The most common and direct way to say “bed” in French is un lit. Simple enough, right? But the French language, in all its richness, offers a variety of other terms depending on the context, the type of bed, or even the slang you want to use.

Whether you're tucking a child into their dodo or talking about hitting the sack (pieu), knowing these different words will make your French sound more natural and nuanced.

Let’s explore 9 ways to say “bed” in French, from the formal to the familiar!

1. The standard 'bed' – un lit

The most fundamental and widely used word for 'bed' in French is un lit. If you only learn one word for bed, this is the one you need. It's the direct, all-purpose equivalent of the English 'bed'.

Un lit is a masculine noun, which is why it uses the article un (a) or le (the). The plural form is des lits. Note that the 't' in lit and the 's' in lits are both silent, so the singular and plural forms sound identical in most cases.

You can use un lit in any context, formal or informal. It refers to any type of bed, from a simple cot to a luxurious king-size bed. To be more specific, you can add adjectives: un lit simple (a single bed), un lit double (a double bed), or un lit superposé (a bunk bed).

The word lit is a key component of several essential daily phrases that are crucial for fluency:

Faire le lit - To make the bed.
Aller au lit - To go to bed.
Être au lit - To be in bed (often used when one is sick or resting).

💡 * Je suis fatigué, je vais au lit. (I'm tired, I'm going to bed.)

N'oublie pas de faire ton lit ce matin. (Don't forget to make your bed this morning.)

L'hôtel a un très grand lit confortable. (The hotel has a very big, comfortable bed.)

Les enfants sont déjà dans leurs lits. (The children are already in their beds.)

Il est resté au lit toute la journée car il était malade. (He stayed in bed all day because he was sick.)

The 'crib' or 'cot' for a baby – un berceau / un lit de bébé

When discussing a bed for an infant in French, two main terms come to mind: un berceau and un lit de bébé. While both refer to a place for a baby to sleep, they describe different types of beds used at different stages of infancy.

Un berceau is the French word for a 'cradle' or 'bassinet'. It is typically a smaller, cozier bed intended for a newborn during their first few months. A classic feature of a berceau is its ability to rock, which helps soothe the baby.

Un lit de bébé translates directly to 'a baby's bed' and is the standard term for a 'crib' or 'cot'. This is a larger, sturdier bed with high, barred sides to keep the baby safe once they are able to sit up or move around more. You might also hear it called un lit à barreaux (a bed with bars).

The key distinction is based on the baby's age and size. A baby starts in a berceau and, after a few months, transitions to a lit de bébé. The berceau is for the newborn stage, while the lit de bébé is for the remainder of their time before moving to a toddler bed.

Functionally, many French parents keep the berceau in their own bedroom for convenience during the night. The larger lit de bébé is usually placed in the baby's own nursery, signifying a more permanent sleeping arrangement as the child grows.

💡 * Le bébé dort tranquillement dans son berceau.

Il est temps de monter le lit de bébé pour notre fille.

J'ai trouvé un joli berceau ancien dans une brocante.

Assure-toi que les barreaux du lit de bébé sont bien sécurisés.

Le nouveau-né a passé sa première nuit dans le berceau à côté de nous.

The 'bunk bed' – des lits superposés

The French term for 'bunk beds' is des lits superposés. This is the standard and most direct translation used in everyday conversation.

Literally, the phrase translates to 'superimposed beds' or 'stacked beds'. It's a very descriptive term. Let's break it down: des lits means 'beds' (from the singular un lit), and superposés means 'stacked' or 'placed one on top of the other'.

The word lit is a masculine noun. Therefore, the entire phrase des lits superposés is masculine plural. The adjective superposés must agree with lits in both gender (masculine) and number (plural).

You'll most often encounter des lits superposés when talking about children's bedrooms, youth hostels (auberges de jeunesse), dormitories, or mountain cabins (refuges de montagne)—any place where saving space is a priority.

While des lits superposés refers to the entire set, you can refer to a specific bed within the set. For example, le lit du haut means 'the top bunk' and le lit du bas means 'the bottom bunk'.

💡 * Les enfants dorment dans des lits superposés pour gagner de la place.

Dans l'auberge de jeunesse, toutes les chambres ont des lits superposés.

Je préfère le lit du bas, c'est plus facile d'accès.

As-tu déjà monté des lits superposés ? C'est compliqué !

The 'sofa bed' or 'pull-out couch' – un canapé-lit / un clic-clac

The most common and direct translation for “sofa bed” in French is un canapé-lit. It's a compound noun, literally combining un canapé (a sofa) and un lit (a bed). This term is universally understood in any context, from furniture stores to casual conversation.

A very popular and more informal term is un clic-clac. This fun, onomatopoeic word refers to the sound the mechanism makes when it's folded or unfolded. While it means sofa bed, it often specifically refers to a simpler, futon-style model where the backrest clicks down to become flat.

While both terms are often used interchangeably, canapé-lit is the broader, more formal category. Clic-clac is more colloquial and might not be used for a high-end, complex pull-out couch with a hidden mattress. If you're unsure, canapé-lit is always a safe choice.

Both nouns are masculine: un canapé-lit and un clic-clac. Note the plural forms: the compound noun becomes des canapés-lits (both parts are pluralized), while the other is simply des clic-clacs.

💡 * Les invités dormiront sur le canapé-lit dans le salon.

J'ai acheté un nouveau clic-clac pour mon studio, c'est très pratique.

Ce canapé se transforme en lit, c'est un canapé-lit.

Peux-tu m'aider à déplier le clic-clac s'il te plaît ?

The 'single bed' – un lit simple

The French term for a 'single bed' is un lit simple.

While un lit simple literally translates to 'a simple bed,' its standard meaning is a 'single bed' or 'twin bed,' referring to a bed designed for one person.

The noun lit (bed) is masculine, so it is always preceded by a masculine article like un (a) or le (the). The adjective simple agrees with the masculine singular noun.

This phrase is most commonly used when discussing accommodation, such as booking a hotel room or describing a bedroom's furniture. For example, une chambre simple (a single room) typically contains un lit simple.

The direct opposite is un lit double (a double bed). Differentiating between the two is crucial for travel and housing arrangements in French-speaking countries.

💡 * Je voudrais réserver une chambre avec un lit simple pour ce week-end.

Dans la chambre d'amis, il y a un lit simple et une petite armoire.

Ce lit simple est très confortable pour une personne.

Est-ce que l'hôtel propose des chambres avec deux lits simples ?

The 'double bed' – un lit double

The French term for a 'double bed' is quite straightforward: un lit double.

Literally translating to 'a bed double,' un lit double refers to a standard bed designed to comfortably sleep two people. It's the most common term you'll use when booking a hotel room or shopping for furniture in France.

Be aware that French bed sizes can differ from what you're used to. While un lit double is the general term, you might also see un grand lit, which usually refers to a Queen or King-size bed. For contrast, single beds are called lits jumeaux (twin beds) when there are two in a room, or un lit simple (a single bed) on its own.

This phrase is essential for travel. When making a reservation, you will be asked to specify your preference. For example, you would say, Je voudrais une chambre avec un lit double, s'il vous plaît (I would like a room with a double bed, please).

💡 * Nous avons réservé une chambre avec un lit double pour le week-end.

Ce lit double est vraiment confortable.

Préférez-vous un lit double ou deux lits simples ?

Le magasin de meubles propose une réduction sur tous les lits doubles.

The 'cot' or 'camp bed' – un lit de camp

To talk about a 'cot' or a 'camp bed' in French, you use the term un lit de camp. This phrase literally translates to 'bed of camp' and refers to a simple, portable, and often foldable bed.

The term is a masculine noun. It's composed of lit (bed) and camp (camp). Therefore, you always use the masculine articles un (a) or le (the) with it, for example, un lit de camp or le lit de camp.

This expression is commonly used when discussing camping equipment, temporary sleeping arrangements for guests, or beds found in military barracks or emergency shelters.

💡 * J'ai acheté un lit de camp pour notre excursion en montagne. (I bought a camp bed for our mountain trip.)

Quand des amis restent dormir, on installe un lit de camp dans le bureau. (When friends stay over, we set up a cot in the office.)

Les soldats dorment sur des lits de camp. (The soldiers sleep on cots.)

The informal 'bed' or 'sack' – le pieu

The informal 'bed' or 'sack' – le pieu

Le pieu is a very common slang term for “bed” (un lit). It’s the kind of informal word you’d use with friends and family, similar to the English expressions “the sack” or “the hay.” It carries a very casual, everyday tone.

You will most often hear it in the expression aller au pieu, which directly translates to “to go to bed” or, more idiomatically, “to hit the sack.”

Interestingly, the literal meaning of un pieu is a “stake” or “post.” This might be a humorous reference to the hardness of old beds or straw mattresses.

💡 * Je suis crevé, je vais au pieu. (I'm exhausted, I'm going to bed.)

Allez, sors de ton pieu, il est déjà midi ! (Come on, get out of bed, it's already noon!)

Après une longue journée, rien de tel que mon bon vieux pieu. (After a long day, there's nothing like my good old bed.)

The 'bedding' or 'place to sleep' – le couchage

The French noun le couchage is a versatile term that translates to 'bedding,' 'sleeping arrangements,' or a 'place to sleep.' It's a masculine noun (un couchage) and refers to the entire setup for sleeping, rather than just a specific bed.

Le couchage is most often used when talking about temporary or functional sleeping places. Think of contexts like camping (a tent and sleeping bag), hostels, mountain refuges, or providing a makeshift bed for a guest. It encompasses all the necessary items: the mattress, sleeping bag, blankets, and pillows.

It's important not to confuse le couchage with le lit (the bed as a piece of furniture) or la literie (bed linens like sheets and pillowcases). While related, le couchage is a broader term for the overall sleeping facility. For example, if you say prévoir un couchage, you mean 'to arrange for a place to sleep,' which could be anything from a sofa bed to an air mattress.

💡 * Pour le camping, il faut prévoir un bon couchage pour ne pas avoir froid.

L'auberge de jeunesse offre un couchage pour 20 euros la nuit.

Nous avons un couchage d'appoint pour nos invités dans le salon.

Le gîte rural propose un couchage pour six personnes.

Are there other ways to say 'bed' in French?

Our list features the most common and useful words for 'bed' in French. But the language is full of variety! You'll find other terms, from old-fashioned words to modern slang and even regionalisms you might only hear in certain places.

For fun, you can do an online search for “comment dire lit en argot” (how to say 'bed' in slang) to find some colorful, informal options.

If you come across a new synonym for lit, it’s a great idea to check its definition and see it used in a few sentences. Some words are very specific, like couchette (bunk/berth), and context is key to using them correctly.

Pay attention when you watch French movies or read French books. Notice the words people use when talking about their homes or places to sleep. It’s a fantastic way to learn vocabulary naturally.

And if you want to learn more words related to beds and sleeping, like 'pillow' or 'blanket', the WordReference page for lit is a perfect starting point for your exploration.

I hope this article has helped you feel more comfortable talking about this everyday object. To finish, here's a classic French proverb that feels just right: Comme on fait son lit, on se couche. (You've made your bed, now lie in it.)

'9 ways to say "bed" in French'