Mot and parole can both be translated as word in English, but they refer to different things. Mot is a single word as a unit of language. Parole is speech, what someone says, or a promise.

Mot is masculine: un mot.
Parole is feminine: une parole.

Etymology

Mot comes from Latin mutum, first meaning a sound or grunt. Over time it came to mean a word.

Parole comes from Late Latin parabola, meaning speech or discourse. The same root gave French parler and English parole and parable. The link with speaking remains clear.

The roots reflect the difference. Mot points to a small unit of sound. Parole points to speech as an act.

Mot as a single word

Mot refers to one word as a basic unit. It is used when you count words, define them, spell them, or look them up.

Examples:

• Ce mot est difficile. This word is difficult.
• Comment s’écrit ce mot ? How is this word spelled?
• Il a appris dix mots nouveaux. He learned ten new words.
• Je ne comprends pas ce mot. I do not understand this word.
• Cherche ce mot dans le dictionnaire. Look up this word in the dictionary.
• C’est un mot français. It is a French word.

Common expressions with mot:

• Un mot de passe a password
• Un mot clé a key word
• Un gros mot a swear word
• Un mot doux a sweet word
• Avoir le dernier mot to have the last word
• Dire un mot to say a word

Example sentences:

• Ne dis pas de gros mots. Do not say swear words.
• Il a toujours le dernier mot. He always has the last word.
• Je te dirai un mot demain. I will say a word to you tomorrow.
• Les mots me manquent. Words fail me.

In short, mot is usually countable and refers to a distinct word.

Near equivalents in some contexts:

• Terme term
• Vocable word
• Expression expression

These often appear in more formal or academic settings.

Parole as speech or spoken word

Parole refers to speech as an act, or to what someone says. It does not usually refer to a single dictionary word.

Examples:

• Il a pris la parole. He took the floor.
• Donne-moi la parole. Give me the floor.
• Sa parole est importante. His word carries weight.
• Je te donne ma parole. I give you my word.
• Tenir parole. To keep one’s word.
• Manquer à sa parole. To break one’s word.

More examples:

• Il a perdu la parole. He lost the power of speech.
• La parole est à vous. The floor is yours.
• Ne me coupe pas la parole. Do not cut me off.
• Je crois sa parole. I believe his word.

Here parole often means a statement, spoken words, or a promise.

Related terms:

• Discours speech
• Propos remarks
• Déclaration statement
• Promesse promise

Promesse is more formal than parole when speaking of a promise. Discours usually refers to a longer, structured speech.

Fixed phrases and contrast

Some set phrases show the difference clearly.

With mot:

• Un mot d’amour a word of love
• Un mot d’excuse a note of excuse
• À demi-mot indirectly

Example:

• Il a parlé à demi-mot. He spoke indirectly.

With parole:

• Liberté de parole freedom of speech
• Prendre la parole to speak in public
• Couper la parole to cut someone off

Example:

• Vous avez pris la parole trop tôt. You took the floor too early.

You cannot replace one with the other in these phrases.

Countable and abstract uses

Mot is normally countable:

• Trois mots. Three words.
• Un seul mot. One single word.

Parole is often used in the singular to refer to speech in general:

• La parole est libre. Speech is free.
• Il a retrouvé la parole. He got his speech back.

In this use it functions as an abstract noun.

Promise and honor

When English uses word in the sense of a promise, French uses parole:

• Je te donne ma parole. I give you my word.
• Il a tenu parole. He kept his word.
• Ils ont manqué à leur parole. They broke their word.

Using mot in this context would be incorrect.

Speech and writing

Parole often suggests spoken language, as opposed to writing:

• La parole et l’écrit. Speech and writing.
• Il préfère la parole au silence. He prefers speech to silence.

Mot applies to both spoken and written language:

• Ce mot apparaît dans le texte. This word appears in the text.
• J’ai entendu ce mot hier. I heard this word yesterday.

Summary

• Mot is a single word as a unit of language. It is masculine and usually countable.
• Parole is speech, what someone says, or a promise. It is feminine and often abstract.
• The Latin roots reflect this split.
• In expressions about promises and keeping one’s word, use parole.
• When referring to spelling, counting, or defining words, use mot.