Équipe is the most common way to say “team” in French. But there are several other options. Whether you're talking about a sports club, a work group, or a collaborative project, you'll often need to refer to a 'team'. Knowing these different terms will enrich your French vocabulary and help you express yourself more precisely. Let's explore nine common and less common ways to say “team” in French!

The standard 'team' – équipe

The standard "team" – équipe

The French word équipe is the most common and versatile term used to refer to a “team” in various contexts, from sports to professional environments.

Équipe is a feminine noun. This means it's always preceded by feminine articles like une (a/an) or la (the) in the singular. For plural, it becomes des équipes or les équipes.

Its usage is broad, encompassing diverse fields. You'll find équipe in sports (e.g., une équipe de football - a football team), in the workplace (e.g., une équipe de projet - a project team), and even in everyday collaborative efforts.

Beyond just the noun, équipe is part of several important French expressions. L'esprit d'équipe directly translates to “team spirit,” emphasizing cohesion and collaboration. Faire équipe means “to team up” or “to work as a team,” highlighting active cooperation.

When discussing individuals within a team, the phrase un membre de l'équipe (a team member) is used. Verbs frequently associated with équipe include travailler en équipe (to work as a team) and diriger une équipe (to lead a team), illustrating roles and actions related to teamwork.

While groupe (group) is a more general term for any collection of individuals, équipe carries the specific connotation of individuals working together towards a common goal. It implies a higher degree of organization, interdependence, and shared responsibility than a simple “group.”

💡 *Nous avons une excellente équipe de développement. (We have an excellent development team.)
*L'esprit d'équipe est essentiel pour réussir. (Team spirit is essential for success.)
*Ils ont fait équipe pour résoudre le problème. (They teamed up to solve the problem.)
*Chaque membre de l'équipe a contribué au projet. (Each team member contributed to the project.)
*L'équipe de France a gagné le match. (The French team won the match.)

The 'group' or 'unit' – groupe

The 'group' or 'unit' – groupe

The French word for 'group' or 'unit' is groupe (pronounced groop). It's a versatile masculine noun used to describe a collection of people, objects, or entities.

As a masculine noun, groupe always takes masculine articles and adjectives. For example, un groupe (a group), le groupe (the group), ce groupe (this group).

Groupe is frequently encountered in various contexts, from a group of friends (un groupe d'amis) to a musical band (un groupe de musique) or a work team (un groupe de travail). It implies a collection acting or being considered as a single entity.

To form the plural, you simply add an 's': groupes. The pronunciation remains the same as the singular form, but the preceding article will change to plural, e.g., les groupes (the groups).

Whether referring to people united by a common interest or objects categorized together, groupe emphasizes the idea of a cohesive unit, even if temporary. It's a fundamental word for describing collections in French.

💡 * Nous faisons partie d'un grand groupe de musique. (We are part of a big music group.)

• Le groupe d'étudiants est arrivé en retard. (The group of students arrived late.)
• J'ai vu un groupe de touristes devant le musée. (I saw a group of tourists in front of the museum.)
• On travaille en groupe pour ce projet. (We work in a group for this project.)
• Les groupes d'amis aiment se retrouver le week-end. (Groups of friends like to meet up on weekends.)

The 'collective' or 'body' – collectif

The French word collectif is highly versatile, serving both as an adjective and a noun. It fundamentally relates to the idea of a group, a shared effort, or something belonging to an entire community.

Collectif is an adjective that agrees in gender and number: collectif (m.s.), collective (f.s.), collectifs (m.p.), collectives (f.p.). It also functions as a masculine noun: le collectif (the collective/group).

When used as a masculine noun, un collectif or le collectif refers to a group of people acting together, often with a common goal or identity. It can be translated as 'the collective,' 'the group,' or even 'the body' in certain contexts, particularly when referring to an organized entity.

As an adjective, collectif describes something that is shared, joint, or pertains to a group. For instance, un effort collectif means 'a collective effort,' and la mémoire collective refers to 'collective memory.' It highlights an action, property, or characteristic that applies to more than one individual.

You'll often encounter collectif in phrases like transport collectif (public transport), travail collectif (teamwork/group work), or une action collective (a collective action). Understanding the context is key to grasping whether it implies a shared resource, a joint activity, or a specific group of people.

In essence, collectif emphasizes unity, shared responsibility, or a common attribute among multiple entities. Whether it's describing a shared goal or referring to the group itself, its core meaning revolves around the idea of 'togetherness'.

💡 * Le collectif a décidé de manifester. (The collective decided to protest.)

• C'est un travail collectif, nous devons tous participer. (It's a collective effort, we all must participate.)
• La grève est une action collective. (The strike is a collective action.)
• Ils ont une responsabilité collective pour le projet. (They have a collective responsibility for the project.)
• Les transports collectifs sont essentiels en ville. (Public transportation is essential in the city.)

The 'squad' or 'crew' (especially for work or specialized tasks) – brigade

The term brigade in French translates to 'squad' or 'crew' in English. It typically refers to a group of people organized for a specific purpose, often professional or specialized.

You'll frequently encounter brigade in contexts such as a 'fire brigade' (brigade de pompiers), a 'police squad' (brigade de police), or a 'kitchen crew' (brigade de cuisine).

Brigade is a feminine noun in French. Therefore, it is preceded by feminine articles like la (the) or une (a).

Unlike more casual terms for groups of friends, brigade carries a connotation of organization, discipline, and a shared, often serious, objective or task.

💡 * La brigade des sapeurs-pompiers est intervenue rapidement. (The fire brigade intervened quickly.)

• Une brigade de gendarmerie a été dépêchée sur les lieux. (A gendarmerie squad was dispatched to the scene.)
• Il fait partie de la brigade de nuit. (He is part of the night crew/squad.)
• La brigade de cuisine prépare le dîner. (The kitchen crew is preparing dinner.)
• Toute la brigade a travaillé ensemble pour résoudre le problème. (The entire team/crew worked together to solve the problem.)

The 'formation' or 'line-up' (often in sports or military context) – formation

The term formation in French is incredibly versatile, translating primarily to 'formation,' 'line-up,' or 'training' depending on the context.

At its core, formation refers to the act of forming or arranging something, or the resulting arrangement itself. It also widely signifies education or professional development.

In sports, particularly team sports like football (soccer), la formation refers to the line-up or tactical arrangement of players on the field. Similarly, in military contexts, it describes the arrangement of troops or vehicles.

Beyond physical arrangements, formation is extensively used to mean training, education, or professional development. For instance, une formation professionnelle is vocational training.

It is a feminine noun, so you will always use la formation or une formation.

Understanding the context is crucial for formation, as its meaning can shift from a physical arrangement to a process of learning or development. Pay attention to surrounding words to grasp its precise sense.

💡 * Quelle est la formation de l'équipe aujourd'hui ? (What is the team's line-up today?)

• Les soldats ont défilé en formation serrée. (The soldiers marched in a tight formation.)
• J'ai suivi une formation intensive en informatique. (I completed intensive IT training.)
• Il est en formation pour devenir chef de projet. (He is in training to become a project manager.)
• La formation de nouvelles étoiles est un processus fascinant. (The formation of new stars is a fascinating process.)

The 'band' or 'gang' (more informal) – bande

The word bande in French literally translates to 'strip,' 'band,' or 'stripe.' You'll find it in contexts like a 'bande dessinée' (comic strip) or a 'bande de fréquence' (frequency band).

However, in informal spoken French, bande is very commonly used to refer to a 'group of friends,' a 'bunch of people,' or even a 'gang' in a casual, often benign sense. It's a versatile term for a collective.

Unlike the English 'gang,' which often carries negative connotations of criminality, une bande in French usually refers to a group of people, typically young, who spend time together. It can be a simple group of friends, a youth group, or even a casual collective with a shared interest, without implying anything illicit.

While it can sometimes translate to 'gang' if the context is truly about a delinquent group, its primary informal use is much broader and often more neutral or even positive. Think of it as 'the crew,' 'the squad,' or 'the bunch' rather than a criminal organization.

You'll often hear bande when people refer to their circle of friends: 'ma bande de potes' (my group of buddies). It's a natural and common way to talk about a group in everyday conversation, especially among younger people or in casual settings.

💡 * On sort avec la bande ce soir. (We're going out with the gang/bunch tonight.)

• C'est toute ma bande qui est venue. (My whole group/crew came.)
• Une bande d'amis. (A group of friends.)
• Regarde cette bande de gosses! (Look at that bunch of kids!)

The 'squad' or 'detachment' (often military or police) – escouade

The French word escouade directly translates to “squad” or “detachment.” It is primarily used to refer to a small, organized group of individuals, most commonly within military, police, or other disciplined services.

An escouade typically denotes a specialized unit or team assigned a particular task or mission. While its most frequent use is in a formal, often tactical context (like a police squad or a military detachment), it can also describe a small, cohesive group in other settings.

It's important to note that escouade is a feminine noun, so it will always be preceded by a feminine article (e.g., une escouade, l'escouade). It emphasizes the idea of a tightly-knit, functional group rather than just any collection of people.

💡 * L'escouade de police est intervenue rapidement. (The police squad intervened quickly.)

• Chaque escouade a reçu ses ordres pour la mission. (Each squad received its orders for the mission.)
• Une escouade de pompiers a été envoyée sur les lieux de l'incendie. (A squad of firefighters was sent to the scene of the fire.)
• Il fait partie d'une escouade d'élite. (He is part of an elite squad.)

The 'crew' (of a ship, plane, or film set) – équipage

The French word for 'crew' is équipage. It's primarily used to refer to the group of people working together on a ship, an airplane, or other forms of transport.

Beyond traditional transport, équipage can also describe the team working on a film set, an emergency service vehicle (like an ambulance or fire truck), or even a racing car.

It's important to remember that équipage is a masculine noun (un équipage), regardless of the gender of the individuals comprising the crew.

💡 * L'équipage du navire est prêt à appareiller. (The ship's crew is ready to set sail.)

• L'équipage de l'avion nous a accueillis chaleureusement. (The plane's crew welcomed us warmly.)
• L'équipage de tournage a travaillé tard pour finir la scène. (The film crew worked late to finish the scene.)
• L'équipage de secours est arrivé rapidement sur les lieux de l'accident. (The emergency crew arrived quickly at the accident scene.)

The 'company' or 'party' (a group of people, sometimes military) – compagnie

The French word compagnie (feminine noun) primarily refers to a 'company' or 'party' in the sense of a group of people. It can denote a general gathering or a specific association of individuals.

Beyond general social groups, compagnie is also used in a military context, where it translates to 'company' as a unit of soldiers, typically part of a battalion. For example, an infantry company.

You'll often encounter compagnie in common expressions. For instance, en compagnie de means 'in the company of' or 'accompanied by', and tenir compagnie à quelqu'un means 'to keep someone company'. Bonne compagnie refers to 'good company' or 'pleasant companionship'.

💡 *J'aime passer du temps en bonne compagnie. (I like spending time in good company.)
*La 3ème compagnie a été déployée sur le terrain. (The 3rd company was deployed to the field.)
*Il a voyagé en compagnie de ses amis. (He traveled in the company of his friends.)
*Elle tient compagnie à sa grand-mère tous les week-ends. (She keeps her grandmother company every weekend.)
*La compagnie est arrivée pour la fête. (The party/group arrived for the celebration.)

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

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

Our list features the most common ways to say 'team' in French. But French, like any language, is rich with synonyms, regionalisms, and slang terms that might also refer to a group or collective.

You can also do an online search for 'comment dire équipe en ___' followed by a specific Francophone country or region to discover local expressions.

You might find some interesting synonyms for équipe 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 teams or groups.

And if you’re looking for more nuanced ways to talk about different kinds of teams or groups, or words related to teamwork in French, the WordReference entry for équipe is a great place to start!

I hope you found this article helpful. As the great French writer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry once said: "Si tu veux construire un bateau, ne rassemble pas tes hommes et femmes pour leur donner des ordres, pour expliquer chaque détail, pour leur dire où trouver chaque chose. Si tu veux construire un bateau, fais naître dans le cœur de tes hommes et femmes le désir de la mer grande et large." (If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.) This quote, though not directly about 'team,' perfectly encapsulates the spirit of shared purpose and collective aspiration that defines a true team.