If you are learning French, one of the first things you might want to know is how to say everyday words in the language. One such word is “watch.” A watch is something many people wear on their wrist to tell time, and it’s also an item that comes up often in conversations. Whether you are shopping for a new watch in France, or just want to describe someone wearing one, knowing how to say “watch” in French will help.
In this article, we will go over the different ways to say “watch” in French, and how to use the word in sentences. You will also learn different phrases you can use, and how to respond when someone mentions a watch. This will give you more confidence in speaking French, especially if you plan to visit a French-speaking country. Let’s get started!
Ways to say “watch” in French
Here are different ways to say “watch” in French. Each of these can be used in different contexts depending on the type of watch or the situation.
1. Montre (pronounced: mon-truh)
- Applicable for: Regular wristwatch
- Meaning: The most common word for a wristwatch in French.
- In a Sentence:
- J’ai acheté une montre hier. (I bought a watch yesterday.)
- Ma montre est cassée. (My watch is broken.)
2. Horloge (pronounced: or-loj)
- Applicable for: A wall clock or a large clock
- Meaning: This is used for a clock you might find on the wall.
- In a Sentence:
- Il y a une horloge dans ma chambre. (There is a clock in my room.)
- L’horloge sonne toutes les heures. (The clock rings every hour.)
3. Montre-bracelet (pronounced: mon-truh brah-suh-lay)
- Applicable for: A wristwatch (formal)
- Meaning: A more formal way to refer to a wristwatch.
- In a Sentence:
- Elle porte une montre-bracelet en or. (She is wearing a gold wristwatch.)
- J’ai perdu ma montre-bracelet. (I lost my wristwatch.)
4. Montre de poche (pronounced: mon-truh duh posh)
- Applicable for: Pocket watch
- Meaning: This refers to a pocket watch, which is a watch you carry in your pocket instead of wearing it on your wrist.
- In a Sentence:
- Mon grand-père a une montre de poche. (My grandfather has a pocket watch.)
- J’ai trouvé une montre de poche ancienne. (I found an old pocket watch.)
5. Montre numérique (pronounced: mon-truh noo-may-reek)
- Applicable for: Digital watch
- Meaning: A digital watch, which shows the time in numbers rather than with hands.
- In a Sentence:
- J’ai une montre numérique. (I have a digital watch.)
- Les enfants préfèrent les montres numériques. (Children prefer digital watches.)
6. Montre connectée (pronounced: mon-truh koh-nek-tay)
- Applicable for: Smartwatch
- Meaning: Refers to a smartwatch, which can connect to your phone and track different activities.
- In a Sentence:
- Ma montre connectée me montre mes messages. (My smartwatch shows me my messages.)
- Il a acheté une montre connectée pour Noël. (He bought a smartwatch for Christmas.)
7. Montre analogique (pronounced: mon-truh ah-nah-loh-jeek)
- Applicable for: Analog watch
- Meaning: Refers to a traditional watch with clock hands instead of a digital display.
- In a Sentence:
- Il préfère les montres analogiques. (He prefers analog watches.)
- Ma montre analogique ne fonctionne pas bien. (My analog watch doesn’t work well.)
8. Réveil (pronounced: ray-veil)
- Applicable for: Alarm clock
- Meaning: Used for a clock that wakes you up in the morning.
- In a Sentence:
- J’ai mis mon réveil à six heures. (I set my alarm clock for six o’clock.)
- Le réveil a sonné très fort. (The alarm clock rang very loudly.)
9. Horloge de poche (pronounced: or-loj duh posh)
- Applicable for: Pocket clock
- Meaning: Refers to a small clock that you can keep in your pocket, similar to a pocket watch.
- In a Sentence:
- Mon grand-père utilise une horloge de poche. (My grandfather uses a pocket clock.)
- L’horloge de poche est ancienne. (The pocket clock is old.)
10. Chronomètre (pronounced: kroh-no-may-truh)
- Applicable for: Stopwatch
- Meaning: A device used for measuring short periods of time.
- In a Sentence:
- J’ai utilisé un chronomètre pour la course. (I used a stopwatch for the race.)
- Le chronomètre marque le temps de chaque tour. (The stopwatch tracks the time of each lap.)
11. Montre de sport (pronounced: mon-truh duh spor)
- Applicable for: Sports watch
- Meaning: A watch designed for athletes, often waterproof and with extra features like heart rate monitors.
- In a Sentence:
- Il porte une montre de sport pendant son entraînement. (He wears a sports watch during his training.)
- Les montres de sport sont souvent très résistantes. (Sports watches are often very durable.)
12. Montre à gousset (pronounced: mon-truh ah goo-set)
- Applicable for: Fob watch
- Meaning: Another term for a pocket watch, usually with a chain.
- In a Sentence:
- Mon oncle collectionne des montres à gousset. (My uncle collects fob watches.)
- Il a une montre à gousset en argent. (He has a silver fob watch.)
13. Montre à quartz (pronounced: mon-truh ah kwahrts)
- Applicable for: Quartz watch
- Meaning: A watch that uses a quartz crystal to keep time.
- In a Sentence:
- J’ai une montre à quartz avec un bracelet en cuir. (I have a quartz watch with a leather strap.)
- Les montres à quartz sont très précises. (Quartz watches are very precise.)
14. Montre de luxe (pronounced: mon-truh duh lukss)
- Applicable for: Luxury watch
- Meaning: High-end watches, often expensive and stylish.
- In a Sentence:
- Il a acheté une montre de luxe pour son anniversaire. (He bought a luxury watch for his birthday.)
- La montre de luxe qu’il porte est très chère. (The luxury watch he wears is very expensive.)
15. Montre à aiguilles (pronounced: mon-truh ah ee-gweel)
- Applicable for: Watch with hands (hands of the clock)
- Meaning: Refers to a traditional watch with clock hands (minute and hour hands).
- In a Sentence:
- Cette montre à aiguilles est très élégante. (This watch with hands is very elegant.)
- J’adore les montres à aiguilles vintage. (I love vintage watches with hands.)
16. Montre solaire (pronounced: mon-truh so-lar)
- Applicable for: Solar-powered watch
- Meaning: A watch that runs on solar energy.
- In a Sentence:
- Ma montre solaire se recharge avec la lumière du soleil. (My solar-powered watch charges with sunlight.)
- Les montres solaires sont écologiques. (Solar-powered watches are eco-friendly.)
17. Montre automatique (pronounced: mon-truh oh-to-mah-teek)
- Applicable for: Automatic watch
- Meaning: A watch that doesn’t need a battery because it winds itself.
- In a Sentence:
- Cette montre automatique est très précise. (This automatic watch is very precise.)
- Il a une montre automatique en acier inoxydable. (He has a stainless steel automatic watch.)
18. Montre de plongée (pronounced: mon-truh duh plon-jay)
- Applicable for: Diving watch
- Meaning: A watch designed to be worn underwater, often waterproof and with a rotating bezel.
- In a Sentence:
- Il utilise une montre de plongée pendant ses vacances. (He uses a diving watch during his vacation.)
- Les montres de plongée sont étanches. (Diving watches are waterproof.)
19. Montre à rétrograde (pronounced: mon-truh ah ray-tro-gradh)
- Applicable for: Retrograde watch
- Meaning: A watch with a retrograde display, where the hands move backward to indicate time.
- In a Sentence:
- Elle porte une montre à rétrograde avec un design original. (She wears a retrograde watch with a unique design.)
- Les montres à rétrograde sont assez rares. (Retrograde watches are quite rare.)
20. Montre hybride (pronounced: mon-truh ee-breed)
- Applicable for: Hybrid watch
- Meaning: A combination of traditional watch and smartwatch features.
- In a Sentence:
- J’ai une montre hybride qui mesure mon activité. (I have a hybrid watch that tracks my activity.)
- Les montres hybrides ont un design classique mais des fonctionnalités modernes. (Hybrid watches have a classic design but modern features.)
21. Montre à affichage digital (pronounced: mon-truh ah ah-fee-shahj dee-jee-tal)
- Applicable for: Watch with digital display
- Meaning: A watch that displays the time using numbers on a screen.
- In a Sentence:
- Cette montre à affichage digital est facile à lire. (This watch with a digital display is easy to read.)
- Les montres à affichage digital sont populaires chez les jeunes. (Watches with digital displays are popular with young people.)
22. Montre d’aviateur (pronounced: mon-truh dah-vee-ah-teur)
- Applicable for: Aviator watch
- Meaning: A large, often rugged watch designed for pilots, with features for flight.
- In a Sentence:
- Il a une montre d’aviateur avec un grand cadran. (He has an aviator watch with a big dial.)
- Les montres d’aviateur sont connues pour leur précision. (Aviator watches are known for their precision.)
23. Montre digitale (pronounced: mon-truh dee-jee-tal)
- Applicable for: Digital watch
- Meaning: A common type of watch that uses numbers to tell time.
- In a Sentence:
- J’aime ma montre digitale parce qu’elle est très simple. (I like my digital watch because it’s very simple.)
- La montre digitale indique aussi la date. (The digital watch also shows the date.)
24. Montre de collection (pronounced: mon-truh duh koh-lek-syon)
- Applicable for: Collector’s watch
- Meaning: A rare or special watch that someone collects.
- In a Sentence:
- Cette montre de collection est très chère. (This collector’s watch is very expensive.)
- Il a une montre de collection de marque. (He has a brand-name collector’s watch.)
25. Montre vintage (pronounced: mon-truh vin-tahj)
- Applicable for: Vintage watch
- Meaning: A watch that is old but still in good condition, often collectible.
- In a Sentence:
- Elle porte une montre vintage de son grand-père. (She wears a vintage watch from her grandfather.)
- Les montres vintage ont souvent un grand charme. (Vintage watches often have great charm.)
Other Ways to Say “Watch” in French
Below is a table with some additional ways to say “watch” in French. These terms are commonly used in specific contexts or describe different kinds of watches.
| Other Ways to Say | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example Sentences |
| Montre à cadran | (mon-truh ah kah-dran) | Watch with a dial | – J’ai une montre à cadran en argent. (I have a silver dial watch.) |
| Montre de bureau | (mon-truh duh boo-roh) | Desk clock | – Cette montre de bureau est décorative. (This desk clock is decorative.) |
| Montre de poche ancienne | (mon-truh duh posh an-syen) | Antique pocket watch | – Il a trouvé une montre de poche ancienne. (He found an antique pocket watch.) |
| Montre à saphir | (mon-truh ah sah-feer) | Watch with a sapphire crystal | – La montre à saphir est très résistante. (The watch with a sapphire crystal is very durable.) |
| Montre avec bracelet | (mon-truh ah-vek brah-suh-let) | Watch with a strap | – J’aime ma montre avec bracelet en cuir. (I like my watch with a leather strap.) |
| Montre de poche en or | (mon-truh duh posh ahn or) | Golden pocket watch | – Il a hérité d’une montre de poche en or. (He inherited a golden pocket watch.) |
| Montre à cadran rond | (mon-truh ah kah-dran ron) | Watch with a round dial | – Elle porte une montre à cadran rond. (She wears a watch with a round dial.) |
| Montre à bracelet métallique | (mon-truh ah brah-suh-let meh-tah-leek) | Watch with a metal bracelet | – J’ai une montre à bracelet métallique. (I have a watch with a metal bracelet.) |
| Montre de navigation | (mon-truh duh nah-vee-gah-syon) | Navigation watch (often for pilots) | – Un pilote utilise souvent une montre de navigation. (A pilot often uses a navigation watch.) |
| Montre à grandes aiguilles | (mon-truh ah grahndz ee-gweel) | Watch with large hands (easy to read) | – Ma montre à grandes aiguilles est facile à lire. (My watch with large hands is easy to read.) |
| Montre de terrain | (mon-truh duh teh-rahn) | Field watch (used in outdoor activities) | – Il utilise une montre de terrain pour ses randonnées. (He uses a field watch for his hikes.) |
| Montre d’explorateur | (mon-truh dex-plor-ah-teur) | Explorer’s watch | – Elle a acheté une montre d’explorateur avant son voyage. (She bought an explorer’s watch before her trip.) |
| Montre avec fonction GPS | (mon-truh ah-vek fonk-syon J-P-E-S) | Watch with GPS function | – Sa montre avec fonction GPS est très pratique. (His watch with GPS function is very useful.) |
| Montre résistante à l’eau | (mon-truh ray-zis-tahnt ah loh) | Water-resistant watch | – Cette montre résistante à l’eau est parfaite pour nager. (This water-resistant watch is perfect for swimming.) |
| Montre à cadran digital | (mon-truh ah kah-dran dee-jee-tal) | Watch with a digital dial | – Il porte une montre à cadran digital. (He wears a watch with a digital dial.) |
| Montre à affichage analogique | (mon-truh ah af-fee-shahj ah-na-loh-jeek) | Watch with analog display | – Ma montre à affichage analogique est simple à utiliser. (My analog display watch is simple to use.) |
| Montre de mode | (mon-truh duh mod) | Fashion watch | – C’est une montre de mode très tendance. (It’s a very trendy fashion watch.) |
| Montre à fonction altimètre | (mon-truh ah fonk-syon al-tee-may-truh) | Watch with altimeter function | – La montre à fonction altimètre est utile pour la randonnée. (The watch with altimeter function is useful for hiking.) |
| Montre numérique de sport | (mon-truh noo-may-reek duh spor) | Digital sports watch | – J’ai une montre numérique de sport pour courir. (I have a digital sports watch for running.) |
| Montre avec calendrier | (mon-truh ah-vek kah-len-dree-ay) | Watch with a calendar function | – Cette montre avec calendrier est pratique. (This watch with a calendar function is practical.) |
Response to “Watch” in French
When someone mentions a “watch” in French, there are several ways you can respond depending on the context. Here are some common responses to “watch” in French:
1. C’est une belle montre !
- Pronunciation: Say oon bel mon-truh
- Meaning: “It’s a beautiful watch!”
- In a Sentence:
- Person 1: “J’ai acheté une nouvelle montre.” (I bought a new watch.)
- Person 2: “C’est une belle montre !” (It’s a beautiful watch!)
2. Où as-tu acheté cette montre ?
- Pronunciation: Oo ah-too ah-shay-shee set mon-truh
- Meaning: “Where did you buy this watch?”
- In a Sentence:
- Person 1: “Regarde ma montre !” (Look at my watch!)
- Person 2: “Où as-tu acheté cette montre ?” (Where did you buy this watch?)
3. Elle est vraiment élégante.
- Pronunciation: El eh v-ray-mon ay-lay-gahnt
- Meaning: “It is really elegant.”
- In a Sentence:
- Person 1: “J’ai une montre en or.” (I have a gold watch.)
- Person 2: “Elle est vraiment élégante.” (It is really elegant.)
4. Elle fonctionne bien ?
- Pronunciation: El fohnk-syon byan
- Meaning: “Does it work well?”
- In a Sentence:
- Person 1: “Ma montre est toute neuve.” (My watch is brand new.)
- Person 2: “Elle fonctionne bien ?” (Does it work well?)
5. J’adore ta montre !
- Pronunciation: Jah-dor tah mon-truh
- Meaning: “I love your watch!”
- In a Sentence:
- Person 1: “Voici ma montre de sport.” (Here is my sports watch.)
- Person 2: “J’adore ta montre !” (I love your watch!)
6. Tu portes toujours une montre ?
- Pronunciation: Tu port too-zhoor oon mon-truh
- Meaning: “Do you always wear a watch?”
- In a Sentence:
- Person 1: “J’ai ma montre connectée aujourd’hui.” (I’m wearing my smartwatch today.)
- Person 2: “Tu portes toujours une montre ?” (Do you always wear a watch?)
7. Quelle est la marque de ta montre ?
- Pronunciation: Kel eh lah mark duh tah mon-truh
- Meaning: “What is the brand of your watch?”
- In a Sentence:
- Person 1: “Regarde ma montre à quartz.” (Look at my quartz watch.)
- Person 2: “Quelle est la marque de ta montre ?” (What is the brand of your watch?)
8. Elle a l’air chère !
- Pronunciation: El ah lehr shair
- Meaning: “It looks expensive!”
- In a Sentence:
- Person 1: “J’ai acheté une montre de luxe.” (I bought a luxury watch.)
- Person 2: “Elle a l’air chère !” (It looks expensive!)
9. Est-ce qu’elle est étanche ?
- Pronunciation: Es-kehl eh eh-tahnshe?
- Meaning: “Is it waterproof?”
- In a Sentence:
- Person 1: “J’ai une montre de plongée.” (I have a diving watch.)
- Person 2: “Est-ce qu’elle est étanche ?” (Is it waterproof?)
10. Tu as une montre digitale ?
- Pronunciation: Too ah oon mon-truh dee-jee-tal?
- Meaning: “Do you have a digital watch?”
- In a Sentence:
- Person 1: “Je porte une montre à affichage digital.” (I wear a digital watch.)
- Person 2: “Tu as une montre digitale ?” (Do you have a digital watch?)
Exercise to Practice Saying “Watch” in French
Below are 12 fill-in-the-blank exercises using the different ways to say “watch” in French. After the exercises, I will provide the answers along with the meanings of each sentence.
Fill-in-the-Blank Sentences:
- J’ai une _________ en or.
- Regarde ma _________. Elle est toute neuve.
- Ma _________ est cassée.
- Il a une _________ à quartz.
- Elle porte une _________ de sport pendant son entraînement.
- J’ai acheté une _________ à affichage digital.
- Mon grand-père a une _________ à gousset très ancienne.
- Cette _________ est très élégante.
- Il a une _________ connectée.
- J’aime ma _________ avec bracelet métallique.
- _________ sonne tous les matins à six heures.
- La _________ sur le mur indique l’heure exacte.
Answers and Meaning:
- J’ai une montre en or.
I have a gold watch.- “Montre” is the most common word for a wristwatch in French.
- Regarde ma montre de sport. Elle est toute neuve.
Look at my sports watch. It is brand new.- “Montre de sport” refers to a watch designed for athletes or physical activities.
- Ma montre est cassée.
My watch is broken.- Here, “montre” refers to a regular wristwatch.
- Il a une montre à quartz.
He has a quartz watch.- “Montre à quartz” is a watch powered by a quartz crystal, known for its precision.
- Elle porte une montre de sport pendant son entraînement.
She wears a sports watch during her training.- “Montre de sport” is a watch used for sports or physical activities.
- J’ai acheté une montre à affichage digital.
I bought a digital watch.- “Montre à affichage digital” refers to a watch that shows the time digitally, with numbers.
- Mon grand-père a une montre à gousset très ancienne.
My grandfather has a very old pocket watch.- “Montre à gousset” is an antique pocket watch often with a chain.
- Cette montre est très élégante.
This watch is very elegant.- “Montre” refers to a general wristwatch, used to describe its elegant design.
- Il a une montre connectée.
He has a smartwatch.- “Montre connectée” refers to a modern smartwatch that connects to other devices.
- J’aime ma montre à bracelet métallique.
I like my watch with a metal bracelet.
- “Montre à bracelet métallique” refers to a watch with a metal strap or bracelet.
- Le réveil sonne tous les matins à six heures.
The alarm clock rings every morning at six o’clock.
- “Réveil” refers to an alarm clock, not a wristwatch, but it’s another type of time-keeping device.
- La montre sur le mur indique l’heure exacte.
The clock on the wall shows the exact time.
- “Montre” here refers to a wall clock or any larger clock that hangs on a wall.
Conclusion
In this article, we’ve explored various ways to say “watch” in French, from common terms like montre to more specific ones such as montre de sport and montre connectée. Understanding the different types of watches and their French names is useful whether you’re shopping for a new watch, describing one to a French speaker, or simply learning more about the language.
With the examples and exercises provided, you should feel more confident when talking about watches in French. Whether it’s a traditional montre on your wrist or a modern montre connectée, each term has its place depending on the type of watch you’re referring to. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be able to use these terms in everyday conversation!
By practicing these words and sentences, you’ll also improve your overall fluency in French. With a little effort, you’ll be able to discuss timepieces like a pro in no time. Happy learning!