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French vocabulary · Beginner
How do you say "kindergarten" in French?
la maternelle
In French, "kindergarten" is la maternelle.
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Pronunciation
Maternelle rolls off the tongue once you know that double "ll" often slides into a "y" glide; the r is growled lightly at the back of the throat rather than rolled.
Grammar notes
la maternelle is feminine. Its plural is jardins d’enfants.
Example sentence
Le petit garçon a commencé la maternelle cette année.
The little boy started kindergarten this year.
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How to remember la maternelle
Split maternelle into its syllables and tap them out with your fingers until the rhythm feels automatic.
Related words
- classroom la salle de classe
- chalk la craie
- exam l' examen
- grade la note
- homework les devoirs
- lecture la conférence
- lesson la leçon
- diploma le diplôme
- certificate le certificat
Browse all French words in the glossary.
Questions about la maternelle
How do you pronounce la maternelle?
Maternelle rolls off the tongue once you know that double "ll" often slides into a "y" glide; the r is growled lightly at the back of the throat rather than rolled.
Is la maternelle masculine or feminine?
la maternelle is feminine. la maternelle is feminine. Its plural is jardins d’enfants.
How is la maternelle used in French?
la maternelle is used the same way as the equivalent English noun. For example: Le petit garçon a commencé la maternelle cette année. (The little boy started kindergarten this year.).
Where can I practice French words for free?
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"Kindergarten" in other languages
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