When you think of 'classroom' in French, the first word that probably comes to mind is la salle de classe. And you're right! That's the most direct and common translation. But French, with its love for precision and context, offers a variety of other terms depending on the type of room, the level of education, or even the specific subject being taught. Whether you're a student heading to a lecture hall or a parent talking about your child's kindergarten room, knowing the right word can make your French sound much more natural. Let's dive into nine different ways to talk about a 'classroom' and expand your educational vocabulary!

1. The standard 'classroom' – la salle de classe

The most direct, common, and universally understood term for 'classroom' in French is la salle de classe.

Let's break down the term to make it easier to remember. La salle means 'the room', and de classe means 'of class'. So, you are literally saying 'the room of class', which makes perfect sense.

A crucial grammar point is that salle de classe is a feminine noun phrase. You must always use the feminine articles: la salle de classe (the classroom) or une salle de classe (a classroom).

This phrase is the standard term used across all levels of education, from kindergarten (l'école maternelle) to university (l'université). It is appropriate in both formal and informal settings.

In everyday, casual speech, when the context of being in a school is obvious, you will often hear French speakers shorten this to just la salle. For example, a student might ask, « C'est dans quelle salle ? » meaning 'Which room is it in?'

💡 * Les élèves entrent dans la salle de classe.

• Le professeur écrit au tableau dans la salle de classe.
• Notre salle de classe est au deuxième étage.
• Il y a trente chaises dans cette salle de classe.
• Veuillez laisser la salle de classe propre.

The simpler, common term – la salle

For a more common and often simpler way to say 'room' in French, you'll frequently encounter the word la salle.

La salle is the go-to term for a room that has a specific, designated function, especially within a house or a public building. While la pièce refers to any room in a general, architectural sense, la salle tells you what the room is for.

You'll most often see la salle used as part of a compound noun that specifies its purpose. This is one of the most common ways French speakers refer to specific rooms.

Common examples you absolutely need to know include: la salle de bains (the bathroom), la salle à manger (the dining room), and la salle de séjour (the living room). Notice how each name describes the room's activity.

This logic extends beyond the home to public spaces. For instance, a classroom is a salle de classe, a concert hall is a salle de concert, and a gym is a salle de sport (or often just la salle for short among gym-goers).

In short, if you want to talk about a room's function (dining, bathing, working out), la salle is almost always the right choice. If you're just counting the number of rooms in a house, pièce is more appropriate.

💡 * Le dîner est servi dans la salle à manger.

• Je dois nettoyer la salle de bains avant l'arrivée des invités.
• Les élèves sont retournés dans la salle de classe.
• Tu vas à la salle ce soir pour t'entraîner ?

The 'lecture hall' – un amphithéâtre (or l'amphi)

When you think of a university lecture, you're likely picturing un amphithéâtre, the French term for a large lecture hall or auditorium.

In everyday student life, you'll almost exclusively hear the shortened, more casual version: l'amphi (m.). Using this colloquialism is key to sounding like a local student.

An amphi is where a cours magistral (a formal lecture, often for first-year students) takes place. This is distinct from a salle de classe (a standard classroom) where smaller, interactive classes like travaux dirigés (TDs) are held.

The full word, un amphithéâtre, is masculine. The abbreviation l'amphi is also masculine, using l' because it starts with a vowel sound. You would say le grand amphi (the big lecture hall).

Just like its English cognate 'amphitheater,' the name implies a specific design: tiered, semi-circular seating that descends towards a central stage or podium, ensuring every student can see and hear the professor.

💡 * Le cours d'histoire a lieu dans le grand amphithéâtre.

• Je te retrouve devant l'amphi B à midi.
• L'amphithéâtre était bondé pour le premier cours de l'année.
• J'ai du mal à me concentrer pendant les cours en amphi.

The 'course room' (especially at university) – la salle de cours

The 'course room' (especially at university) – la salle de cours

La salle de cours literally translates to 'the room of the course.' It is the most common way to refer to a classroom, lecture hall, or seminar room in a higher education context like a university or college.

While la salle de classe is also used for 'classroom,' it is more typically associated with primary and secondary schools. La salle de cours specifically points to the room where a university-level 'course' (un cours) takes place.

Use this term when asking for directions to a specific lecture or finding where your class is scheduled on campus. It is the standard, everyday term used by students and faculty.

💡 * Le cours de sociologie est dans la salle de cours 201. (The sociology course is in classroom 201.)

• J'ai laissé mon cahier dans la salle de cours après le TD. (I left my notebook in the classroom after the tutorial session.)
• Excusez-moi, où se trouve la salle de cours de Monsieur Dubois ? (Excuse me, where is Mr. Dubois's classroom?)
• Toutes les salles de cours de ce bâtiment sont équipées d'un projecteur. (All the classrooms in this building are equipped with a projector.)

The 'study hall' – la salle d'étude or la salle de permanence

In French, 'study hall' is typically translated using two common phrases: la salle d'étude and la salle de permanence. While they are often used interchangeably, there's a subtle distinction between them.

La salle d'étude literally means 'the study room.' It refers to a physical space within a school designated for students to study, read, or do homework quietly, focusing on the purpose of the room.

La salle de permanence is also very common. A permanence (often shortened to perm') is a scheduled block of time in a student's schedule when they don't have a class and are supervised. This term focuses on the scheduled period itself.

The main difference lies in emphasis. You go to the salle d'étude to study, whereas you have a permanence on your schedule, which takes place in the salle de permanence. In everyday use, French students often use the terms for the same room.

You can use either term to refer to the room and be understood. However, when talking about the scheduled time slot, permanence is the correct term. For example, you would say, 'J'ai une heure de permanence' ('I have an hour of study hall').

💡 * On se retrouve en salle d'étude pour réviser avant l'examen. (Let's meet in the study hall to review before the exam.)

• Le prof de maths est absent, alors on va en salle de permanence. (The math teacher is absent, so we're going to the study hall.)
• J'ai deux heures de permanence cet après-midi, c'est ennuyeux. (I have two hours of study hall this afternoon, it's boring.)
• Il est interdit de parler dans la salle d'étude. (It is forbidden to talk in the study hall.)

The 'lab' or 'laboratory' – le laboratoire (or le labo)

The French word for 'laboratory' is le laboratoire, but just like in English, there's a common shortened version: le labo.

Le laboratoire is the complete, formal term for a 'laboratory.' Its informal, everyday equivalent is le labo (pronounced 'la-bo'). Both words are masculine, so they use the articles le or un.

You would use le laboratoire in formal, written, or academic contexts, such as on signs, in scientific papers, or in official discussions. In contrast, le labo is used ubiquitously in spoken French among students, colleagues, and friends. It's not considered slang, but rather a standard, practical abbreviation.

To sound natural in everyday conversation, you should feel comfortable using le labo. It's the most common way French speakers refer to a lab. Reserve le laboratoire for more formal situations to maintain the appropriate tone.

💡 * Je passe l'après-midi au labo pour finir mon expérience. (I'm spending the afternoon at the lab to finish my experiment.)

• Les résultats du laboratoire d'analyses médicales seront prêts demain. (The results from the medical analysis laboratory will be ready tomorrow.)
• Tu as vu le nouvel équipement dans le labo de chimie ? (Did you see the new equipment in the chemistry lab?)
• Il est technicien de laboratoire dans une grande entreprise. (He is a laboratory technician at a large company.)

The 'computer lab' – la salle d'informatique

The standard French term for a 'computer lab' is la salle d'informatique. Broken down, salle means 'room' and informatique refers to 'computer science' or 'IT'. So, it literally means 'the IT room'.

This phrase is commonly used in schools, universities, and libraries. Because salle is a feminine noun, it always uses the feminine article la or une. In casual speech, French speakers often shorten it to la salle d'info.

While less common in a school context, you might occasionally hear le laboratoire d'informatique or its short form le labo d'info. However, la salle d'informatique remains the most widely understood term.

💡 * Où est la salle d'informatique, s'il vous plaît ? (Where is the computer lab, please?)

• Nous avons un cours dans la salle d'info à 14h. (We have a class in the computer lab at 2 p.m.)
• L'imprimante de la salle d'informatique ne fonctionne pas. (The printer in the computer lab isn't working.)
• Il faut un mot de passe pour utiliser les ordinateurs de la salle d'informatique. (You need a password to use the computers in the computer lab.)

The 'workshop' or 'studio' – l'atelier

The 'workshop' or 'studio' – l'atelier

The primary meaning of l'atelier is a physical space where an artist or artisan works. This can be a painter's studio, a sculptor's workshop, or even a mechanic's garage. The word emphasizes a place of manual creation, craft, or art.

Beyond a physical location, l'atelier also refers to a 'workshop' in the sense of a class or a collaborative group session. It's common to see terms like atelier d'écriture (writing workshop) or atelier de cuisine (cooking workshop/class).

Remember that l'atelier is a masculine noun: un atelier. It is used across various contexts, from high fashion design houses (un atelier de couture) to educational activities for children (un atelier de peinture).

💡 * L'artiste passe des heures dans son atelier à peindre.

• Je me suis inscrit à un atelier de poterie pour le week-end.
• Le couturier a présenté sa nouvelle collection directement depuis son atelier.
• L'école organise un atelier de théâtre pour les élèves.

1. The 'multipurpose room' – la salle polyvalente

The most common and direct way to say 'multipurpose room' in French is la salle polyvalente. This phrase is composed of two words: la salle, which means 'the room' or 'the hall', and polyvalente, the feminine adjective for 'multipurpose' or 'versatile'.

You will typically find a salle polyvalente in a public or community building, such as a school (école), a town hall (mairie), or a community center. It's a flexible space used for a wide range of activities, including community meetings (réunions), local events, sports activities, and private parties.

In French, nouns have a gender, and salle is a feminine noun. Consequently, any adjective describing it must also be in the feminine form. This is why we use polyvalente (ending in -e) and not the masculine form, polyvalent. For example, you would say une grande salle polyvalente for 'a large multipurpose room'.

A related term you might encounter is la salle des fêtes, which literally means 'the hall of festivities'. While its purpose can overlap with a salle polyvalente, la salle des fêtes is more specifically intended for celebrations like weddings, banquets, and parties, whereas salle polyvalente highlights the room's functional flexibility for any kind of gathering.

💡 * La réunion des parents aura lieu dans la salle polyvalente. (The parent-teacher meeting will be held in the multipurpose room.)

• Notre village organise un loto dans la salle polyvalente ce week-end. (Our village is organizing a bingo game in the multipurpose room this weekend.)
• Nous avons loué la salle polyvalente pour fêter son anniversaire. (We rented the multipurpose room to celebrate his/her birthday.)
• La salle polyvalente est équipée de tables, de chaises et d'une petite scène. (The multipurpose room is equipped with tables, chairs, and a small stage.)

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

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

Our guide has walked you through the most common and essential terms for 'classroom' in French, from la salle de classe to la salle de cours. However, the French language, like any other, is rich with specific vocabulary for different contexts, including academic, technical, and even informal settings.

If you're looking for a specific type of room, try an online search like “comment dire ‘art room’ en français” or “salle de classe pour la chimie” to find more precise terms.

The best way to master this vocabulary is to observe it in context. Notice how a university student might refer to a large lecture hall as an amphithéâtre (or un amphi), which is quite different from a primary school pupil’s salle de classe.

Pay close attention when watching French movies or shows set in schools, like Les Choristes or Entre les murs. You'll hear this vocabulary used naturally and pick up on the nuances.

For a deeper dive into educational vocabulary, exploring the entries for salle or classe on a dictionary site like Larousse or WordReference can reveal many related expressions and specialized terms.

We hope this guide has been a valuable lesson! To close, let's remember the powerful words of Victor Hugo on the importance of the places we learn in: Celui qui ouvre une porte d’école, ferme une prison. (He who opens a school door, closes a prison.)