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
- le marteau – hammer
- le tournevis – screwdriver (do say the final S)
- le tournevis cruciforme – phillips head screwdriver
- la clef à molette / la clef anglaise – wrench (F is silent, pronounce the wrench “clé” – you can also spell it this way)
- la clef à pipe – socket wrench
- le mètre – tape measure
- la pince universelle – bull-nose pliers
- la pince coupante – wire cutters
- la pince à dénuder – wire strippers
- le serre joint – clamp
- la perceuse – hand drill
- la scie – saw
- la scie circulaire – circular saw
- la scie à métaux – hacksaw
- la scie à ruban – band saw
- la scie sauteuse – jig saw
- la scie vilebrequin – ceramic tile saw
- la hache – axe
- la pioche – pickaxe
- le coupe-carreaux – tile cutter
- la lampe à souder – blow lamp
- l’échelle (f) – ladder
- l’escabeau (m) – step ladder
- le tréteau – trestle
- la brouette – wheelbarrow
2 – More Tool – French Vocabulary
- le rabot – plane
- le burin – chisel
- la lime – file
- le niveau – level
- la vis – screw (do say the final S)
- la cheville – expanding wall lug
- le clou – nail
- le boulon – bolt
- le joint – washer – also grout
- l’écrou – nut
- le foret – drill bit
- le papier de verre – sandpaper
- le ruban isolant – insulating tape
- les lunettes de sécurité – safety goggles
- la colle – glue
- le décapant – paint stripper
- le pinceau – paint brush
- le rouleau – paint roller
- le grattoir – scraper
- la truelle – trowel

3 – French Repair Materials Vocabulary
- l’enduit (m) – filler
- le plâtre – plaster
- le contre plaqué – plywood
- le placo – plasterboard
- le crépi – stucco
- le béton – concrete
- le mortier – mortar
- le carrelage – ceramic tiles
- le joint – grout
- le silicone (or le mastic) – caulk
- la peinture – paint
- le vernis – varnish
- l’amiante – asbestos
- le béton- concrete
- la pierre – stone
- le chêne – oak
- le bois – wood

4 – French Renovation Vocabulary
- le devis – bill estimate
- le terrain – the land
- la parcelle – plot of land (on administrative maps)
- le plan cadastral – plot boundary map
- les plans d’architecte – architect’s plans
- une coupe – cross-section
- une extension – an extension
- l’assainissement – sewerage treatment
- l’ossature bois/métallique – wooden/metal framework
- une chape liquide – liquid screed
- la garantie décennale – 10-year guarantee
5 – List of French Repairs Verbs
- peindre – to pain
- sécuriser le chantier – to make the worksite safe
- percer des ouvertures – to make openings (for windows, doors)
- boucher un trou – to fill in/block a hole
- casser la dalle – to break up the (old concrete/cement) floor
- refaire le sol – to put a new floor down
- poser/installer une fenêtre – to put in a window
- mettre quelque chose aux normes – to make something meet regulations
- (se) raccorder au “tout à l’égout” – to connect to the sewerage system
- poser une fosse toutes eaux – to instal a modern septic tank
- relier la propriété au réseau d’eau/EDF – to connect the property to the water/electricity system
- déblayer le site (de gravats) – to clear the site (of rubble)
6 – French Craftsmen & Trades Vocabulary
- un corps de métier – a trade
- les artisans (m) – craftsmen, skilled workers
- le maître d’ouvrage – site manager
- le maçon – builder
- le couvreur – roofer
- le charpentier – carpenter (roof structure)
- le menuisier – carpenter/joiner (doors, windows etc)
- le carreleur – tiler
- le plâtrier – plasterer
- l’électricien – electrician
- le plombier – plumber
- le chauffagiste – heating engineer
- 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.
Share post
SIGN UP NOW