French words used in navigation and boating
2012 Cruise Special
Cruise and discover the Burgundy wines
More information
As in English, the French have many words and phrases for boating and nautical terms. Here are some of the common words you may encounter or have to use.
A
l'amarage : mooring
l'amarre : mooring rope
amarrer : to moor
amont : upstream
l'ancre : the anchor
l'anneau : the ring (as in mooring ring)
l'arrière : the stern
aval: downstream
l'avant : the bow
B
le bâbord : the starboard side
la barre : the helm
le bolard : the bollard
le bief : the reach (stretch of water)
le bief de partage : the summit of a canal
la bitte d'amarrage : the bollard
C
la cale : the hold
la cale-sèche : the dry-dock
le canal : the canal, les canaux : the canals
le cap : the heading
le capitaine : the captaine
le chenal : the channel
le cloison étanche : watertight bulkheads
le coque : the hull
la corde : the rope
le courante : the current
la crue : the highest level of a river
D
la dérive : the drift
la digue : the dyke, breakwater
E
la (l')eau : water
l'eau douce : water (non salted as in rivers and lakes)
l'eau de mer : sea water
la (l')écluse: a lock, on the canal or river
l'estuaire : the estuary
F
la fleuve : the large river (for example the Rhône and Rhine)
le fond : the bottom
G
le gouvernail : the rudder
le groupe : (slang for generator)
H
l'hélice : the propellor
horsbord : outboard motor
l'huile : oil
I
J
K
L
M
le mal de mer : sea sickness
la manivelle : the handle, as those used on locks to wind the sluice gates
la marée : the tide, marée bas= low tide, marée haute=high tide
le matelot : the deckhand
la mer : the sea
le moulin : (slang for the main engine)
N
le naufrage : the ship wreck
le nœud : knot, as in reef-knot, also used for the knot as in speed
O
P
la péniche: the barge (pen - ish)
le plat-board : the gunwales
le pont: the bridge, also used to describe the bridge on the boat
le poupe : the poop
le poste de pilotage : the wheel house
la proue : the stem
Q
la quille : the keel
R
le remorqueur : the tug boat
la rivière : the small river (for example the Saone)
S
la salle de machine : the engine room
sas
T
le timonerie : the wheel house
le timonier : the helmsman
le treuil : the winch
le tribord : the port side
U
V
le voilier : sailing yacht
la voilure : the sails
la voutte : the tunnel, the summit
W
X
Y
Z
If you notice words which are not included, please let us know.