Une lampe is the most common and direct way to say "lamp" in French. But what if you're talking about a fancy chandelier, a sturdy floor lamp, or a tiny bedside light? The French language, rich in specifics, has a variety of words for these illuminating objects. As you learn French, perhaps while decorating your imaginary Parisian apartment or simply describing the cozy corner where you read, you'll find that one word doesn't fit all. Let's shed some light on the different ways to say "lamp" in French!

1. The standard 'lamp' – une lampe

The most common and straightforward word for 'lamp' in French is une lampe. It is a feminine noun, which is crucial for using the correct articles. You will typically see it with une (a) or la (the).

Une lampe is a versatile term that covers most types of household lamps. This includes a desk lamp (une lampe de bureau), a bedside lamp (une lampe de chevet), or a floor lamp (une lampe sur pied). It refers to the complete lighting fixture.

It's important not to confuse une lampe with related terms. Une ampoule is the light bulb that goes inside the lamp. La lumière refers to the light or illumination itself, not the physical object. So, you put une ampoule in une lampe to get de la lumière.

In daily conversation, you'll frequently use une lampe with specific verbs. The most common are allumer la lampe (to turn on the lamp) and éteindre la lampe (to turn off the lamp).

The plural form is regular and simple: des lampes. For example, you might say, 'Nous avons besoin de nouvelles lampes pour le salon' (We need new lamps for the living room).

💡 * Peux-tu allumer la lampe, s'il te plaît ? (Can you turn on the lamp, please?)

• J'ai acheté une belle lampe de chevet pour ma chambre. (I bought a beautiful bedside lamp for my bedroom.)
• Cette lampe ne fonctionne plus, je crois que l'ampoule est grillée. (This lamp doesn't work anymore, I think the bulb is burnt out.)
• Il y a deux grandes lampes de chaque côté du canapé. (There are two big lamps on each side of the sofa.)

The 'floor lamp' – un lampadaire

When furnishing a room, knowing the right vocabulary is key. For a 'floor lamp' in French, the word you need is un lampadaire.

Un lampadaire specifically refers to a tall, freestanding lamp that is placed on the floor. It's a masculine noun, so you'll always see it preceded by articles like un or le.

It's important to distinguish un lampadaire from other types of lighting. A smaller lamp that sits on a table or desk is simply une lampe (or une lampe de bureau), and a light fixture on the ceiling is un plafonnier.

One crucial point is that un lampadaire can also mean a 'street lamp' or 'lamppost'. The context almost always makes the meaning clear. If you're talking about your living room, it's a floor lamp; if you're talking about a city street, it's a street lamp.

You will commonly use this word when shopping for furniture (chercher un lampadaire), describing the layout of a room, or asking someone to turn on the light.

💡 * J'ai besoin d'un nouveau lampadaire pour mon coin lecture.

• Le lampadaire à côté du canapé donne une lumière douce.
• Peux-tu allumer le lampadaire, s'il te plaît ? Il fait sombre ici.
• Les lampadaires de la rue s'allument à 18h en hiver.

The 'bedside lamp' – une lampe de chevet

To talk about a 'bedside lamp' in French, the specific and most common term you'll use is une lampe de chevet. This phrase is a key piece of vocabulary for describing a bedroom or shopping for furniture.

Let's look at the components: une lampe means 'a lamp', and chevet refers to the bedside area. In fact, a 'bedside table' is called une table de chevet. So, the phrase literally translates to 'a lamp of the bedside'.

The noun lampe is feminine, which is why we use the article une (a/an) or la (the). When you need to talk about more than one, the plural form is des lampes de chevet. Note that only lampes becomes plural; chevet remains unchanged.

You'll encounter this phrase in everyday situations, such as describing your nightly routine. For instance, you might say you turn off the light before going to sleep: J'éteins ma lampe de chevet avant de dormir. (I turn off my bedside lamp before sleeping).

💡 * J'ai besoin d'une nouvelle ampoule pour ma lampe de chevet.

• Il a posé son livre à côté de la lampe de chevet.
• Les deux lampes de chevet de chaque côté du lit sont identiques.
• Pourrais-tu éteindre ta lampe de chevet ? La lumière me dérange.

The 'desk lamp' – une lampe de bureau

The standard and most direct translation for 'desk lamp' in French is une lampe de bureau. This is the term you will hear and see most frequently.

Let's break down the phrase: une lampe means 'a lamp,' and de bureau means 'of the desk' or 'for the desk.' This prepositional phrase de bureau specifies the lamp's function and location.

A key grammatical point is that the noun lampe is feminine. Consequently, it must always be paired with a feminine article, such as une (a/an) or la (the).

This term is used universally, whether you are shopping for office supplies, describing your room, or asking someone to turn on the light. It is appropriate for both formal and informal situations.

💡 * J'ai besoin d'une nouvelle lampe de bureau pour travailler le soir.

• Où as-tu trouvé cette jolie lampe de bureau ?
• La lumière de ma lampe de bureau est trop faible pour lire.
• Allume la lampe de bureau, s'il te plaît, je ne vois rien.

The 'wall lamp' or 'sconce' – une applique

The 'wall lamp' or 'sconce' – une applique

Une applique is the specific French term for a light fixture mounted directly on a wall. It's the direct equivalent of 'wall lamp' or 'sconce' in English.

Crucially, the word is feminine. You always use it with feminine articles, such as une applique (a wall lamp) or l'applique (the wall lamp).

This term is most commonly used when discussing home décor, interior design, or shopping for furniture and lighting. It's a standard, not slang, term.

Whether you are describing the lighting in a hotel room or redecorating your own apartment, une applique is the precise and correct word for any light fixture attached to a wall.

💡 * J'ai besoin d'acheter une nouvelle applique pour le salon. (I need to buy a new wall lamp for the living room.)

• Les appliques murales donnent une lumière douce et indirecte. (The wall sconces provide a soft, indirect light.)
• Il a installé deux appliques de chaque côté du lit. (He installed two wall lamps on either side of the bed.)
• Cette applique est très moderne et design. (This sconce is very modern and stylish.)

The 'hanging lamp' or 'pendant light' – une suspension

When you're looking for the French term for a 'hanging lamp' or 'pendant light', the word you need is une suspension. This term is used to describe a light fixture that hangs down from the ceiling, typically on a cord or chain.

It's important to remember that suspension is a feminine noun in French. This means you will always use feminine articles with it, such as une suspension (a hanging lamp) or la suspension (the hanging lamp).

You will frequently hear or see the word une suspension in the context of home decorating, furniture stores (magasins de meubles), and lighting shops. It specifically refers to this style of lamp, distinguishing it from a chandelier (un lustre) or a flush mount ceiling light (un plafonnier).

While suspension can also mean 'suspension' in other contexts (like for a car or from a job), in a conversation about interior design or home furnishings, its meaning as a 'pendant light' is clear and unambiguous.

💡 * J'aime beaucoup la suspension que tu as installée dans le salon. (I really like the pendant light you installed in the living room.)

• Nous cherchons une suspension en métal pour la cuisine. (We are looking for a metal hanging lamp for the kitchen.)
• Le magasin propose un grand choix de suspensions modernes. (The store offers a large selection of modern pendant lights.)
• Cette suspension est trop basse, je me cogne la tête ! (This hanging lamp is too low, I'm hitting my head!)

The 'street lamp' – un réverbère

The primary French word for a street lamp or lamppost is un réverbère. It specifically refers to the tall lamps installed along streets, in parks, or in public squares to provide light at night.

Réverbère is a masculine noun, so it is always preceded by masculine articles like un or le. For example, you would say le réverbère for 'the street lamp'. It is a key vocabulary word for describing cityscapes and urban environments.

A very common, and often more modern, synonym for réverbère is un lampadaire. While réverbère can sometimes have a slightly more classic or literary feel, both are used and understood in everyday language.

💡 * Le réverbère au coin de la rue est cassé.

• La lumière des réverbères se reflétait sur la chaussée mouillée.
• Les amoureux se sont embrassés sous un réverbère parisien.
• Quand la nuit tombe, les réverbères de la ville s'allument un par un.

The 'flashlight' or 'torch' – une lampe de poche

The 'flashlight' or 'torch' – une lampe de poche

Literally translating to 'a lamp of pocket,' une lampe de poche is the standard and most common term for a flashlight in French. The name is very descriptive, as it refers to a small lamp that can fit in your pocket.

The word lampe is feminine, so you always use the feminine article une or la. Forgetting this is a common mistake for learners.

While lampe de poche is universally used, you might occasionally hear une torche. This is often due to the influence of English ('torch') but lampe de poche is the preferred and more authentic term.

💡 * J'ai utilisé la lampe de poche de mon téléphone pour trouver mes clés.

• Il fait tout noir dans la cave, prends une lampe de poche !
• N'oublie pas les piles pour la lampe de poche avant de partir en camping.
• Peux-tu me prêter ta lampe de poche ? Je ne vois rien.

1. The 'oil lamp' – une lampe à huile

The French translation for 'oil lamp' is une lampe à huile. This is a direct and literal translation. Une lampe means 'a lamp,' and the preposition à followed by huile ('oil') specifies the type of lamp. Remember that lampe is a feminine noun, so it's always paired with feminine articles like une or la.

This term refers to the traditional, often antique, lamp that uses a wick to burn oil for light. While not a common household item today, the phrase une lampe à huile is frequently used in historical contexts, literature, or when describing rustic or vintage settings. It evokes an image of a time before electricity.

When discussing an oil lamp, a few other words are useful to know:

• La mèche: the wick
• L'huile (f.): the oil
• Allumer: to light
• Éteindre: to extinguish or put out For example, you might say, Il faut changer la mèche de la lampe à huile. (The wick of the oil lamp needs to be changed.)

💡 * Dans la vieille cabane, seule une lampe à huile éclairait la pièce.

• Autrefois, les gens lisaient à la lueur d'une lampe à huile.
• J'ai trouvé une belle lampe à huile en laiton au marché aux puces.
• Il a allumé la lampe à huile car l'électricité était coupée.

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

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

Our list features the primary words for 'lamp' you'll need in everyday conversation, like une lampe or un lampadaire. But the French language, with its appreciation for design and detail, has many other terms for specific types of lighting, from antique words to modern technical jargon.

You can expand your vocabulary by doing an online search for specific types of lamps. Try looking up “lampe de bureau” (desk lamp), “applique murale” (wall lamp/sconce), or even “lanterne” (lantern) to see the variety.

You might discover many interesting words this way. Before using a new term, be sure to check its precise definition and see it used in context. A lampadaire (floor lamp) serves a very different function than a lampe de chevet (bedside lamp).

Pay attention as you watch French movies, read home decor magazines, or browse French websites. You'll begin to notice the specific words used for different lighting fixtures, which can tell you a lot about French interior design.

And if you're looking for a comprehensive list of terms related to lighting, the WordReference entry for lampe is a fantastic place to explore compound nouns and related vocabulary.

I hope this guide has illuminated the topic for you. It seems fitting to end with a quote from Victor Hugo that links light to the very act of learning: La lumière est dans le livre. Ouvrez le livre tout grand. Laissez-le rayonner, laissez-le faire. (The light is in the book. Open the book wide. Let it shine, let it do its work.)