How do you say "key" in French?

la clé

Noun Feminine

In French, "key" is la clé.

Listen to the pronunciation:

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Pronunciation

Work through clé slowly, aware that é is a short, closed "ay".

Grammar notes

la clé is feminine. Its plural is clés.

Example sentence

Elle tourna la clé dans la serrure.

She turned the key in the lock.

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How to remember la clé

Trace the letters of clé in the air as you speak it, tying the motion to the key it names.

Related words

Browse all French words in the glossary.

Questions about la clé

How do you pronounce la clé?

Work through clé slowly, aware that é is a short, closed "ay".

Is la clé masculine or feminine?

la clé is feminine. la clé is feminine. Its plural is clés.

How is la clé used in French?

la clé is used the same way as the equivalent English noun. For example: Elle tourna la clé dans la serrure. (She turned the key in the lock.).

Where can I practice French words for free?

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"Key" in other languages

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