In French, le printemps means “the spring” (the season). This poetic word appears in conversations about weather, renewal, and new beginnings. Think of it as the French word for the season of rebirth, but also used metaphorically to describe youth, freshness, and hopeful periods in life.
Latin “primus tempus” (first time/season)
→ Old French: “prin tens” (early time)
→ Modern French: “printemps” (compound word: “premier” + “temps”)
Note: Unlike other season names in French, printemps is masculine and ends in ‘s’ even in singular form.
Le printemps refers primarily to the spring season, but carries rich metaphorical meanings in French.
The season – Spring (March to June in the Northern Hemisphere)
• Weather: Le printemps arrive enfin. Spring is finally arriving.
• Nature: Au printemps, les fleurs éclosent. In spring, flowers bloom.
• Calendar: Nous sommes au printemps. We’re in spring / It’s springtime.
Youth and vitality – Metaphor for youthfulness
• Age: Elle a vingt printemps. She’s twenty years old (lit: she has twenty springs).
• Energy: Le printemps de la vie. The springtime of life (youth).
Renewal and new beginnings – Fresh starts and revivals
• Political: Le Printemps arabe. The Arab Spring.
• Personal: Un nouveau printemps dans sa carrière. A new beginning in his/her career.
Le temps est toujours agréable au printemps
The weather is always pleasant in spring
Elle a 20 printemps aujourd’hui
She is 20 years old today
Il y a un petit air de printemps ce matin
There is touch of spring in the air this morning
Beginner Expressions
| Au printemps | In spring, in springtime |
| Au début du printemps | At the beginning of spring |
| Ce printemps | This spring |
| Le printemps arrive | Spring is coming |
| Le temps du printemps | Spring weather |
| Les fleurs du printemps | Spring flowers |
| Un jour de printemps | A spring day |
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Intermediate Expressions
| Avoir vingt printemps | To be twenty years old |
| Fraîche comme une rose au printemps | Fresh as a spring rose |
| Le grand nettoyage de printemps | Spring cleaning |
| Le printemps de la vie | The springtime of life (youth) |
| Sentir le printemps | To smell spring in the air |
| Un air de printemps | A spring feeling/atmosphere |
| Un printemps précoce / un printemps tardif | An early spring / a late spring |
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Advanced expressions
| Connaître plusieurs printemps | To have lived through several springs (be experienced) |
| Le renouveau du printemps | The renewal of spring |
| Un regain de printemps | A revival, renewed vigour |
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Always use AU printemps (in spring), never “dans le printemps”
This is different from other seasons where you use “en” (en été, en hiver, en automne)
| la saison printanière | the spring season (formal) |
| le renouveau | renewal, rebirth |
| la belle saison | the beautiful season (spring/summer) |
| la jeunesse | youth (when used metaphorically) |
| Les giboulées de mars | March showers (spring rain) |
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