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How to change the language in AutoCAD, and the commands in English and French.

To change AutoCAD's language, install a language pack: from the Help menu, choose Download Language Packs, or download it from your Autodesk account. A pack changes the interface and the help, not the text in your drawings. In French AutoCAD, commands have French names, and macros reach the English ones with an underscore.

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How do I change the language in AutoCAD?

Install a language pack for the language you want. There are two routes, both described in Autodesk’s language pack instructions:

Route 1 · From AutoCAD

  1. Help
  2. Download Language Packs
  3. Pick the pack
  4. Install

Route 2 · From your Autodesk account

  1. manage.autodesk.com
  2. Products and Services
  3. Your product
  4. View Downloads
  5. Updates & Add-ons
  6. Filter by language

To remove a pack

To remove a pack later on Windows, uninstall it from Control Panel, Programs and Features, like any program. The product stays installed. The language you installed AutoCAD in cannot be removed on its own.

What does a language pack change?

The interface and the documentation. A pack holds only the text and documents for its language, about 200 MB, and does not copy the software. One installation can carry several languages.

Not every Autodesk product and operating system has language packs; Autodesk’s page says so without listing them. If yours has none, the alternative is the product itself in the other language, downloaded from your Autodesk account by choosing it in the language menu of the download page.

≈200 MB

Changes

  • The interface
  • The documentation

Does not touch

  • The software itself
  • The text in your drawings

How do I use English commands in French AutoCAD?

In French AutoCAD, commands have French names: the command is LIGNE. Commands also have a global English name, reached with an underscore in front of it. Autodesk documents this for macros and AutoLISP: an underscore “translates commands and options that follow from the localized name to the global name”.

The table below gives the global name of each command. Autodesk writes the French names without accents (DECALER, PROPRIETES), and a few are the same in both languages, such as RECTANG.

Command line, French AutoCAD▢ ✕

Command: LIGNE ; the French name

Command: _LINE ; the global name, in any language version

_$ (getcname "ETIRER") ; "_STRETCH"

  • In a command macro, write _LINE and it runs in any language version.
  • In AutoLISP, write (command "_line" pt1 pt2 pt3 "_c"); Autodesk recommends always adding the underscore so a program works in every language.
  • To find a name, AutoLISP’s getcname translates in both directions: (getcname "ETIRER") returns "_STRETCH".

AutoCAD commands in English and French

Thirty-four everyday commands, each checked against Autodesk’s English and French help for AutoCAD 2025. The table works as an AutoCAD command translator: find a command in one language and read its name in the other.

  • LINELIGNE_LINEDraws a series of line segments
  • PLINEPOLYLIGN_PLINEDraws a 2D polyline of line and arc segments
  • CIRCLECERCLE_CIRCLEDraws a circle
  • RECTANGRECTANG_RECTANGDraws a rectangular polyline
  • HATCHHACHURES_HATCHFills an enclosed area with a pattern
  • ERASEEFFACER_ERASERemoves objects from the drawing
  • COPYCOPIER_COPYCopies objects at a distance and direction
  • MOVEDEPLACER_MOVEMoves objects at a distance and direction
  • ROTATEROTATION_ROTATERotates objects around a base point
  • SCALEECHELLE_SCALEEnlarges or reduces objects in proportion
  • MIRRORMIROIR_MIRRORCreates a mirrored copy
  • OFFSETDECALER_OFFSETCreates parallel lines and concentric circles
  • TRIMAJUSTER_TRIMTrims objects to meet other objects' edges
  • EXTENDPROLONGER_EXTENDExtends objects to meet other objects' edges
  • FILLETRACCORD_FILLETRounds the edge between two objects
  • CHAMFERCHANFREIN_CHAMFERBevels the edge between two objects
  • ARRAYRESEAU_ARRAYCopies objects in a pattern
  • STRETCHETIRER_STRETCHStretches objects caught by a window
  • EXPLODEDECOMPOS_EXPLODEBreaks an object into its parts
  • TEXTTEXTE_TEXTCreates single-line text
  • MTEXTTEXTMULT_MTEXTCreates multiline text
  • TEXTEDITMODIFTEXTE_TEXTEDITEdits a text object
  • FINDRECHERCHER_FINDFinds and replaces text
  • SPELLORTHOGRAPHE_SPELLChecks the spelling of text
  • DIMLINEARCOTLIN_DIMLINEARCreates a linear dimension
  • LAYERCALQUE_LAYERManages layers and their properties
  • PROPERTIESPROPRIETES_PROPERTIESControls the properties of objects
  • BLOCKBLOC_BLOCKCreates a block definition
  • INSERTINSERER_INSERTInserts blocks
  • XATTACHXATTACHER_XATTACHAttaches a DWG as an external reference
  • LAYOUTPRESENTATION_LAYOUTCreates and modifies layouts
  • PLOTTRACEUR_PLOTPlots a drawing to a plotter, printer or file
  • UNDOANNULER_UNDOReverses the effect of commands
  • PURGEPURGER_PURGERemoves unused items such as layers

AutoCAD commands in English and French, from Autodesk's English and French help for AutoCAD 2025

Does changing the language translate my drawings?

No. A language pack changes the menus, the commands and the help. The general notes, callouts, title block, schedules and tags in your drawings stay exactly as they were drawn, in the language they were drawn in.

Translating them is a separate job: every text object has to be replaced in the drawing itself. We compared the six ways to translate text in AutoCAD, from retyping by hand to an editor that writes the translation back into the DWG. For a set issued in both languages, see bilingual drawings, and for a fabricator’s submittals, shop drawings in French.

  • General notes
  • Callouts
  • Title block
  • Schedules
  • Tags

Working in both languages on one project

When part of a team runs AutoCAD in English and part in French, a few habits keep the project consistent:

  1. H-01Write shared macros, scripts and AutoLISP routines with global names (_LINE), so they run in both versions.
  2. H-02Keep one term base for the text on the drawings, whoever types it.
  3. H-03Send drawing text for translation as DWG files, not exports, so it can be written back in place.

For a set of drawings in both languages, see how our AutoCAD drawing translation works.

Common questions

Can I switch AutoCAD between English and French?
Yes. Install a language pack for each language you need; one installation can carry several. The pack changes the interface and the help only.
What is LINE called in French AutoCAD?
LIGNE. Commands also have a global English name that macros and AutoLISP reach with an underscore, such as _LINE.
Does a language pack translate the text in my drawing?
No. The notes, callouts and title block stay as drawn. Translating them means replacing each text object in the drawing.
Where do I download an AutoCAD language pack?
From the Help menu, Download Language Packs, or from your Autodesk account under Products and Services, View Downloads, Updates & Add-ons.
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