When you think of the word 'key' in French, the first word that probably comes to mind is la clé. And you're right! That's the most common translation for the metal object you use to open a door. But what about the 'key' to success, a 'key' on your computer keyboard, or a musical 'key'? Just like in English, the word 'key' has multiple meanings, and French uses different words for these different contexts. Learning them will unlock a new level of fluency and help you understand native speakers more accurately. Let's dive into 9 ways to say 'key' in French and open the door to a richer vocabulary!

1. The standard 'key' for a lock – la clé / la clef

The most common and standard French word for a 'key' is la clé. You will also frequently see an alternative, older spelling: la clef. Both are correct and mean the exact same thing.

Both clé and clef are pronounced identically. The spelling clé is considered more modern and is recommended by the French Academy's 1990 spelling reforms. In contemporary French, clé is much more common. You will still find clef in literature, formal writing, or business names, but for everyday use, clé is the perfect choice.

The word is always feminine, regardless of the spelling. Therefore, you must use feminine articles and agreements:

• une clé - a key
• la clé - the key
• mes clés - my keys
• les clefs - the keys (alternative plural spelling)

Just like in English, clé is used for both physical keys and in a figurative sense. It can refer to the key for a door, a car, or a piano, but it can also mean 'the solution', 'the main element', or 'the secret to something'.

Understanding its figurative use is key to fluency. Here are some common expressions:

• La clé du succès: The key to success.
• Un poste clé: A key position/role.
• Un mot-clé: A keyword.
• Clé en main: Turnkey (meaning 'ready to use').

💡 * J'ai oublié mes clés à la maison.

• La patience est la clé de la réussite.
• Peux-tu me donner la clé de la voiture s'il te plaît ?
• C'est un personnage clef de l'histoire.
• Il a trouvé la clef du mystère.

The 'key' on a computer or piano keyboard – la touche

When referring to a 'key' on a computer keyboard, a piano, or even a remote control, the French word you need is la touche. It's a feminine noun.

This is a crucial point for English speakers: la touche is not the same as la clé. While both can mean 'key' in English, la clé is used for a physical key that opens a lock (like a house key or a car key).

A simple way to remember this word is to connect it to the French verb toucher, which means 'to touch'. A touche is something you press or touch with your finger.

For computers, you'll often see la touche combined with its function. For example, la touche 'Entrée' (the 'Enter' key), la touche 'Suppr' (the 'Delete' key), or la touche 'Espace' (the 'Spacebar'). The verb used for pressing a key is typically appuyer sur.

The same word applies to musical keyboards. You can talk about les touches noires (the black keys) and les touches blanches (the white keys) on a piano.

💡 * Pour commencer, appuyez sur n'importe quelle touche. (To start, press any key.)

• Je n'arrive pas à trouver la touche 'arobase' sur ce clavier. (I can't find the '@' key on this keyboard.)
• Le professeur de piano lui a montré les touches noires et les touches blanches. (The piano teacher showed him the black keys and the white keys.)
• La touche 'F5' sert à rafraîchir la page web. (The 'F5' key is used to refresh the web page.)

The 'answer key' for a test or exercise – le corrigé

In any academic setting, you'll need the word for an 'answer key.' In French, the specific term for the solutions to a test, exercise, or exam is le corrigé.

The word le corrigé comes directly from the past participle of the verb corriger, which means 'to correct.' You can think of it literally as 'the corrected version' or 'that which has been corrected,' which makes it easy to remember.

It's important to note that le corrigé is a masculine noun. Therefore, you always use masculine articles like le or un. The plural form is les corrigés.

This term is used almost exclusively in educational or testing contexts. A teacher hands out le corrigé after a quiz, or you might find le corrigé at the back of a textbook to check your homework exercises.

While la réponse means 'the answer' to a single question, le corrigé refers to the complete set of correct answers for an entire assignment. For example, you find la réponse to question 3 within le corrigé of the test.

💡 * Le professeur a publié le corrigé de l'examen en ligne. (The teacher published the answer key for the exam online.)

• J'ai vérifié mes exercices avec le corrigé à la fin du livre. (I checked my exercises with the answer key at the end of the book.)
• Peux-tu me passer le corrigé du quiz de la semaine dernière ? (Can you pass me the answer key from last week's quiz?)
• Sans le corrigé, il est difficile de savoir si j'ai bien fait l'exercice. (Without the answer key, it's difficult to know if I did the exercise correctly.)

The 'key' or 'legend' on a map – la légende

The 'key' or 'legend' on a map – la légende

In French, la légende is the word for the 'legend' or 'key' on a map. This is the explanatory table of symbols used on a map or chart.

Be aware that la légende is a 'faux ami' (false friend). It also means 'legend' in the sense of a myth or a famous story. The context of geography or maps makes the meaning clear.

As a feminine noun, it is always preceded by a feminine article like la or une. For example, you would say une nouvelle légende (a new key).

💡 * Consulte la légende pour comprendre les symboles sur la carte. (Consult the legend to understand the symbols on the map.)

• Sans la légende, cette carte est illisible. (Without the key, this map is unreadable.)
• Chaque couleur est expliquée dans la légende en bas à droite. (Each color is explained in the legend at the bottom right.)
• Peux-tu me montrer la légende ? (Can you show me the key?)

The 'musical key' – la tonalité

La tonalité is the direct French translation for a 'musical key.' It defines the group of pitches and chords that form the harmonic basis of a piece of music, centered around a specific note called the tonic.

Remember that tonalité is a feminine noun. You must always use it with feminine articles like la or une. For example, you would say une tonalité majeure (a major key) or la tonalité originale (the original key).

This term is standard in any musical context. You'll use it when asking about a song's key, discussing music theory, or requesting a musician to change keys (transpose).

Beyond music, la tonalité can also refer to the overall 'tone' or 'mood' of a text, speech, or film. In this sense, it's a more sophisticated synonym for le ton (the tone).

💡 * Quelle est la tonalité de ce morceau ? (What is the key of this piece?)

• Le pianiste a changé la tonalité pour l'adapter à la voix de la chanteuse. (The pianist changed the key to suit the singer's voice.)
• J'aime beaucoup la tonalité mineure de cette chanson. (I really like the minor key of this song.)
• La tonalité de son discours était très optimiste. (The tone of his speech was very optimistic.)

The 'key' as in a crucial element (e.g., key to success) – la clé (du succès)

When you want to talk about a 'key' element or the 'key to success' in French, the word you're looking for is la clé. This is a direct and common metaphorical extension of the word for a physical key.

Just like in English, la clé literally means the metal object you use to open a lock. Figuratively, it represents the essential element, the solution, or the means to achieve something. The most classic phrase is la clé du succès, which literally means 'the key of success'.

The structure is very similar to English. You typically use la clé de + [noun] or la clé du + [masculine noun]. For example, la clé de la victoire (the key to victory) or la clé du problème (the key to the problem).

The word clé can also be used as an invariable adjective (meaning it doesn't change for gender or number) to mean 'key' or 'main'. For instance, you can talk about un facteur clé (a key factor), un mot-clé (a keyword), or un rôle clé (a key role).

💡 * La communication est la clé du succès dans une équipe.

• Il pense avoir trouvé la clé du mystère.
• La patience est une des clés de la réussite.
• C'est un élément clé de notre stratégie.

The 'key' as in a tool like a wrench – la clé (à molette, anglaise)

The French word la clé primarily means 'key' (like for a door). However, it is also the standard term for a 'wrench' or 'spanner'. The context usually makes it clear which 'key' you're talking about.

To specify the type of wrench, French adds a descriptor. The most common is la clé à molette, which translates to an 'adjustable wrench'. You might also encounter la clé anglaise, which also refers to an adjustable wrench or spanner.

It's important to remember that clé is a feminine noun. Therefore, you must always use feminine articles like la or une, as in une belle clé (a beautiful wrench/key).

💡 * J'ai besoin d'une clé à molette pour réparer le vélo. (I need an adjustable wrench to fix the bike.)

• Passe-moi la clé de 10, s'il te plaît. (Pass me the 10mm wrench, please.)
• Le plombier a utilisé une grande clé anglaise pour dévisser le tuyau. (The plumber used a large wrench to unscrew the pipe.)
• Ma boîte à outils est pleine de clés de toutes tailles. (My toolbox is full of wrenches of all sizes.)

The 'keystone' in architecture – la clé de voûte

Literally, la clé de voûte is an architectural term for a 'keystone' – the central, wedge-shaped stone at the apex of an arch or vault which locks all the other pieces into position.

More commonly in modern French, this term is used figuratively to mean the central element or the cornerstone of something. It refers to the indispensable part of a system, theory, argument, or organization that holds everything together.

This expression is often used in formal, intellectual, or professional contexts to describe the most critical component of a project or idea. If you remove la clé de voûte, the entire structure—whether it's an argument or a company—is expected to collapse.

Think of la clé de voûte as the 'linchpin' or the single most crucial piece. It's a powerful metaphor used to emphasize the fundamental importance of one specific element within a larger whole.

💡 * Ce principe est la clé de voûte de sa théorie. (This principle is the keystone of his theory.)

• La confiance est la clé de voûte de toute relation saine. (Trust is the cornerstone of any healthy relationship.)
• Le témoignage de cet expert était la clé de voûte de l'accusation. (The expert's testimony was the linchpin of the prosecution's case.)
• Cette nouvelle technologie est la clé de voûte de notre stratégie de croissance. (This new technology is the cornerstone of our growth strategy.)

1. The French for 'USB Key': La Clé USB

The direct and most common way to say 'USB key' or 'flash drive' in French is la clé USB. This term is universally understood in the French-speaking world.

Literally, clé translates to 'key'. The word clé is a feminine noun in French, which is why it is always preceded by the feminine article la (the) or une (a). Therefore, you will always see it as la clé USB or une clé USB.

In everyday, informal conversation, French speakers often shorten the phrase to just la clé. The context of the conversation—discussing computers, files, or work—usually makes it obvious that they are referring to a USB drive and not a house key.

The plural form is les clés USB. Note that only the article (les) and the noun (clés) are pluralized. The initialism USB remains unchanged.

💡 * Peux-tu mettre la présentation sur ma clé USB ? (Can you put the presentation on my USB key?)

• J'ai perdu la clé qui contenait tous mes documents importants. (I lost the drive that had all my important documents.)
• Il a acheté plusieurs clés USB pour le bureau. (He bought several USB drives for the office.)
• N'oublie pas d'éjecter la clé USB avant de la retirer de l'ordinateur. (Don't forget to eject the USB drive before removing it from the computer.)

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

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

Our list features the most common ways to say “key” in French, from a physical clé to a keyboard touche. However, French is a rich language with many other specific terms, including technical jargon, regional variations, and even slang.

You can uncover more specialized terms by doing an online search for “comment dire key en français pour...” followed by a specific field, like “la musique” (music) or “l'informatique” (IT).

Because “key” has so many meanings in English, context is crucial. Always check a new word's definition and look for example sentences before using it to ensure it's the right fit for what you want to say.

Pay attention as you read, watch, and listen to authentic French content. You’ll begin to notice how native speakers use different words for “key” in various literal and figurative situations.

For a deeper dive into figurative expressions or other words related to “key,” the WordReference entry for clé is a fantastic starting point. It provides numerous examples and compound phrases.

I hope this guide has unlocked a new level of understanding for you. Here’s a perfect French proverb to close with: La patience est une clé qui ouvre toutes les portes. (Patience is a key that opens all doors.)