French Tools and House Repairs Vocabulary

In this article, I will list the French vocabulary for house repairs: names tools in French and English, as well as verbs that are used when doing renovations in French, French vocabulary for craftsmen and trades etc…

I hope you enjoy these lists of French tool & repairs vocabulary.

Please feel free to add relevant tools, renovation, repair related vocabulary (in French and English please) in the comments section below and I will add them up to the lists. Merci!

1 – French Tools Vocabulary

1. le marteau –  hammer
2. le tournevis –  screwdriver (do say the final S)
3. le tournevis cruciforme – phillips head screwdriver
4. la clef à molette / la clef anglaise – wrench (F is silent, pronounce the wrench “clé” – you can also spell it this way)
5. la clef à pipe – socket wrench
6. le mètre – tape measure
7. la pince universelle – bull-nose pliers
8. la pince coupante – wire cutters
9. la pince à dénuder – wire strippers
10. le serre joint – clamp
11. la perceuse – hand drill
12. la scie – saw
13. la scie circulaire – circular saw
14. la scie à métaux – hacksaw
15. la scie à ruban – band saw
16. la scie sauteuse – jig saw
17. la scie vilebrequin – ceramic tile saw
18. la hache – axe
19. la pioche – pickaxe
20. le coupe-carreaux – tile cutter
21. la lampe à souder – blow lamp
22. l’échelle (f) – ladder
23. l’escabeau (m) – step ladder
24. le tréteau – trestle
25. la brouette – wheelbarrow

OK, now this is a bit far fetched… but Camille made a French practice video in the virtual world of the videogame Minecraft. In episode 1, she builds tools.. it’s a fun way to practice the French tool vocabulary and work on your French comprehension.

2 – More Tool – French Vocabulary

1. le rabot – plane
2. le burin – chisel
3. la lime –  file
4. le niveau – level
5. la vis – screw (do say the final S)
6. la cheville – expanding wall lug
7. le clou – nail
8. le boulon – bolt
9. le joint – washer – also grout
10. l’écrou – nut
11. le foret – drill bit
12. le papier de verre – sandpaper
13. le ruban isolant – insulating tape
14. les lunettes de sécurité – safety goggles
15. la colle – glue
16. le décapant – paint stripper
17. le pinceau – paint brush
18. le rouleau – paint roller
19. le grattoir – scraper
20. la truelle – trowel

3 – French Repair Materials Vocabulary

1. l’enduit (m) – filler
2. le plâtre – plaster
3. le contre plaqué – plywood
4. le placo – plasterboard
5. le crépi – stucco
6. le béton – concrete
7. le mortier – mortar
8. le carrelage – ceramic tiles
9. le joint – grout
10. le silicone (or le mastic) – caulk
11. la peinture – paint
12. le vernis – varnish
13. l’amiante – asbestos
14. le béton- concrete
15. la pierre – stone
16. le chêne – oak
17. le bois – wood

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4 – French Renovation Vocabulary

1. le devis – bill estimate
2. le terrain – the land
3. la parcelle – plot of land (on administrative maps)
4. le plan cadastral – plot boundary map
5. les plans d’architecte – architect’s plans
6. une coupe – cross-section
7. une extension – an extension
8. l’assainissement – sewerage treatment
9. l’ossature bois/métallique – wooden/metal framework
10. une chape liquide – liquid screed
11. la garantie décennale – 10-year guarantee

5 – List of French Repairs Verbs

1. peindre – to pain
2. sécuriser le chantier – to make the worksite safe
3. percer des ouvertures – to make openings (for windows, doors)
4. boucher un trou – to fill in/block a hole
5. casser la dalle – to break up the (old concrete/cement) floor
6. refaire le sol – to put a new floor down
7. poser/installer une fenêtre – to put in a window
8. mettre quelque chose aux normes – to make something meet regulations
9. (se) raccorder au “tout à l’égout” – to connect to the sewerage system
10. poser une fosse toutes eaux – to instal a modern septic tank
11. relier la propriété au réseau d’eau/EDF – to connect the property to the water/electricity system
12. déblayer le site (de gravats) – to clear the site (of rubble)

6 – French Craftsmen & Trades Vocabulary

1. un corps de métier – a trade
2. les artisans (m) – craftsmen, skilled workers
3. le maître d’ouvrage – site manager
4. le maçon – builder
5. le couvreur – roofer
6. le charpentier – carpenter (roof structure)
7. le menuisier – carpenter/joiner (doors, windows etc)
8. le carreleur – tiler
9. le plâtrier – plasterer
10. l’électricien – electrician
11. le plombier – plumber
12. le chauffagiste – heating engineer
13. le peintre-décorateur – painter-decorator

And now to practice this French tool and house repair vocabulary, I invite you to read my French / English bilingual story about renovating a house in France.