Learning French can be an exciting journey, especially when you start with everyday words. If you are shopping for clothes or talking about what you like to wear, you might need to know how to say “shorts” in French. This small yet useful word can help you in conversations about clothing, travel, or even sports.
In this article, we’ll explore how to say “shorts” in French and look at various ways to use it. You’ll also learn related words, how to respond when someone talks about shorts, and even get a fun exercise to practice. By the end, you’ll be ready to confidently use this word in your conversations.
Ways to Say “Shorts” in French
In French, the word “shorts” can be translated in different ways depending on the context. These terms are often used to talk about clothing styles, specific occasions, or casual outfits. Below are the various ways to say “shorts” in French, with their pronunciations, meanings, and examples to help you use them correctly.
1. Short
Pronunciation: shor
Meaning: Shorts (general term for short pants).
In a Sentence:
- Je veux acheter un short pour l’été. (I want to buy shorts for the summer.)
- Ce short est parfait pour la plage. (These shorts are perfect for the beach.)
2. Bermuda
Pronunciation: behr-moo-dah
Meaning: Longer shorts, often knee-length.
In a Sentence:
- Les bermudas sont pratiques pour les vacances. (Bermudas are practical for vacations.)
- Il porte toujours un bermuda en été. (He always wears bermudas in summer.)
3. Culotte courte
Pronunciation: kyoo-loht koort
Meaning: Short pants, often used for children.
In a Sentence:
- Mon fils porte une culotte courte à l’école. (My son wears short pants at school.)
- Les culottes courtes sont confortables pour jouer dehors. (Short pants are comfortable for playing outside.)
4. Pantalon court
Pronunciation: pahn-tah-lohn koor
Meaning: Short trousers, a formal term for shorts.
In a Sentence:
- Il préfère les pantalons courts pour le sport. (He prefers short trousers for sports.)
- Ce pantalon court est élégant et pratique. (These short trousers are elegant and practical.)
5. Short de bain
Pronunciation: shor duh ban
Meaning: Swim shorts.
In a Sentence:
- J’ai besoin d’un short de bain pour la piscine. (I need swim shorts for the pool.)
- Il a acheté un nouveau short de bain pour les vacances. (He bought new swim shorts for the holidays.)
6. Culottes sportives
Pronunciation: kyoo-loht spohr-teev
Meaning: Athletic shorts, often used for exercise.
In a Sentence:
- Les culottes sportives sont idéales pour courir. (Athletic shorts are ideal for running.)
- Elle a mis ses culottes sportives pour le yoga. (She put on her athletic shorts for yoga.)
7. Short moulant
Pronunciation: shor moo-lahn
Meaning: Tight-fitting shorts.
In a Sentence:
- Ce short moulant est parfait pour le cyclisme. (These tight-fitting shorts are perfect for cycling.)
- Elle adore porter un short moulant pour ses entraînements. (She loves wearing tight-fitting shorts for her workouts.)
8. Short en jean
Pronunciation: shor ahn zheen
Meaning: Denim shorts.
In a Sentence:
- Le short en jean est très populaire en été. (Denim shorts are very popular in summer.)
- J’ai acheté un short en jean à la boutique. (I bought denim shorts at the store.)
9. Short de sport
Pronunciation: shor duh spohr
Meaning: Sports shorts.
In a Sentence:
- Il porte toujours un short de sport pour le basketball. (He always wears sports shorts for basketball.)
- Ce short de sport est très léger et confortable. (These sports shorts are very light and comfortable.)
10. Cycliste
Pronunciation: see-kleest
Meaning: Cycling shorts.
In a Sentence:
- Les cyclistes sont indispensables pour les longues balades à vélo. (Cycling shorts are essential for long bike rides.)
- Elle a acheté des cyclistes pour sa compétition. (She bought cycling shorts for her competition.)
11. Slip court
Pronunciation: sleep koor
Meaning: Brief shorts, typically used for undergarments or very short styles.
In a Sentence:
- Ce slip court est parfait pour dormir. (These brief shorts are perfect for sleeping.)
- Il préfère porter un slip court par temps chaud. (He prefers wearing brief shorts in hot weather.)
12. Short ample
Pronunciation: shor ahmpl
Meaning: Loose shorts.
In a Sentence:
- Ces shorts amples sont très confortables pour se détendre. (These loose shorts are very comfortable for relaxing.)
- J’aime porter des shorts amples en vacances. (I like wearing loose shorts on vacation.)
13. Short en lin
Pronunciation: shor ahn lan
Meaning: Linen shorts, often worn in warm weather.
In a Sentence:
- Le short en lin est parfait pour l’été. (Linen shorts are perfect for summer.)
- Elle a acheté un short en lin beige. (She bought beige linen shorts.)
14. Short taille haute
Pronunciation: shor tah-yuh oht
Meaning: High-waisted shorts.
In a Sentence:
- Elle préfère les shorts taille haute pour un style rétro. (She prefers high-waisted shorts for a retro style.)
- Ce short taille haute est très à la mode. (These high-waisted shorts are very trendy.)
15. Short à imprimés
Pronunciation: shor ah amp-ree-may
Meaning: Printed shorts.
In a Sentence:
- J’adore ces shorts à imprimés floraux. (I love these floral-printed shorts.)
- Elle a choisi des shorts à imprimés pour la fête. (She chose printed shorts for the party.)
16. Short cargo
Pronunciation: shor kahr-go
Meaning: Cargo shorts with pockets.
In a Sentence:
- Les shorts cargo sont très pratiques pour les randonnées. (Cargo shorts are very practical for hiking.)
- Il a mis ses shorts cargo pour aller au parc. (He wore his cargo shorts to go to the park.)
17. Short chic
Pronunciation: shor sheek
Meaning: Stylish shorts.
In a Sentence:
- Ce short chic va bien avec un chemisier. (These stylish shorts go well with a blouse.)
- Elle adore ses shorts chic pour les sorties. (She loves her stylish shorts for outings.)
18. Short d’entraînement
Pronunciation: shor dahn-tray-nuh-mahn
Meaning: Training shorts.
In a Sentence:
- Il a acheté un short d’entraînement pour la salle de sport. (He bought training shorts for the gym.)
- Ces shorts d’entraînement sont très résistants. (These training shorts are very durable.)
19. Short pyjama
Pronunciation: shor pee-jah-mah
Meaning: Pajama shorts.
In a Sentence:
- Les shorts pyjama sont confortables pour dormir. (Pajama shorts are comfortable for sleeping.)
- Elle a acheté un short pyjama en coton. (She bought cotton pajama shorts.)
20. Short habillé
Pronunciation: shor ah-bee-yay
Meaning: Dressy shorts, suitable for formal occasions.
In a Sentence:
- Ce short habillé est parfait pour un dîner en été. (These dressy shorts are perfect for a summer dinner.)
- J’aime porter des shorts habillés avec des talons. (I like wearing dressy shorts with heels.)
21. Short court
Pronunciation: shor koor
Meaning: Short shorts, very brief in length.
In a Sentence:
- Elle préfère porter un short court à la plage. (She prefers wearing short shorts at the beach.)
- Ce short court est idéal pour les journées très chaudes. (These short shorts are ideal for very hot days.)
22. Short ajusté
Pronunciation: shor ah-joo-stay
Meaning: Fitted shorts, closely tailored to the body.
In a Sentence:
- Ce short ajusté va bien avec un t-shirt simple. (These fitted shorts go well with a simple t-shirt.)
- Elle adore son short ajusté pour les soirées d’été. (She loves her fitted shorts for summer evenings.)
23. Short en soie
Pronunciation: shor ahn swah
Meaning: Silk shorts, often used for lounging or special occasions.
In a Sentence:
- Elle a acheté un short en soie très élégant. (She bought very elegant silk shorts.)
- Ce short en soie est parfait pour une tenue chic. (These silk shorts are perfect for a chic outfit.)
24. Short en coton
Pronunciation: shor ahn koh-tohn
Meaning: Cotton shorts, lightweight and comfortable.
In a Sentence:
- Les shorts en coton sont parfaits pour les journées chaudes. (Cotton shorts are perfect for hot days.)
- Il a choisi un short en coton pour le pique-nique. (He chose cotton shorts for the picnic.)
25. Short à volants
Pronunciation: shor ah voh-lahn
Meaning: Ruffled shorts, often decorative and feminine.
In a Sentence:
- Ce short à volants est très tendance cette saison. (These ruffled shorts are very trendy this season.)
- Elle porte un short à volants pour la fête d’été. (She is wearing ruffled shorts for the summer party.)
26. Short utilitaire
Pronunciation: shor yoo-tee-lee-tehr
Meaning: Utility shorts, designed for practical use with many pockets.
In a Sentence:
- Les shorts utilitaires sont idéaux pour le camping. (Utility shorts are ideal for camping.)
- Il a acheté un short utilitaire pour ses travaux en extérieur. (He bought utility shorts for his outdoor work.)
27. Short à pinces
Pronunciation: shor ah pahnse
Meaning: Pleated shorts, more formal and structured.
In a Sentence:
- Ce short à pinces donne un look élégant. (These pleated shorts give an elegant look.)
- Elle a choisi un short à pinces pour la soirée. (She chose pleated shorts for the evening.)
Other Ways to Say “Shorts” in French
Here are additional ways to express “shorts” in French. These alternatives provide variety and context for different situations. The table below includes pronunciation, meaning, and examples for each term.
| Other Ways to Say | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example Sentences |
| Pantacourt | pahn-tah-koor | Cropped pants, shorter than full-length. | J’aime porter un pantacourt au printemps. (I like wearing cropped pants in spring.) |
| Mini-short | mee-nee shor | Mini-shorts, very short style. | Ce mini-short est parfait pour la plage. (This mini-short is perfect for the beach.) |
| Short de randonnée | shor duh rahn-don-nay | Hiking shorts. | Il a mis son short de randonnée pour la montagne. (He wore his hiking shorts for the mountains.) |
| Culotte estivale | kyoo-loht es-tee-val | Summer shorts, light and breezy. | Les culottes estivales sont idéales pour les vacances. (Summer shorts are ideal for vacations.) |
| Short en velours | shor ahn veh-loohr | Velvet shorts, soft material. | Elle a acheté un short en velours pour la fête. (She bought velvet shorts for the party.) |
| Short ample élastique | shor ahmpl ay-las-teek | Elastic-waist loose shorts. | Ces shorts amples élastiques sont confortables pour la maison. (These loose elastic shorts are comfortable for home.) |
| Short cargo léger | shor kahr-go leh-zhay | Lightweight cargo shorts. | Il porte un short cargo léger pour la randonnée. (He’s wearing lightweight cargo shorts for hiking.) |
| Short rétro | shor ray-troh | Retro-style shorts. | Ce short rétro rappelle les années 80. (These retro shorts remind me of the 80s.) |
| Short brodé | shor broh-day | Embroidered shorts, with decorative stitching. | Elle porte un short brodé avec des motifs floraux. (She’s wearing embroidered shorts with floral patterns.) |
| Short à rayures | shor ah rah-yoohr | Striped shorts. | J’ai acheté un short à rayures pour l’été. (I bought striped shorts for summer.) |
Responses to “Shorts” in French
When someone mentions “shorts” in French or asks about them, it’s helpful to know how to respond appropriately. Responses can vary based on the situation, whether you are giving an opinion, asking a follow-up question, or simply acknowledging their statement. Here are some useful ways to respond.
1. J’aime bien ce short.
Pronunciation: zhem byen suh shor
Meaning: I really like these shorts.
In a Sentence:
- J’aime bien ce short, il te va bien. (I really like these shorts, they suit you well.)
- Ces shorts sont parfaits pour l’été. J’aime bien ce style. (These shorts are perfect for summer. I really like this style.)
2. Où as-tu acheté ce short ?
Pronunciation: oo ah tyoo ah-shay suh shor
Meaning: Where did you buy these shorts?
In a Sentence:
- Où as-tu acheté ce short, il est très joli! (Where did you buy these shorts? They’re very nice!)
- Je cherche un short comme celui-ci. Où l’as-tu trouvé ? (I’m looking for shorts like these. Where did you find them?)
3. Ce short est très tendance.
Pronunciation: suh shor eh tray tahn-dahnse
Meaning: These shorts are very trendy.
In a Sentence:
- Ce short est très tendance cette saison. (These shorts are very trendy this season.)
- J’ai vu des shorts similaires dans un magazine. Ce style est très tendance. (I saw similar shorts in a magazine. This style is very trendy.)
4. Tu portes souvent des shorts ?
Pronunciation: tyoo pohrt soo-vahn day shor
Meaning: Do you wear shorts often?
In a Sentence:
- Tu portes souvent des shorts en été ? (Do you wear shorts often in summer?)
- Je vois que tu aimes les shorts. Tu portes souvent ce style ? (I see you like shorts. Do you wear this style often?)
5. Ces shorts te vont très bien.
Pronunciation: say shor tuh vohn tray byen
Meaning: These shorts look great on you.
In a Sentence:
- Ces shorts te vont très bien, tu devrais en acheter d’autres. (These shorts look great on you, you should buy more.)
- J’adore la coupe de ces shorts. Ils te vont très bien. (I love the fit of these shorts. They look great on you.)
6. Ce style de short est confortable.
Pronunciation: suh steel duh shor eh kon-for-tah-bluh
Meaning: This style of shorts is comfortable.
In a Sentence:
- Ce style de short est confortable pour les voyages. (This style of shorts is comfortable for traveling.)
- Les shorts amples sont mes préférés. Ce style est tellement confortable. (Loose shorts are my favorite. This style is so comfortable.)
7. Je préfère les pantalons courts.
Pronunciation: juh pray-fehr lay pahn-tah-lohn koor
Meaning: I prefer short trousers.
In a Sentence:
- Je préfère les pantalons courts pour un look plus habillé. (I prefer short trousers for a more dressed-up look.)
- Les shorts sont bien, mais je préfère les pantalons courts. (Shorts are nice, but I prefer short trousers.)
8. Ce short est trop joli !
Pronunciation: suh shor eh troh zho-lee
Meaning: These shorts are so pretty!
In a Sentence:
- Ce short est trop joli, j’adore sa couleur. (These shorts are so pretty, I love their color.)
- Elle porte un short trop joli aujourd’hui. (She is wearing such pretty shorts today.)
9. Les shorts sont parfaits pour cette météo.
Pronunciation: lay shor sohn par-feh poor set may-teh-oh
Meaning: Shorts are perfect for this weather.
In a Sentence:
- Avec cette chaleur, les shorts sont parfaits pour rester au frais. (With this heat, shorts are perfect for staying cool.)
- Les shorts sont parfaits pour cette météo ensoleillée. (Shorts are perfect for this sunny weather.)
10. Tu devrais essayer ce modèle.
Pronunciation: tyoo duh-vray eh-say-yay suh moh-dehl
Meaning: You should try this style.
In a Sentence:
- Tu devrais essayer ce modèle, il te plairait. (You should try this style, you’d like it.)
- Ce modèle de short est à la mode. Tu devrais l’essayer. (This style of shorts is trendy. You should try it.)
11. J’ai besoin d’un short plus léger.
Pronunciation: zhay buh-zwan duh-n shor ploo leh-zhay
Meaning: I need lighter shorts.
In a Sentence:
- Avec cette chaleur, j’ai besoin d’un short plus léger. (With this heat, I need lighter shorts.)
- Ces shorts sont trop épais pour l’été. J’ai besoin de quelque chose de plus léger. (These shorts are too thick for summer. I need something lighter.)
12. Les shorts sont pratiques pour voyager.
Pronunciation: lay shor sohn prah-teek poor vwah-yah-zhay
Meaning: Shorts are practical for traveling.
In a Sentence:
- Les shorts sont pratiques pour voyager dans les pays chauds. (Shorts are practical for traveling to hot countries.)
- Je préfère porter des shorts, car ils sont pratiques pour les vacances. (I prefer wearing shorts because they are practical for vacations.)
Exercise to Practice Saying “Shorts” in French
Here are 12 fill-in-the-blank sentences to help you practice different ways to say “shorts” in French. Each sentence is entirely in French, with the English meaning provided below. After completing the exercise, you can check your answers at the bottom.
Fill-in-the-Blanks
- J’ai acheté un ________ en jean pour l’été.
- Les ________ cargo sont parfaits pour la randonnée.
- Tu préfères porter un ________ ajusté ou ample ?
- Ce ________ est trop joli avec ce chemisier !
- En été, je porte toujours un ________ en coton.
- Ces ________ à rayures sont très tendance cette saison.
- Il a choisi un ________ de sport pour le basketball.
- Les ________ en lin sont idéaux pour les vacances.
- Elle adore son ________ taille haute pour un look rétro.
- Ce ________ ample est confortable pour la maison.
- Les ________ brodés avec des motifs floraux sont magnifiques.
- J’ai besoin d’un ________ léger pour cette chaleur.
Answers
- J’ai acheté un short en jean pour l’été.
(I bought denim shorts for summer.) - Les shorts cargo sont parfaits pour la randonnée.
(Cargo shorts are perfect for hiking.) - Tu préfères porter un short ajusté ou ample ?
(Do you prefer wearing fitted or loose shorts?) - Ce short est trop joli avec ce chemisier !
(These shorts are so pretty with this blouse!) - En été, je porte toujours un short en coton.
(In summer, I always wear cotton shorts.) - Ces shorts à rayures sont très tendance cette saison.
(These striped shorts are very trendy this season.) - Il a choisi un short de sport pour le basketball.
(He chose sports shorts for basketball.) - Les shorts en lin sont idéaux pour les vacances.
(Linen shorts are ideal for vacations.) - Elle adore son short taille haute pour un look rétro.
(She loves her high-waisted shorts for a retro look.) - Ce short ample est confortable pour la maison.
(These loose shorts are comfortable for home.) - Les shorts brodés avec des motifs floraux sont magnifiques.
(Embroidered shorts with floral patterns are beautiful.) - J’ai besoin d’un short léger pour cette chaleur.
(I need lightweight shorts for this heat.)
Conclusion
Learning how to say “shorts” in French is a practical step in building your vocabulary. Whether you’re shopping, talking about fashion, or packing for a trip, knowing the correct terms for different types of shorts helps you communicate clearly.
From general terms like short to specific styles such as short en jean or short de sport, each word adds variety to your conversations. Practicing these expressions will make you more confident when discussing clothing in French. Keep exploring and using these words in real-life situations to make your language skills even stronger.