C’est la rentrée !
September in France brings the rentrée des classes. It signals more than a return to classrooms; it marks the renewal of routines, the shift back to work, and a reinvigorated cultural life. After the summer break, many observe a renewed pace and a fresh sense of purpose across schools and workplaces.
Here is a handy A-to-Z guide to the words and expressions that make September sound unmistakably French. It serves students, professionals, and visitors who want to join conversations about classes, commutes, markets, and cultural events.
From greetings to routines, the vocabulary captures the mood and pace of the period, helping you feel at ease as routines resume and communities reconvene.
A comme Agenda
An agenda is a planner used to keep track of classes, appointments, and homework. In France, buying a new one is almost part of the back-to-school ritual.
B comme Boulot
Boulot is a very common informal word for work or a job.
« Les vacances sont finies, retour au boulot ! »
“Vacation is over, back to work!”
C comme Cartable
A cartable is the traditional French schoolbag, especially for younger children. It is usually more structured than a backpack.
D comme Devoirs
Les devoirs means homework.
« Tu as fait tes devoirs ? »
“Did you do your homework?”
E comme Emploi du temps
An emploi du temps is a class schedule or timetable.
« Tu as reçu ton emploi du temps ? »
“Did you get your schedule?”
F comme Fournitures scolaires
School supplies: notebooks, binders, pens, pencils, rulers and pencil cases. In France, families often receive a detailed list before school starts.
G comme Goûter
Le goûter is the traditional afternoon snack, especially for children, usually eaten around 4 p.m.
H comme Heure de colle
An hour de colle is detention. Informally, you can also say être collé: “to get detention.”
I comme Interrogation
Interrogation is short for interrogation and means a quiz or test. You will also hear a control very often.
J comme Jongler avec son emploi du temps
To juggle avec son emploi du temps means to juggle several commitments at once.
« Je jongle entre les cours, le travail et les activities. »
K comme Kiffer
Kiffer is very informal slang meaning “to really like” or “to love.”
« Je kiffe mon nouveau cours de français ! »
L comme List
La liste des fournitures is the back-to-school shopping list.
M comme Maître / Maîtresse
In elementary school, children may call their teacher le maître or la maîtresse. Older students usually say prof.
N comme Notes
Une note is a grade or mark. In France, grades are traditionally given out of 20.
« J’ai eu 16 sur 20. »
O comme Objectifs
Les objectifs are goals or targets. September is often a good time to set new ones.
« Mon objectif est de parler français plus souvent. »
P comme Partir du bon pied
Literally, “to start with the right foot.” It means to get off to a good start.
« Cette année, je veux partir du bon pied. »
P comme Prof
Prof is the everyday shortened form of professeur.
« Mon prof de français est super sympa. »
Q comme « Quoi de neuf ? »
A common informal way to ask “What’s new?” or “What have you been up to?”
« Alors, quoi de neuf depuis les vacances ? »
R comme Récré
Récré is the informal shortened form of récréation, meaning recess or break time.
S comme Se remettre dans le bain
Literally, “to get back into the bath.” It means to get back into the swing of things after a break.
T comme Traîner des pieds
Literally, “to drag one’s feet.” It means to do something reluctantly.
« Il traîne des pieds pour retourner à l’école. »
U comme Uniforme
School uniforms are not the norm in France, but they may be required in some private schools and in a limited number of public schools testing a common dress code.
V comme Vacances
Les vacances means vacation or holidays.
W comme Week-end
French uses the English word week-end, traditionally written with a hyphen.
X comme XXL
XXL can also describe something especially big or intense.
« Cette année, c’est une rentrée XXL ! »
Y comme Y aller
Y aller means “to go” and is extremely common in spoken French.
« Allez, on y va ! »
“Come on, let’s go!”
Z comme Zéro faute ?
Literally, “zero mistakes?” Not necessarily! Learning a language means making mistakes and daring to speak.