Scarf in French: Écharpe, Foulard and Other Words
Écharpe or foulard? How to say scarf in French, with pronunciation, gender, other related words and example sentences.
French uses two main words for “scarf”, and choosing between them depends on what kind of scarf you mean:
- une écharpe — a warm scarf, usually long, for winter (wool, cashmere).
- un foulard — a light scarf, often silk or cotton, mainly for style.
Écharpe
- Pronunciation: ay-SHARP
- Gender: feminine — une écharpe, l’écharpe
- Plural: des écharpes
- In English: scarf, winter scarf, muffler
Examples:
- Il fait froid, mets ton écharpe. — It’s cold, put on your scarf.
- Une écharpe en laine. — A wool scarf.
- Une écharpe en cachemire pour homme. — A men’s cashmere scarf.
Écharpe also means a sash, such as a mayor’s sash or a sling for an injured arm (avoir le bras en écharpe).
Foulard
- Pronunciation: foo-LAR (the d is silent)
- Gender: masculine — un foulard, le foulard
- Plural: des foulards
- In English: light scarf, silk scarf, neckerchief
Examples:
- Un foulard en soie. — A silk scarf.
- Il porte un foulard autour du cou. — He is wearing a scarf around his neck.
In English, “foulard” is also a fabric. See what is a foulard.
Other French scarf words
| French | English |
|---|---|
| un cache-col | neck warmer |
| un cache-nez | muffler (literally “nose-hider”) |
| un tour de cou | neck gaiter, snood |
| un snood | infinity scarf |
| une étole | stole |
| un châle | shawl |
| un bandana | bandana |
| un carré (de soie) | square silk scarf |
| une lavallière | floppy bow tie / pussy-bow |
Which word should you use?
- Winter, wool, warmth → écharpe.
- Silk, summer, decorative → foulard.
- Not sure? Écharpe is the more general word for a men’s scarf.
FAQ
What does écharpe mean in English?
Scarf, usually a warm winter one. It can also mean sash or sling.
Is scarf masculine or feminine in French?
It depends on the word: une écharpe is feminine; un foulard is masculine.
How do you say “men’s scarf” in French?
Une écharpe pour homme, or un foulard pour homme for a light one.
Looking for one in English? Shop men’s scarves.