The French Property Restorer’s Essential French Phrasebook
When you fall in love common sense flies out of the window. This is how it was for David and Doris Johnson when they found a down-at-heel mini chateau in the heartland of France. A three year restoration began - and with it a journey of discovery.
French |
English |
English |
French |
acquéreur |
purchaser |
accountant |
comptable |
agglomére |
chipboard |
adhesive (for tiles) |
cément colle |
agrafe |
window catch |
advice |
conseils |
agrandissement |
extension |
alter or convert |
aménager |
alimentation |
supply or supplier |
amount (of money) |
montant |
alimentation en eau |
water supply |
approximately |
environ |
aménager |
to alter or convert |
asbestos |
amiante |
amiante |
asbestos |
attic |
grenier |
appui |
sill |
authority (documented) |
pouvoir |
armature |
a reinforcement |
balcony |
balcon |
assainissement |
disposal of sewage |
ballcock |
robinet à flotteur |
bac a gâcher |
mixing tray (e.g. plaster) |
banisters |
rampe d’escalier |
bac de douche |
shower tray |
bankruptcy |
faillite |
bâche |
tarpaulin |
bathroom |
salle de bains |
bâcier |
to botch |
batten or bracket |
liteau |
balcon |
balcony |
bedroom |
chambre |
ballon d’eau |
water tank |
bill (utility) |
facture |
bâtiment |
building |
blade |
lame |
bêche |
spade |
bolt |
boulon |
bénefice |
profit |
botch |
bâcier |
benne |
rubbish skip |
boundary (limit) |
borne |
beton arme |
reinforced concrete |
breeze block |
parpaing agglomére |
béton pret a I’emploi |
ready-mixed concrete |
brick (standard) |
brique pleine |
bétonniere |
concrete mixer |
brush (wire) |
brosse métallique |
blocaille |
rubble |
building |
bâtiment |
bois contraplaqué |
plywood |
bungalow |
plain pied |
bon bricolage |
may good fortune shine on your DIY efforts |
business (name and goodwill) |
fonds de commerce |
borne |
boundary (limit) |
business (venture) |
entreprise |
boulon |
bolt |
câble |
cable |
brique plain |
standard brick |
carpet |
moquette |
brosse métallique |
wire brush |
carry out (agreement) |
realisation |
brouette |
wheelbarrow |
ceiling |
plafond |
cabinet |
small room or office |
ceiling (false) |
faux plafond |
capitaux permanents |
long term finances (resources) |
cellar |
sous sol |
cellier |
store (room) |
chimney (and fireplace) |
cheminée |
cément colle |
adhesive for tiles |
chimney stack |
souche |
chambre |
bedroom |
chipboard |
agglomére |
chape |
screed |
chippings |
gravillons |
charges |
expenses, costs |
clerk of works |
maître d’ouvrage |
charnière |
hinge |
concrete mixer |
bétonnière |
chauffage |
heating |
concrete, ready-mixed |
béton prêt à I’emploi |
chauffage central |
central heating |
concrete, reinforced |
béton armé |
cheminée |
chimney or fireplace |
conservatory |
jardin d’hiver |
cheville |
wall plug |
construction |
construction |
chevron |
rafter |
cornice |
corniche |
chute descente |
downpipe |
covered |
couvert |
citerne |
tank |
damp (proof) course |
couche méable |
clé |
spanner |
deadline |
délai d’execution |
cloison |
partition |
deadline |
délai |
clou |
nail |
delivery date |
délai de livraison |
commerçant |
trader (legal and licensed) |
deposit |
depôt de garantie |
commune |
district (local) |
district (local) |
commune |
comptable |
accountant |
DIY |
bricolage |
conduit |
cable |
double glazing |
double vitrage |
construction |
construction |
downpipe |
chute descente |
contenance |
land area |
drain (main) |
grand collecteur |
corniche |
cornice |
drainage (mains) |
tout-à-1’égout |
couche méable |
damp (proof) course |
draw up a contract |
rediger un contrat |
coulis |
grout |
drill (pneumatic) |
marteau piquer |
couvert |
covered |
dry rot |
pourriture |
cuisine |
kitchen |
earth (electrical) |
terre sol |
dalle |
flagstone |
estimate |
devis |
débarras |
box room |
excavator |
pelleteuse |
délai |
deadline |
extension |
agrandisssement |
délai d’execution |
deadline |
fault |
tnalfaçon |
délai de livraison |
delivery date |
fibreglass |
fibre de verre |
délai de reflexion |
pause for thought |
finances, long term resources |
capitaux permanents |
dépôt de garantie |
deposit |
finishing |
finition |
devis |
estimate |
fireplace (and chimney) |
cheminée |
double vitrage |
double glazing |
fittings (taps and bath) |
robinetterie |
durée |
time period (mortgage) |
flagstone |
dalle |
échafaudage |
scaffolding |
floor (covering) |
revêtement de sol |
élément de cuisine |
kitchen unit |
floor joist |
solive de plancher |
entreprise |
business (venture) |
floorboard |
planche |
environ |
approximately |
floorboard (warped) |
planche voilée |
escalier |
staircase |
flue (metal liner) |
tubage |
étage |
storey |
foundations (+ main walls) |
gros oeuvre |
etancheite |
imperviousness |
frame (iron, for concreting) |
férraillage |
extérieur |
outside |
french window |
porte-fenêtre |
facture |
invoice, bill(utility) |
garden |
jardin |
faillite |
bankruptcy |
glazing |
vitrage |
faux plafond |
false ceiling |
ground |
sol |
fenêtre |
window |
grounds |
terrain |
fenêtre à guillotine |
sash window |
grout |
coulis |
férraillage |
iron frame (for concreting) |
gun (glue) |
pistolet à colle |
fibre de verre |
fibreglass |
gun (sealant or silicone) |
pistolet pour mastic |
finition |
finishing |
hammer |
marteau |
flexion |
sagging |
heating |
chauffage |
fonds de commerce |
business (name and goodwill) |
heating (central) |
chauffage central |
fosse septique |
septic tank |
hinge |
charnière |
four |
oven |
home (second) |
maison secondaire |
gazonner |
to put down turf |
house |
maison |
géomètre |
survey or surveyor |
house (detached) |
pavillon |
grand collecteur |
main drain |
imperviousness |
étanchéite |
gravillons |
chippings |
infilling (cracks) |
rebouchage |
grenier |
attic |
insulation (heat) |
isolation thermique |
grès |
sandstone |
insulation (panel) |
panneau composite |
gros oeuvre |
walls and foundations |
insulation (sound) |
isolation acoustique |
hors d’équerre |
not (or out of) square |
interior |
intérieur |
hourder |
to render |
invoice |
facture |
hypothèque |
mortgage |
ironmonger’s |
quincaillerie |
indivision |
joint (property) ownership |
joinery |
ménuiserie |
isolation acoustique |
sound insulation |
joist (steel) |
solive en acier |
isolation thermique |
heat insulation |
kitchen |
cuisine |
jardin |
garden |
kitchen unit |
élément de cuisine |
jardin d’hiver |
conservatory |
land, building |
terrain constructible |
jointoiement |
pointing |
lawn |
pelouse |
jouissance |
right to tenure |
lay (bricks) |
maçonner |
laine d’acier |
wire wool |
lender |
organisme prêteur |
laine de roche |
rockwool |
loans and mortgages |
prêts |
lame |
blade |
lounge (living room) |
living/salle de séjour/salon |
liteau |
batten or bracket |
manhole cover |
plaque d’égout |
living |
lounge (living room) |
masonry mortar |
mortier normal |
maçonner |
to lay bricks |
mildew |
moisissure |
maison |
house |
mortar |
mortier |
maison d’amis |
second home |
mortgage |
hypothéque |
maître d’ouvrage |
clerk of works |
mortgage (period) |
durée |
malfaçon |
fault |
moulding |
moulure |
marteau |
hammer |
nail |
clou |
marteau piquer |
pneumatic drill |
offer (to buy) |
offre d’achat |
mastiquer |
to putty |
out of true (alignment) |
porter a faux |
menuiserie |
joinery |
outside |
extérieur |
métre ruban |
tape for measuring |
oven |
four |
moisissure |
mildew |
overflow (pipe or drain) |
tuyeu de trop-plein |
montant |
amount (of money) |
ownership, joint (property) |
indivision |
moquette |
carpet |
paint (work) |
peinture |
mortier |
mortar |
partition |
cloison |
mortier normal |
masonry |
pause (for thought) |
délai de reflexion |
moulure |
moulding |
permit for building |
permis de construire |
mur de retenue |
retaining wall |
plasterboard |
placoplâtre |
offre d’achat |
offer to buy |
plywood |
bois contraplaqué |
organisme prêteur |
lender |
pointing |
jointoiement |
ouverture de chantier |
start of (building) work |
postponement |
remise |
panneau composite |
insulation panel |
power point |
prise de courant |
parpaing |
breeze block |
price (fixed) |
prixfixe |
pavillon |
small(ish) detached house |
profit |
bénefice |
peinture |
paint (work) |
purchaser |
acquéreur |
peleteuse |
excavator |
to putty |
mastiquer |
pelouse |
lawn |
rafter |
chevron |
permis de construire |
permit for building |
reconditioning |
remise en état |
piégce |
room |
reinforcement, a |
armature |
pistolet à colle |
glue gun |
render |
hourder |
pistolet pour mastic |
sealant (silicone) gun |
resurface |
refaire la surface |
placage |
veneer |
rockwool |
laine de roche |
placoplâtre |
plasterboard |
roof |
toiture |
plafond |
ceiling |
room |
pièce |
plain-pied |
single storey |
room (small) |
cabinet |
planche |
board (floor) |
room (store) |
cellier |
planche voilée |
warped floorboard |
room (box) |
débarras |
plaque d’égout |
manhole cover |
room (living) |
salle de séjour |
plinthe |
skirting |
room (sitting) |
salon |
poncer |
to rub down |
rub down |
poncer |
ponceuse |
sanding machine |
rubble |
blocaille |
porte-fenêtre |
french window |
sagging |
flexion |
porter à faux |
out of true (alignment) |
sander (machine) |
ponceuse |
poser une vitre |
put in a window |
sandstone |
grès |
pourriture |
dry rot |
saw |
scie |
pouvoir |
authority (documented) |
scaffolding |
échafaudage |
préscriptions |
instruction advice |
screed |
chape |
préts |
loans and mortgages |
screw |
vis |
prise de courant |
power point |
screwdriver |
tournevis |
prixfermé |
fixed price |
serviced site |
viabilisé |
quincaillerie |
ironmonger’s (shop) |
sewage (disposal) |
assainissement |
rampe d’escalier |
banisters |
sill |
appui |
rangements |
storage areas |
situated |
situé |
realisation |
to carry out agreement |
skip (for rubbish) |
benne |
rebuchage |
infilling (cracks) |
skirting |
plinthe |
rédiger un contrat |
to make (draw up) a contract |
spade |
béche |
refaire la surface |
to resurface |
spanner |
clé |
remise |
postponement |
square, out of, or not |
hors d’équerre |
rémise en état |
reconditioning |
staircase |
escalier |
revêtement |
surface |
start (of building work) |
ouverture de chantier |
revêtement de sol |
floor covering |
stopcock |
robinet d’arret |
robinet à flotteur |
ballcock |
storage areas |
rangements |
robinet d’arrêt |
stopcock |
storey |
étage |
robinetterie |
taps and bath fittings |
supply or supplier |
alimentation |
rondelle |
washer |
surface |
revêtement |
salle de bains |
bathroom |
survey (property) |
visite d’expert |
salon |
sitting room |
survey or surveyor |
géomètre |
scie |
saw |
tank |
citerne |
salle de séjour |
living room |
tank (septic) |
fosse septique |
situé |
situated |
tape (measuring) |
mètre ruban |
sol |
ground |
tarpaulin |
bâche |
solive de plancher |
floor joist |
tenure, right to |
jouissance |
solive en acier |
steel joist |
terrace |
terrasse |
souche |
chimney stack |
trader (legal and licensed) |
commerçant |
sous sol |
cellar |
tray (e.g. for mixing plaster) |
bac à gdcher |
terrain |
grounds |
tray (shower) |
bac de douche |
terrain constructible |
land (building) |
trowel |
truelle |
terrasse |
terrace |
turf (to put down) |
gazonner |
terre sol |
earth (electrical) |
vendor |
vendeur |
toiture |
roof |
veneer |
placage |
tournevis |
screwdriver |
wall plug |
cheville |
tout-à-l’ égout |
mains drainage |
wall, retaining |
mur de retenue |
traveaux |
work (required) |
washer |
rondelle |
truelle |
trowel |
water supply |
alimentation en eau |
tubage |
flue (metal liner) |
water tank |
ballon d’eau |
tuyeu de trop-plein |
overflow (pipe or drain) |
wheelbarrow |
brouette |
vendeur |
vendor |
window |
fenêtre |
vermoulu |
woodworm (holes) |
window (to put in) |
poser une vitre |
viabilisé |
serviced site |
window (catch) |
agrafe |
vice de construction |
botched building work |
window, sash |
fenêtre à guillotine |
vis |
screw |
woodworm (holes) |
vermoulu |
visite d’expert |
property survey |
wool (wire) |
laine d’acier |
vitrage |
glazing |
work (required) |
traveaux |

