French Crochet Terms and English Translations
Do you have a crochet pattern you really want to crochet but it includes French Crochet Terms? Check our Crochet Translation Project list below to find English Translations for common crochet terms.
French Crochet Terms and English Translations
Please remember this is a work-in-progress and if you have any suggestions, corrections or terms to add – please send me a message or leave a comment so we can update the chart!
French Crochet Blogs:
http://woolloolique.blogspot.ca/2017/02/lexique-terminologie-us-fr.html
Searchable French and US English Crochet Terms
Use the [CTRL] button and the [F] key on your desktop computer to search the terms below. They are arranged in the chart in alphabetical order for the U.S. Terms
| U.S. Terms | French Crochet Terms |
| back Loop (BL) | Le brin arriere (de la maille) |
| back loop only (blo) | – |
| back post (BP) | double bride en relief arriere |
| back post single crochet (BPsc) | – |
| back post half double crochet (BPhdc) | – |
| back post double crochet (BPdc) | – |
| back post triple (treble) crochet (BPtr) | – |
| before (bef) | – |
| beginning (beg) | commencer / Au debut de |
| between (bet) | entre |
| chain (ch) | maille en l’air / maille chainette (ml / mch) |
| chain space (ch-sp) | maille chainette Arceau au espace |
| cluster (CL) | grappe |
| continue (cont) | continuer |
| crochet | faire du crochet |
| decrease (dec) | diminuer / diminuant /diminution |
| double crochet (dc) | bride (br / b) |
| double triple (treble) crochet (dtr) | 2 brides rab. ens |
| fasten off / bind off (fo / bo) | Diminuer, rabattre, arreter, fermer |
| follow / follows / following (foll) | suivanta |
| front loop (FL) | – |
| front loop only (flo) | – |
| front post (FP) | double bride en relief avant |
| front post single crochet (FPsc) | “ |
| front post half double crochet (FPhdc) | – |
| front post double crochet (FPdc) | – |
| front post triple (treble) crochet (FPtr) | – |
| gauge | echantillon |
| half double crochet (hdc) | demi-bride (demi-br / db) |
| increase (inc) | augmenter (augm) |
| insert hook | – |
| join / join into ring | former un rond |
| last | precedent |
| loop (lp) | boucle |
| magic ring (MR) | – |
| next | suivant |
| pattern (pat / patt) | Modele, point fantaisie |
| picot (p) | picot |
| place marker (pm) | placer marqueur |
| remaining (rem) | restant(e) |
| repeat (rep) | serree |
| repeat from * to ** | Serree De * a * |
| reverse single crochet (crab stitch) | ms inversee |
| right side (correct side) (RS) | Endroit (de l\’ouvrage) |
| right side (opposite of left) | cote endroit |
| round (rd) | Rang , tour |
| row (R) | rang |
| single crochet (sc) | maille serree (ms) |
| skip (sk) | passer |
| slip stitch (sl st) | maille coulee / petite maille (mc) |
| space (s) (sp (s)) | Arceau espace |
| stitch (st) | maille (m) |
| stitches (st(s) or sts) | maille |
| times (x) | fois |
| together (tog) | ensemble |
| triple ( or treble ) crochet (tr) | double bride (d-br / dble b) |
| turn the work | Tourner (l\’ouvrage) |
| work / make | ravailler un multiple de |
| wrong side (WS) | Envers (de l\’ouvrage), env |
| yarn over / yarn over hook (yo / yoh) | tourner jeter le fil (1 jete) |
| 1st chain 2 space (hole) | 1 er jour de 2 chainettes |
| 8th chain 3 space (hole) | 8 jours de 3 chainettes |
The Beginner Crochet Stitches and Symbols You Need to Know.(Opens in a new browser tab)
U.S. Crochet Terms and Danish Crochet Terms(Opens in a new browser tab)
Hi Saee, I reached out to someone I know who speaks French and this is what it translates to. I’m not sure if this will help though as it is a bit confusing to me. “before picking up the hook, put the beginning of this row in the back”.
Hello Rhonda! I’m stuck in a step of a crochet pattern that says “Avant de reprendre le crochet, mettre le début de ce rang dans le dos”. Does this mean that I should slip stitch? Could you please help?
Hi Beth,
You are welcome 🙂 maille chainette (ml / mch) means chain and maille serree (ms) means single crochet
Hope this helps!
Rhondda
Thank you for doing this it has been a great help. I am trying to translet what I belive is french key to a universal graph. i have never worked off of a graph. I could use your help what does: m,chianette mean? also M.S? I can not seem to upload a picture of the key here.
Hi Gracie, This is a tough question because the UK and US both have a numbering system for hooks. UK 3 Steel hook is 1.9 mm (or US 5 Steel). US 3 Steel hook is a 2.1 mm (or UK 2 Steel). Then if the fiber you are using is not thread there is also a US D/3 aluminum hook which is a 3.25 mm hook. If the pattern is written in UK terms you and you are using thread I’d think it was the UK 3 Steel hook or 1.9 mm. If it is not crocheted in thread though I think it will be the 3.25 mm. Hope this helps a bit! Rhondda
Zut! It looks like the quote didn’t go through correctly. My pattern says “1 crochet no. 3”.
Bonsoir, Rhondda! I have a question about translating hook sizes. I have a French pattern which says <>. Does this mean a 3mm hook, or does it mean a size D/3 hook (which would be 3.25mm)? Or does it mean something completely different?? Thanks in advance!!
Use the “translate a document” link under the box on this page to add a PDF document and have it translated into the language of your choice. https://translate.google.ca/
Utilisez le lien «traduire un document» sous la case sur cette page pour ajouter un document PDF et le faire traduire dans la langue de votre choix. https://translate.google.ca/
bonsoir, j’ai acheté un fichier en anglais, qui est bloqué et je ne peux le traduire en anglais. pouvez vous m’aider merci
Thank you for sharing my blog Rhondda !!!!
Hello,
My first language is French. I’ve read your translations and a lot of them could use some improvment. I took the liberty to copy your list in and Excel file and did all the changes that are required, for you to improve your blog.
Can you contact me in private please, so I can send you the file? With that, all your list will be complete!
By the way, I like your blog a lot. You have lots of technical information that I really appreciate!
Thanks!
Bonsoir,
Merci, très utile.
Que j’ai partagé sur pinterest
😉
Thank you Catherine!! Adding them now 🙂 Rhondda (Can’t wait to see your butterfly!)
Hi! I came across a few terms in a papillon (butterfly) pattern. The closest translation I found for: “rang de jours” is a row of holes. Also in the pattern, was the expression “1er jour de 2 chainettes” which means the first chain 2 space (hole). Thus, “8 jours de 3 chainettes” would mean 8 chain-3 holes/space.
Hope this helps. ( I am rather fluent in French but not when it comes to crochet!) 🙂
P.S. I’ll post a picture when I finish my butterfly! A bientot!
Thanks Linda!
1.decrease – to work stitches together – example 2 dctog – 2 brides rab.ens
2. increase – example make 2dc in one stitch – faire 2 brides dans 1m
Great! Thanks Linda 🙂
Thanks so much for this Rhonda, I have a French written pattern I want to try and this will be very useful. If I discover anything not on your list I will let you know 🙂