Plural mark is indicated between parenthesis
Notes
A “note” is “une note”, plural “des notes”.
Breve: carrée(s) n.f. (seldom used, I just discovered it)
Semibreve (whole note): ronde(s) n.f.
Minim (half note): blanche(s) n.f
Crotchet (quarter note): noire(s) n.f.
Quaver (eight note): croche(s) n.f.
Semiquaver (sixteenth note): double(s) croche(s) n.f.- Demisemiquaver (32nd note): triple(s) croche(s) n.f.
- Hemidemisemiquaver (64th note): quadruple(s) croche(s) n.f.
And so on, quintuple(s) croche(s), sextuple(s) croche(s), …
In “double croche”, “triple croche”, etc., the term “croche” is often dropped if it already appeared in the same rhythm. “A dotted quaver—semiquaver”, e.g., is referred to as “une croche pointée-double”, seldom as “une croche pointée-double croche”.
Rests
A “rest” is “un silence”, plural “des silences”.
- Breve rest: double(s) pause(s) n.f. or bâton(s) de pause n.m.
Semibreve rest (whole rest): pause(s) n.f.
Minim rest (half rest): demi-pause(s) n.f.
Crotchet rest (quarter rest): soupir(s) n.m.
Quaver rest (eight rest): demi-soupir(s) n.m.
Semiquaver rest (sixteenth rest): quart(s) de soupir n.m.
Demisemiquaver rest (32nd rest): huitième(s) de soupir n.m.- Hemidemisemiquaver rest (64th rest): seizième(s) de soupir n.m.
And so on, trente-deuxième(s) de soupir, soixante-quatrième(s) de soupir, …
Tuplets
There is no general term to designate a tuplet. Tuplet, in french, are all masculine.
- Duplet: duolet(s) n.m.
- Triplet: triolet(s) n.m.
- Quadruplet: quartolet(s) n.m.
- Quintuplet: quintolet(s) n.m.
- Sextuplet (or whatever term you prefer): sextolet(s) n.m.
- Septuplets: septolet(s) n.m.
“Triplet quavers” are “un triolet de noires”.
Dotted notes
The dot itself is called “point (de prolongation)”. A “double dot” is “un double point”; “triple dote”, “triple point”.
A “dotted crotchet” is a “noire pointée”; “double pointed semibreve” is “blanche double-pointée”; “triple-dotted breve” would be “ronde triple-pointée”.
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