Riche is the most straightforward way to say “rich” in French, a word you'll likely encounter early in your French learning journey. But just like in English, there are many nuanced and colorful ways to describe wealth and affluence in French.

Whether you're talking about someone who's simply well-off, or describing an extravagant lifestyle, expanding your vocabulary beyond just 'riche' will make your French sound much more natural and sophisticated.

Let's explore 9 different expressions and words that will help you articulate various shades of 'rich' in French!

The standard 'rich' – riche

The standard word for 'rich' in French is riche. It's the most common and versatile term you'll encounter to describe someone or something possessing significant wealth or abundance.

Unlike many French adjectives, riche is invariable in gender. This means it stays the same whether referring to a masculine or feminine noun. However, like most adjectives, it does change for number:

• riche - singular (masculine or feminine)
• riches - plural (masculine or feminine)

Its primary and most frequent use is to describe someone or something as wealthy or affluent. It can apply to individuals, families, countries, or organizations.

Beyond financial wealth, riche is also widely used to describe an abundance of something, often in a positive sense. This can refer to sensory experiences, content, or abstract qualities.

When expressing that something is 'rich in' a particular quality or ingredient, you'll typically use the construction riche de or riche en (depending on the context and what follows). This allows for a much broader application of the word.

For example, you can talk about a dish being riche en saveurs (rich in flavors), a color being riche (deep, vibrant), or a culture being riche d'histoire (rich in history).

Riche is a versatile adjective that can be used in both formal and informal contexts, making it your go-to word for 'rich' in most situations. It conveys a clear and direct meaning without being overly slangy or overly formal.

💡 * Il est très riche. (He is very rich.)

• Elle a une vie riche en expériences. (She has a life rich in experiences.)
• Ce plat est riche en protéines. (This dish is rich in protein.)
• Les couleurs de ce tableau sont très riches. (The colors of this painting are very rich.)
• C'est une région riche d'une histoire millénaire. (It's a region rich in a thousand-year-old history.)

The 'wealthy' or 'well-off' – aisé(e)

The “wealthy” or “well-off” – aisé(e)

The adjective aisé(e) is a versatile French term used to describe someone or something as “well-off,” “wealthy,” or “comfortable.” It’s a polite and common way to refer to financial prosperity.

While riche also means “rich,” aisé(e) often carries a softer, more nuanced connotation, implying a comfortable financial situation without necessarily suggesting extreme opulence. It's often used to describe a general state of ease rather than immense wealth.

It can describe a person, a family, or even a social class, highlighting that they have sufficient resources to live without financial strain. For instance, an environnement aisé refers to a comfortable or prosperous environment.

You might hear it used to describe a neighborhood as un quartier aisé (a well-off neighborhood) or to talk about someone having an existence aisée (a comfortable existence). It implies a certain level of financial security and good living conditions.

Think of it as similar to “affluent” or “prosperous” in English. It’s often preferred over riche in formal contexts or when aiming for a less direct description of wealth.

Understanding aisé(e) allows you to describe economic situations with more precision and politeness in French, reflecting a nuanced understanding of financial status.

💡 * Elle vient d'une famille aisée. (She comes from a well-off family.)

• Ils mènent une vie aisée. (They lead a comfortable life.)
• C'est un quartier très aisé. (It's a very affluent neighborhood.)
• Ses parents sont très aisés. (His/Her parents are very wealthy/well-off.)
• Il a une existence aisée grâce à son travail. (He has a comfortable existence thanks to his job.)

The 'well-to-do' or 'prosperous' – fortuné(e)

fortuné(e) is a French adjective that translates to 'well-to-do,' 'prosperous,' or 'fortunate.'

This term describes someone or something that has experienced good fortune, often in a financial sense, indicating a comfortable or affluent status.

As an adjective, fortuné(e) agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies: fortuné (masculine singular), fortunée (feminine singular), fortunés (masculine plural), fortunées (feminine plural).

While it often refers to financial prosperity, fortuné(e) carries a connotation of having 'good fortune' or being 'lucky,' distinguishing it from simply being 'rich' (riche).

It is commonly used to describe individuals, families, or even situations that are considered prosperous or blessed with good circumstances.

Think of fortuné(e) as implying a state of being blessed by fortune, whereas riche is a more direct term for having a lot of money.

💡 * Il vient d'une famille fortunée. (He comes from a well-to-do family.)

• Elle est très fortunée, elle a gagné à la loterie. (She is very fortunate, she won the lottery.)
• Nous nous sentons fortunés d'avoir de si bons amis. (We feel fortunate to have such good friends.)
• C'est une femme fortunée qui a investi dans l'art. (She is a prosperous woman who invested in art.)

The 'loaded' or 'rolling in money' (informal) – plein(e) aux as

The 'loaded' or 'rolling in money' (informal) – plein(e) aux as

Plein(e) aux as is an informal French expression meaning 'loaded,' 'rolling in money,' or 'very rich.' Literally 'full to the aces,' it evokes the image of someone holding a winning hand in cards or having overflowing wealth.

This idiom is used to describe an individual or group with considerable wealth. As an adjective, plein must agree in gender and number with the subject: plein aux as (masculine singular), pleine aux as (feminine singular), pleins aux as (masculine plural), pleines aux as (feminine plural).

💡 *Il est plein aux as depuis qu'il a vendu sa startup. (He's been rolling in money since he sold his startup.)
*Elle a gagné au loto, elle est pleine aux as maintenant. (She won the lottery, she's loaded now.)
*Ces gens sont pleins aux as, ils vivent dans un château. (These people are rolling in money, they live in a castle.)
*Tu crois qu'ils sont pleins aux as pour s'offrir ça ? (Do you think they're loaded to afford that?)

The 'opulent' – opulent(e)

The 'opulent' – opulent(e)

Opulent(e) is a French adjective meaning 'opulent,' 'wealthy,' 'luxurious,' or 'abundant.'

It's a relatively formal adjective, often used in descriptive writing or more sophisticated conversations to evoke a sense of grandeur and richness.

As an adjective, opulent agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies. It becomes opulente for feminine singular nouns, opulents for masculine plural, and opulentes for feminine plural.

You'll frequently encounter opulent(e) when describing lavish lifestyles, magnificent decorations, rich food, or abundant resources.

While generally positive, implying richness and splendor, it can sometimes hint at extravagance or even excessive wealth, depending on the context and tone.

💡 * Le château avait une décoration opulente. (The castle had opulent decoration.)

• Elle mène une vie opulente. (She leads an opulent life.)
• Ces paysages sont opulents en ressources naturelles. (These landscapes are abundant in natural resources.)
• Un dîner opulent fut servi aux invités. (An opulent dinner was served to the guests.)
• La richesse opulente de la famille était bien connue. (The opulent wealth of the family was well known.)

The 'person of means' – une personne aisée

In French, when you want to refer to a "person of means" or a "well-off individual" in a polite and somewhat formal manner, the term to use is une personne aisée.

The adjective aisée (feminine form of aisé) literally means 'at ease' or 'comfortable'. When applied to a person's financial situation, it implies comfort, financial stability, and often a certain lifestyle free from financial worries, rather than necessarily immense or ostentatious wealth. It suggests a lack of financial struggle.

While riche simply means 'rich' and fortunée means 'wealthy' or 'fortunate', aisée often carries a softer, more discreet connotation. It's less direct than riche and suggests an established, comfortable financial standing rather than newly acquired or excessive wealth. It emphasizes the ease of their situation.

You'll typically encounter une personne aisée in more formal discourse, media reports, economic analyses, or when speaking respectfully about someone's financial situation without being overly blunt or judgmental. It's a commonly used descriptor in French society to categorize socio-economic groups.

In summary, using une personne aisée is a polite, respectful, and slightly formal way to describe someone who is financially comfortable, often with inherited advantages or a stable, high income, without explicitly stating they are 'rich'.

💡 * Elle vient d'une famille aisée et n'a jamais eu de problèmes d'argent. (She comes from a well-off family and has never had money problems.)

• Les personnes aisées ont souvent accès à de meilleurs services et opportunités. (Well-off people often have access to better services and opportunities.)
• C'est une personne aisée qui peut se permettre de voyager plusieurs fois par an. (She is a person of means who can afford to travel several times a year.)
• Le quartier est connu pour ses habitants très aisés. (The neighborhood is known for its very well-to-do residents.)

The 'having a lot of money' (informal) – avoir du fric

The French expression avoir du fric is an informal and very common way to say 'to have a lot of money' or 'to be loaded'. It's widely used in casual conversations.

Fric itself is a colloquial French term for 'money,' 'cash,' or 'dough.' It's an informal substitute for argent (money) and carries a casual, sometimes slightly crude, connotation.

This phrase is exclusively used in informal settings. While avoir de l'argent is the neutral way to say 'to have money,' avoir du fric specifically implies having a significant amount and adds a distinctly colloquial tone, often suggesting wealth or financial comfort in a relaxed manner.

💡 * Il a vraiment du fric, il vient de s'acheter une nouvelle voiture. (He really has a lot of money, he just bought a new car.)

• Si j'avais du fric, je voyagerais partout dans le monde. (If I had a lot of money, I would travel all over the world.)
• Elle travaille beaucoup pour avoir du fric. (She works a lot to have money/dough.)
• Tu crois qu'ils ont vraiment tant de fric que ça? (Do you think they really have that much money?)
• On n'a pas beaucoup de fric en ce moment. (We don't have a lot of cash right now.)

The 'rolling in gold' (idiom) – rouler sur l'or

The 'rolling in gold' (idiom) – rouler sur l'or

The French idiom rouler sur l'or literally means 'to roll on gold'. It's a vivid and colorful way to describe extreme wealth.

Figuratively, this expression means 'to be rolling in money' or 'to be very rich'. It paints a picture of someone so affluent they could literally roll around on their riches.

You'll often hear this idiom in informal conversations to talk about someone who is extremely wealthy, often implying a lavish or effortless lifestyle.

💡 *Depuis qu'il a vendu son entreprise, il roule sur l'or. (Since he sold his company, he's rolling in money.)
*On dit que cette famille roule sur l'or. (They say this family is rolling in gold.)
*Avec son nouveau contrat, le footballeur roule sur l'or. (With his new contract, the footballer is rolling in money.)
*Si je gagnais au loto, je roulerais sur l'or! (If I won the lottery, I'd be rolling in money!)

The 'filthy rich' (slang) – blindé(e)

In French slang, to say someone is 'filthy rich' or 'loaded,' you can use the term blindé(e).

Literally, blindé (masculine) or blindée (feminine) means 'armored' or 'bulletproof.' However, in informal French, it's commonly used to describe someone who is exceptionally wealthy, implying they are 'packed' or 'stuffed' with money.

This term is highly informal and should be reserved for casual conversations. It's an adjective, so it agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies. For a male, it's blindé; for a female, blindée; for a group of males or mixed gender, blindés; and for a group of females, blindées.

While blindé(e) specifically conveys 'filthy rich' or 'loaded,' more standard ways to say 'rich' include riche or fortuné(e). Blindé(e) carries a stronger, more colloquial punch and is often used to emphasize an exaggerated level of wealth.

💡 *Il est blindé, il a acheté une nouvelle voiture de sport. (He's filthy rich, he bought a new sports car.)
*Elle a épousé un homme blindé. (She married a loaded man.)
*Après le succès de son entreprise, il est devenu blindé. (After the success of his company, he became filthy rich.)
*Les nouveaux voisins semblent être blindés. (The new neighbors seem to be loaded.)

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

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

Our list features the most common ways to say “rich” in French. But there are other terms, from old-fashioned ones, to regional ones, to up-and-coming slang ones this middle-aged author might not even be aware of!

You can also do an online search for “comment dire riche en ___” followed by a specific Francophone country or region.

You might find some interesting synonyms for riche on this list. Of course, make sure to check a word’s definition and try to see it used in context before you use it.

Pay attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — you may discover different ways to talk about wealth or being rich.

And if you’re looking for ways to talk about different kinds of wealth, or words related to richness in French, the WordReference entry for riche is a great place to start!

I hope you found this article helpful. Here’s a timeless proverb to finish it with: La vraie richesse, c'est la santé. (True wealth is health.)