récré

break (school recess), informal shortening of récréation

noun reh-KREH Rare

Origin: Clipped from récréation, from Latin recreatio (restoration, refreshment)

Usage Note

Récré is an informal truncation of récréation used by children and teachers alike to mean the school break period. Saying la récré immediately signals a familiar, child-oriented register. The fuller form la récréation is used in official school documents and by adults in formal speech.

Examples

"Les enfants jouent au foot pendant la récré."

Natural Translation

The children play football during break time.

Free starter pack

Building your French vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common French words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Related Words

Explore French by topic

FrenchNow

The Bonjour Rule: French Etiquette for Visitors

Always say bonjour before you ask, order, or pay in France — the unspoken rule that opens every door. A respectful visitor's guide to French etiquette.

June 4, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

Telling Time in French: Hours, Quarters, 24-Hour

Telling time in French means Il est cinq heures, et quart, et demie, and the 24-hour clock like quatorze heures trente. Read any French schedule.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

French Greetings: Bonjour, Salut, Coucou Explained

Bonjour, salut, or coucou? Pick the right French greeting every time with a simple two-axis guide to formality and time of day, plus how to say goodbye.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

French Café Culture: How to Order Like a Local

In a French café, un café means espresso, one drink rents the table for an hour, and you must ask for the bill. Order coffee like a local with these phrases.

June 4, 2026 7 min read