French Sculpture Vocabulary

Author: Camille Chevalier-Karfis

Learn about French sculptures and French sculpting vocabulary with this free list of French sculpting terms with English translation.

30 French Sculpting Words

  1. Une sculpture : sculpture
  2. Sculpter : sculpting
  3. Un sculpteur : sculptor (m)
  4. Une sculptrice : sculptor (f)
  5. Une statue : statue
  6. Un modèle : model
  7. Un socle : pedestal
  8. Un bas-relief : low relief
  9. Un buste : bust
  10. Les proportions : dimensions, size
  11. Sculpter : to sculpt
  12. Tailler : to carve
  13. Un maillet : mallet
  14. Ébaucher : to draft
  15. Une ébauche : a draft
  16. Modeler : to shape, to mould
  17. Un modelage : modelling
  18. Mouler : to cast
  19. Un moulage : casting
  20. Fondre : to found
  21. La fonte : melting
  22. Assembler : to assemble
  23. Un assemblage : assembling
  24. Un matériau : material
  25. Le plâtre : plaster
  26. La terre cuite : terracotta
  27. Le bois : wood
  28. Le métal : metal
  29. Le bronze : bronze
  30. Le marbre : marble

Note from Camille: I’m having a hard time finding the names of sculpting tools in French and English! My dictionary is not very helpful with these very precise terms –  If you’d like to contribute to this free resource, please add the sculpting tools / sculpture related vocabulary words in French and English to the comments below, and I’ll gladly add them to the article! Thanks!
You can find pictures and sculpting related French vocabulary words on wikipedia.

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How do you Pronounce “Sculpture” in French?

In French the P in “sculpture” and derived words is silent.
And the U is… well, a French U, like in “tu”. [scultur]

  1. Sculpture – scul tur
  2. Sculpter – scul té
  3. un sculpteur – scul teur
  4. une sculptrice – scul triss

You have to be particularly careful with these words that are similar in English and in French. They may seem easier to learn, but actually, they are more difficult because it’s so easy to say them the English way.
So you really need to train so the French pronunciation comes out naturally.

You may also be interested in my live video interview of metal sculptor Sigrid whom I met in the Breton town of Saint-Quay Pontrieux.

Live Interview With a French Metal Sculptor

Use the CC & gear options located to the bottom right of the YouTube video to turn on/off the subtitles in French and English.

Leave me a comment: could you understand us?

Author: Camille Chevalier-Karfis

Camille Chevalier-Karfis

Born and raised in Paris, I have been teaching today's French to adults for 25+ years in the US and France. Based on my students' goals and needs, I've created unique downloadable French audiobooks focussing on French like it's spoken today, for all levels. Come to Paimpol and enjoy an exclusive French immersion homestay with me in Brittany.

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