How do you say “The birds and the bees” in French?
The closest natural French equivalent is la sexualité et la reproduction, which literally means “sexuality and reproduction”. English speakers use the birds and the bees to mean the basic facts about sex and reproduction. A direct description of the subject, not a French idiom. It is clearer and less playful than the English. Register: neutral. Usage frequency: common.
Closest natural French
la sexualité et la reproduction
/la sɛksɥalite e la ʁəpʁɔdyksjɔ̃/
- Literal meaning
- “sexuality and reproduction”
- Register
- neutral
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Close equivalent
83 out of 100
What a native French speaker would actually say
This wording names what the conversation is about. It works when explaining the English phrase to someone who does not know the indirect animal reference.
For an ordinary family conversation, “parler de sexualité” can be enough. Add reproduction when the discussion includes how pregnancy happens.
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning5 out of 5
- Tone3 out of 5
- Context5 out of 5
- Literal similarity1 out of 5
These ratings are editorial approximations, not measurements.
In context
English
Dad felt awkward starting the birds-and-the-bees talk with us.
French
Papa était gêné d'entamer avec nous la discussion sur la sexualité et la reproduction.
English
Our daughter asked about the birds and the bees after seeing a pregnant neighbour.
French
Notre fille a posé des questions sur la sexualité et la reproduction après avoir vu une voisine enceinte.
Related expressions
Last updated 2026-10-01