Entreprise or société are the most common ways to say “company” in French. But just like in English, there are several other options depending on the context.

As you learn French for business or simply want to expand your vocabulary, you'll find it useful to know the different terms for various types of businesses. Are you talking about a small, informal startup, a huge multinational corporation, or a specific legal entity? Using the right word will make your French sound much more natural and precise.

Let's dive into 9 essential ways to say “company” in French and learn when to use each one!

1. The standard 'company' (business entity) – une entreprise

The standard 'company' (business entity) – une entreprise

Une entreprise is the most common and versatile French word for a 'company', 'business', or 'firm'. It's the default term you should learn first.

Crucially, entreprise is a feminine noun. This means it's always preceded by feminine articles like une (a) or la (the). For example, you would say la grande entreprise (the big company), not le grand entreprise.

This word is suitable for almost any context, formal or informal. It can describe anything from a small startup to a massive multinational corporation. Whether you're talking about a local bakery or a tech giant, entreprise is the right word.

The word for the person who creates or leads a business is directly related: an entrepreneur (for a male) or an entrepreneure (for a female). The head of a company is often called the chef d'entreprise.

You'll frequently see entreprise paired with key verbs like:

• créer une entreprise - to create a company
• gérer une entreprise - to manage a company
• diriger une entreprise - to run/direct a company

While you might also hear the word une société, there's a slight difference. Entreprise refers to the economic and operational entity—the business itself. Société often refers to the legal structure or the registered company name. However, in many casual contexts, they are used interchangeably.

💡 * Il travaille pour une grande entreprise internationale.

• Elle a créé sa propre entreprise l'année dernière.
• L'entreprise est spécialisée dans les logiciels informatiques.
• C'est une petite entreprise familiale qui a beaucoup de succès.

The 'company' (legal/formal term) – une société

When discussing a company in a legal, official, or financial context in French, the most precise term to use is une société.

Une société specifically refers to a business entity that has been legally registered. It is the formal name for the legal structure of a business, created by individuals who pool resources to share in profits. While it is a direct cognate of the English 'society', its primary meaning in a business context is 'company' or 'corporation'.

You will most often encounter société on official documents, in legal contracts, on financial reports, and in the registered names of businesses. It denotes a level of formality and legal standing that more casual terms might not.

It's crucial to distinguish une société from une entreprise. Entreprise is a general, everyday term for a business or undertaking. Société, however, refers to the specific legal and administrative entity. Think of it this way: all sociétés are entreprises, but not all entreprises are legally structured as sociétés.

This term is the foundation for common business acronyms in France, such as SA (Société Anonyme, equivalent to a public limited company/corporation) and SARL (Société à Responsabilité Limitée, equivalent to a limited liability company/LLC).

💡 * Il a fondé une société d'import-export avec son frère. (He founded an import-export company with his brother.)

• Le siège social de la société est situé à Lyon. (The company's head office is located in Lyon.)
• C'est une Société à Responsabilité Limitée (SARL). (It's a Limited Liability Company (LLC).)
• Les bénéfices de la société ont augmenté de 10% cette année. (The company's profits increased by 10% this year.)

The 'firm' or 'business' – une affaire

When discussing business, deals, or general matters in French, the word une affaire is an essential and highly versatile term. It covers a broad range of concepts from a single transaction to an entire enterprise.

At its core, une affaire can mean 'a business,' 'a deal,' 'a matter,' or 'an affair.' The precise translation depends heavily on the context. For example, une bonne affaire means 'a good deal' or 'a bargain'.

The singular form, une affaire, often refers to a specific entity or situation. The plural, les affaires, is frequently used to mean 'business' in the general sense, as in 'the world of business' (le monde des affaires) or to ask how things are going (Comment vont les affaires?).

While une entreprise or une société refers specifically to a company as a formal entity, une affaire is broader. It can refer to a small business, a specific project, or even a personal matter. For instance, 'Il a lancé sa propre affaire' means 'He started his own business.'

The term forms the basis for many key phrases, such as un homme/une femme d'affaires (a businessman/businesswoman), un voyage d'affaires (a business trip), and the common saying les affaires sont les affaires (business is business).

💡 * J'ai trouvé une très bonne affaire sur cette voiture. (I found a very good deal on this car.)

• Il voyage beaucoup pour les affaires. (He travels a lot for business.)
• Elle a monté une petite affaire de traiteur. (She started a small catering business.)
• Ce n'est pas ton affaire ! (It's none of your business!)
• Le chiffre d'affaires de l'entreprise a augmenté. (The company's turnover/revenue has increased.)

The 'box' (slang for company) – une boîte

The 'box' (slang for company) – une boîte

While une boîte literally means 'a box,' it is the most common slang term in French for 'a company,' 'a firm,' or 'a business.' It's used in everyday, informal conversations about work.

The word boîte is a feminine noun. This is important because it means you must always use feminine articles, such as une boîte (a company) or la boîte (the company).

This term is extremely widespread in professional contexts. For example, the expression monter sa boîte means 'to start one's own company,' and changer de boîte means 'to switch companies'.

💡 * Je travaille dans une petite boîte d'informatique.

• Il a décidé de monter sa propre boîte.
• C'est une bonne boîte, ils paient bien.
• Elle en a marre de sa boîte, elle veut changer de travail.

The 'firm' (especially a large one) – une firme

The French word for a 'firm,' particularly a large and influential one, is une firme.

Une firme is a direct borrowing from the English word 'firm.' It specifically refers to a large-scale commercial or industrial business, often with a significant market presence or international scope.

While une entreprise is a general term for any 'company,' une firme implies size, power, and establishment. You would use it to talk about a major law firm, a multinational corporation, or a large consulting group.

It's important to remember that firme is a feminine noun in French. Therefore, it is always used with feminine articles and adjectives, such as une firme (a firm) or la firme (the firm).

In short, use une firme when you want to emphasize the scale and influence of a company, distinguishing it from smaller or more general businesses (entreprises).

💡 * Il a été embauché par une grande firme de conseil. (He was hired by a large consulting firm.)

• Cette firme multinationale opère dans plus de 50 pays. (This multinational firm operates in over 50 countries.)
• La firme a publié son rapport financier annuel. (The firm published its annual financial report.)
• C'est une firme d'avocats très réputée. (It's a very reputable law firm.)

The 'establishment' or 'facility' – un établissement

A highly versatile and common word in French, un établissement is the go-to term for an 'establishment,' 'institution,' or 'facility.'

At its core, un établissement refers to any organized place where an activity, often public or commercial, is conducted. It's a formal and broad term that can encompass everything from a school to a restaurant, a hospital, or a financial institution. Think of it as a formal word for a 'place of business' or 'public facility.'

You will frequently see this word in administrative and official contexts. For example, un établissement scolaire specifically means a school (e.g., primary school, high school). Similarly, un établissement public refers to a public institution, like a government agency or a public hospital.

In the commercial world, it's used to describe a business's physical location. A hotel, a fancy restaurant, or a bank branch can all be referred to as an établissement. It adds a touch of formality and professionalism. For example, a sign on a door might say, Notre établissement est ouvert de 9h à 18h (Our establishment is open from 9 am to 6 pm).

In short, when you need a general, somewhat formal term for a specific place or institution, établissement is an excellent choice. Its versatility makes it one of the most useful nouns for navigating daily life in France, especially in official or commercial settings.

💡 * Cet hôtel est un établissement cinq étoiles.

• Il est interdit de fumer à l'intérieur de l'établissement.
• L'établissement scolaire de mon fils est très réputé.
• Bienvenue dans notre établissement, nous espérons que vous apprécierez votre séjour.

The 'group' (a collection of companies) – un groupe

In a business context, the French word un groupe refers to a 'group' of companies, often a corporation or a conglomerate that owns several smaller companies. It is a masculine noun.

This term is commonly used in finance, business news, and corporate communications to describe a large entity composed of multiple subsidiaries. For example, a parent company and all the businesses it controls form un groupe.

While groupe can mean 'group' in many general situations (e.g., un groupe d'amis - a group of friends), its specific meaning as a corporate entity is very common in professional settings.

💡 * Le groupe a annoncé des bénéfices records ce trimestre. (The group announced record profits this quarter.)

• Elle travaille pour un grand groupe international dans le secteur de la technologie. (She works for a large international group in the technology sector.)
• Cette petite startup a été rachetée par un groupe français. (This small startup was acquired by a French group.)

The 'business' or 'shop' – un commerce

The 'business' or 'shop' – un commerce

Un commerce is a fundamental French noun for any place of business, particularly a shop or store. It broadly refers to trade, retail, or commercial activity.

You'll frequently see this word used for local shops and small businesses, such as a bakery (boulangerie), a butcher shop (boucherie), or a bookstore (librairie). These are all types of commerces.

The person who runs a shop is called un commerçant (for a man) or une commerçante (for a woman). The general area of business is often referred to as le commerce.

💡 * Ce petit commerce vend d'excellents fromages. (This little shop sells excellent cheeses.)

• Les commerces du centre-ville sont ouverts le dimanche. (The downtown businesses are open on Sundays.)
• Elle rêve d'ouvrir son propre commerce. (She dreams of opening her own business.)
• Le commerce électronique a transformé notre façon d'acheter. (E-commerce has transformed the way we shop.)

1. The 'company' (as in companionship) – la compagnie

The French word for 'company' in the sense of companionship or the presence of others is la compagnie. It's an uncountable noun used to describe the state of being with someone. For instance, if you enjoy someone's presence, you appreciate their compagnie.

A very common phrase using this word is tenir compagnie à quelqu'un, which literally translates to 'to hold company for someone' but means 'to keep someone company.' This expression is frequently used when you stay with someone so they don't feel lonely.

It's crucial not to confuse la compagnie (companionship) with une compagnie (a business/company), which is a countable noun. For a business, you would more commonly use une entreprise or une société. For example, you work for une entreprise, but you enjoy la compagnie of your friends.

💡 * J'apprécie beaucoup ta compagnie. (I really enjoy your company.)

• Mon chien me tient compagnie quand je travaille à la maison. (My dog keeps me company when I work from home.)
• Elle déteste être seule, elle a besoin de compagnie. (She hates being alone, she needs company.)
• Il est parti en compagnie de ses parents. (He left in the company of his parents.)

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

Are there other ways to say “company” in French?

Our list features the most common and versatile ways to say “company” in French, such as entreprise and société. But the professional world in France has a rich vocabulary, with many other terms used for specific contexts and industries.

For instance, you might encounter un cabinet for a firm of consultants or lawyers, une agence for a creative or marketing agency, or even une exploitation for an agricultural business. The term you choose adds a layer of precision.

A great way to discover more terms is to search for “secteurs d'activité” (business sectors) in French. This will introduce you to industry-specific vocabulary. As always, check a word's definition and see it in context before using it yourself.

As you read, watch, and listen to French business news or professional content, pay attention to how different organizations are described. This immersion is the best way to absorb the subtle distinctions between terms.

If you want to explore synonyms and related business concepts, the online dictionary Le Robert or the business sections of French news sites like Les Echos are fantastic resources for authentic, real-world examples.

I hope this guide has helped clarify how to talk about companies in French. To finish, here is a popular French proverb that fits the spirit of enterprise: « Seul on va plus vite, ensemble on va plus loin. » (Alone we go faster, together we go further.)