-meer)
Applicable for: A hollyhock or “rose of Sharon”
Meaning: While not technically a true rose, it’s often called a “rose” in some regions.
In a Sentence:
- Les roses trémières bordent la rue principale. (Hollyhocks line the main street.)
- Les roses trémières sont très colorées en été. (Hollyhocks are very colorful in the summer.)
Rose de Noël (roh-z duh no-el)
Applicable for: Referring to a Christmas rose
Meaning: A flower that blooms around Christmas time, often called “Christmas rose.”
In a Sentence:
- La rose de Noël fleurit même sous la neige. (The Christmas rose blooms even under the snow.)
- Elle a décoré sa maison avec des roses de Noël. (She decorated her house with Christmas roses.)
Rose d’or (roh-z dor)
Applicable for: A golden rose
Meaning: A rose with a golden hue or sometimes used metaphorically to describe something precious.
In a Sentence:
- Elle a reçu une rose d’or pour son travail exceptionnel. (She received a golden rose for her outstanding work.)
- Les roses d’or sont rares et précieuses. (Golden roses are rare and precious.)
Rose pâle (roh-z pah-l)
Applicable for: Referring to a pale rose
Meaning: A soft, light-colored rose, often in shades of white or pink.
In a Sentence:
- La rose pâle est délicate et élégante. (The pale rose is delicate and elegant.)
- J’ai planté des roses pâles dans mon jardin. (I planted pale roses in my garden.)
Rose rouge vif (roh-z roozh veef)
Applicable for: Referring to a bright red rose
Meaning: A very vivid or intense red rose.
In a Sentence:
- Il lui a offert une rose rouge vif pour son anniversaire. (He gave her a bright red rose for her birthday.)
- Les roses rouges vives attirent beaucoup de regard. (Bright red roses catch a lot of attention.)
Rose d’hiver (roh-z d’an-veer)
Applicable for: Referring to a winter rose
Meaning: A rose that blooms during the winter months.
In a Sentence:
- La rose d’hiver survit même au froid intense. (The winter rose survives even in intense cold.)
- Elle a planté des roses d’hiver près de sa porte. (She planted winter roses near her door.)
Rose violette (roh-z vee-oh-let)
Applicable for: Referring to a violet-colored rose
Meaning: A rose that is a shade of violet or purple.
In a Sentence:
- Elle adore les roses violettes dans son jardin. (She loves the violet roses in her garden.)
- Les roses violettes sont parfaites pour un bouquet romantique. (Violet roses are perfect for a romantic bouquet.)
Roses en bouton (roh-z ahn boo-ton)
Applicable for: Referring to roses in bud form
Meaning: Roses that are still in bud form, not fully bloomed yet.
In a Sentence:
- Les roses en bouton commenceront à fleurir demain. (The roses in bud will start to bloom tomorrow.)
- Les roses en bouton sont souvent plus belles lorsqu’elles s’épanouissent. (The roses in bud are often more beautiful when they bloom.)
Rose anglaise (roh-z ahn-glayz)
Applicable for: Referring to an English rose
Meaning: A type of rose variety, often associated with English gardens, known for their rich fragrance and layered petals.
In a Sentence:
- Les roses anglaises sont populaires dans les jardins de campagne. (English roses are popular in country gardens.)
- Elle a planté des roses anglaises roses dans son jardin. (She planted pink English roses in her garden.)
Rose d’été (roh-z deh-teh)
Applicable for: Referring to a summer rose
Meaning: A rose that blooms during the summer season.
In a Sentence:
- Les roses d’été ajoutent de la couleur au jardin. (Summer roses add color to the garden.)
- Il a cueilli une rose d’été pour sa mère. (He picked a summer rose for his mother.)
Rose d’orient (roh-z dor-ee-ahn)
Applicable for: Referring to an oriental rose
Meaning: A rose variety often found in Middle Eastern regions, known for its strong fragrance.
In a Sentence:
- La rose d’orient a un parfum exotique. (The oriental rose has an exotic fragrance.)
- Les roses d’orient sont cultivées depuis des siècles. (Oriental roses have been cultivated for centuries.)
Rose trémière (roh-z tray-mee-air)
Applicable for: Referring to hollyhocks, also known as “rose trémière”
Meaning: Not a true rose but often called a “rose” in some regions; it’s a tall flowering plant.
In a Sentence:
- Les roses trémières bordent les vieux murs de la maison. (The hollyhocks line the old walls of the house.)
- Les roses trémières ajoutent de la hauteur au jardin. (Hollyhocks add height to the garden.)
Rose caméline (roh-z kah-may-leen)
Applicable for: Referring to a camelina rose
Meaning: A rare variety of rose, often known for its vibrant color and beauty.
In a Sentence:
- La rose caméline est assez rare, mais très belle. (The camelina rose is quite rare but very beautiful.)
- Elle a découvert une rose caméline dans la serre. (She discovered a camelina rose in the greenhouse.)
Other Ways to Say “Rose” in French
Here is a table with more ways to say “rose” in French, along with their pronunciation, meaning, and example sentences. These variations will help you describe roses in different contexts and deepen your understanding of the word in French.
| Other Ways to Say | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example Sentences |
| Rose de Hollande | roh-z duh oh-lahnd | Referring to a Dutch rose, often imported from the Netherlands. | – Les roses de Hollande sont célèbres pour leur grande taille. (Dutch roses are famous for their large size.) – J’ai acheté des roses de Hollande au marché. (I bought Dutch roses at the market.) |
| Rose miniature | roh-z mee-nyoo-ah-tyur | A small or miniature version of a rose. | – Elle a un joli bouquet de roses miniatures. (She has a lovely bouquet of miniature roses.) – Les roses miniatures sont parfaites pour les petits jardins. (Miniature roses are perfect for small gardens.) |
| Rose floribunda | roh-z floh-ree-boon-dah | A type of rose known for producing large clusters of flowers. | – Les roses floribunda sont idéales pour créer des haies fleuries. (Floribunda roses are perfect for creating flowering hedges.) – Les roses floribunda ont des couleurs vives et éclatantes. (Floribunda roses have bright and vibrant colors.) |
| Rose pompon | roh-z pohm-poh | Refers to a type of rose with small, clustered flowers that resemble pom-poms. | – Elle adore les roses pompon pour leur forme unique. (She loves pompon roses for their unique shape.) – Les roses pompon sont parfaites pour les arrangements floraux. (Pompon roses are perfect for floral arrangements.) |
| Rose gallica | roh-z gal-lee-kah | An ancient variety of rose, often associated with classic gardens. | – Les roses gallica sont cultivées depuis des siècles en Europe. (Gallica roses have been cultivated for centuries in Europe.) – La rose gallica est appréciée pour ses pétales doux et parfumés. (The gallica rose is valued for its soft, fragrant petals.) |
Response to “Rose” in French
When someone mentions “rose” in French, there are various ways you can respond depending on the context. Here are a few examples of how to reply when the word “rose” is used in conversation, with their meanings and example sentences:
C’est une belle rose !
Pronunciation: seh ewn bel roh-z
Meaning: “It’s a beautiful rose!”
In a Sentence:
- Person A: J’ai acheté une rose rouge pour toi. (I bought a red rose for you.)
- Person B: C’est une belle rose ! (It’s a beautiful rose!)
J’adore les roses, surtout les roses rouges.
Pronunciation: jah-doh-ree lay roh-z, soor-too lay roh-z roozh
Meaning: “I love roses, especially red roses.”
In a Sentence:
- Person A: Cette rose est magnifique, tu ne trouves pas ? (This rose is magnificent, don’t you think?)
- Person B: J’adore les roses, surtout les roses rouges. (I love roses, especially red roses.)
Les roses sentent si bon !
Pronunciation: lay roh-z sahnt see bohn
Meaning: “The roses smell so good!”
In a Sentence:
- Person A: Regarde ces roses dans le jardin. (Look at these roses in the garden.)
- Person B: Les roses sentent si bon ! (The roses smell so good!)
Tu as choisi une rose parfaite.
Pronunciation: too ah shwah-zee ewn roh-z par-fect
Meaning: “You chose a perfect rose.”
In a Sentence:
- Person A: Je t’ai offert une rose blanche. (I gave you a white rose.)
- Person B: Tu as choisi une rose parfaite. (You chose a perfect rose.)
C’est un symbole d’amour.
Pronunciation: seh tuh(n) sahm-bol dah-moor
Meaning: “It’s a symbol of love.”
In a Sentence:
- Person A: Pourquoi offrir une rose rouge ? (Why give a red rose?)
- Person B: C’est un symbole d’amour. (It’s a symbol of love.)
Elle est vraiment magnifique.
Pronunciation: el eh vray-moh man-yee-feek
Meaning: “It’s truly magnificent.”
In a Sentence:
- Person A: J’ai vu une rose bleue aujourd’hui. (I saw a blue rose today.)
- Person B: Elle est vraiment magnifique. (It’s truly magnificent.)
Les roses sont mes fleurs préférées.
Pronunciation: lay roh-z so(n) meh flur pray-fay-ray
Meaning: “Roses are my favorite flowers.”
In a Sentence:
- Person A: Tu veux une rose pour ton anniversaire ? (Do you want a rose for your birthday?)
- Person B: Les roses sont mes fleurs préférées. (Roses are my favorite flowers.)
Tu as choisi une couleur parfaite.
Pronunciation: too ah shwah-zee ewn koo-luhr par-fect
Meaning: “You chose the perfect color.”
In a Sentence:
- Person A: Je pense à offrir une rose jaune. (I’m thinking of giving a yellow rose.)
- Person B: Tu as choisi une couleur parfaite. (You chose the perfect color.)
J’aime l’odeur des roses.
Pronunciation: zhem loh-deur day roh-z
Meaning: “I love the smell of roses.”
In a Sentence:
- Person A: Tu as senti cette rose ? (Did you smell this rose?)
- Person B: J’aime l’odeur des roses. (I love the smell of roses.)
Elle a un parfum doux.
Pronunciation: el ah uhn par-fahm doo
Meaning: “It has a sweet fragrance.”
In a Sentence:
- Person A: Tu veux sentir cette rose ? (Do you want to smell this rose?)
- Person B: Elle a un parfum doux. (It has a sweet fragrance.)
C’est un beau symbole de l’amitié.
Pronunciation: seh tuh(n) boh sahm-bol duh lah-mee-tee-ay
Meaning: “It’s a beautiful symbol of friendship.”
In a Sentence:
- Person A: Je t’ai offert une rose jaune. (I gave you a yellow rose.)
- Person B: C’est un beau symbole de l’amitié. (It’s a beautiful symbol of friendship.)
Cette rose me rappelle un souvenir spécial.
Pronunciation: set roh-z muh rah-pell uh soo-vee-neer speh-syal
Meaning: “This rose reminds me of a special memory.”
In a Sentence:
- Person A: C’est une rose de mon grand-mère. (It’s a rose from my grandmother.)
- Person B: Cette rose me rappelle un souvenir spécial. (This rose reminds me of a special memory.)
Les roses sont parfaites pour les mariages.
Pronunciation: lay roh-z so(n) par-fayt poor lay ma-ree-ahj
Meaning: “Roses are perfect for weddings.”
In a Sentence:
- Person A: On utilise souvent des roses dans les bouquets de mariage. (Roses are often used in wedding bouquets.)
- Person B: Les roses sont parfaites pour les mariages. (Roses are perfect for weddings.)
Exercise to Practice Success “Rose” in French
Below are 12 fill-in-the-blank sentences using different ways to say “rose” in French. After the sentences, you will find the answers along with their meanings.
Fill-in-the-Blank Sentences:
- J’ai acheté une __________ rouge pour ma mère.
- Elle a cueilli une __________ sauvage dans le champ.
- Les __________ de jardin ont des couleurs magnifiques.
- __________ blanche symbolise la pureté.
- Il a offert une __________ miniature à sa sœur.
- Les __________ parfumées du jardin embaument l’air.
- J’adore les __________ anglaises, elles ont un parfum délicat.
- Elle a décoré la table avec des __________ en bouton.
- __________ de Noël fleurit même en hiver.
- La __________ gallica est une rose ancienne très prisée.
- Le __________ de Hollande est grand et imposant.
- Une __________ rouge vif est idéale pour exprimer l’amour.
Answers with Meanings:
- rose (Meaning: “red rose”)
- J’ai acheté une rose rouge pour ma mère. (I bought a red rose for my mother.)
- rose sauvage (Meaning: “wild rose”)
- Elle a cueilli une rose sauvage dans le champ. (She picked a wild rose in the field.)
- roses (Meaning: “garden roses”)
- Les roses de jardin ont des couleurs magnifiques. (The garden roses have beautiful colors.)
- rose blanche (Meaning: “white rose”)
- Rose blanche symbolise la pureté. (The white rose symbolizes purity.)
- rose miniature (Meaning: “miniature rose”)
- Il a offert une rose miniature à sa sœur. (He gave a miniature rose to his sister.)
- roses parfumées (Meaning: “fragrant roses”)
- Les roses parfumées du jardin embaument l’air. (The fragrant roses in the garden perfume the air.)
- roses anglaises (Meaning: “English roses”)
- J’adore les roses anglaises, elles ont un parfum délicat. (I love the English roses, they have a delicate fragrance.)
- roses en bouton (Meaning: “roses in bud form”)
- Elle a décoré la table avec des roses en bouton. (She decorated the table with roses in bud form.)
- rose de Noël (Meaning: “Christmas rose”)
- Rose de Noël fleurit même en hiver. (The Christmas rose blooms even in winter.)
- rose gallica (Meaning: “gallica rose”)
- La rose gallica est une rose ancienne très prisée. (The gallica rose is a highly prized antique rose.)
- rose de Hollande (Meaning: “Dutch rose”)
- Le rose de Hollande est grand et imposant. (The Dutch rose is large and imposing.)
- rose rouge vif (Meaning: “bright red rose”)
- Une rose rouge vif est idéale pour exprimer l’amour. (A bright red rose is ideal for expressing love.)
Conclusion
In this article, we’ve explored the word “rose” in French, from its basic meaning to the various ways it can be expressed in different contexts. Whether you’re talking about a simple rose flower, a specific color, or even different types of roses, there are many ways to use this word in French. Learning these variations will help you become more confident when speaking about roses in French, whether you’re admiring a flower, giving a compliment, or sharing your favorite types of roses.
Remember, practicing new words and phrases makes it easier to remember them. By using these different expressions and responding naturally in conversations, you’ll sound more fluent and comfortable in French. Roses, with their beauty and symbolism, can be a great topic for any conversation—so why not start using these new words the next time you talk about this lovely flower? Keep practicing, and soon, talking about roses in French will feel as natural as saying them in English!