If you ever rent an Airbnb or even in a hotel, sometimes, you can run into plumbing/water issues and need to speak to someone who does not speak English.
This article features a handy collection of French plumbing vocabulary organized by room (like the kitchen, bathroom, and basement) to help you talk to a plumber in France. Iâve also included everyday words for things like sinks, pipes, and drains, with the right French articles (like âle,â âla,â etc.) so you can use them naturally.
Itâs especially useful if youâre renting a house or on vacation and need to explain common plumbing issues, like a leak or a blocked drain. Whether itâs fixing something in the bathroom or dealing with a broken water heater, this guide has you covered!
Common French Phrases to Talk About Plumbing Issues
Il y a une fuite dâeau dans la salle de bain / la cuisine.
Thereâs a water leak in the bathroom/kitchen.
Le robinet ne marche pas bien
The faucet isnât working well
Le robinet ne marche plus.
The faucet is not working anymore.
La chasse dâeau des toilettes ne marche plus.
The toilet flush isnât working anymore.
Lâeau ne sâĂŠvacue pas dans lâĂŠvier / la douche.
Lâeau sâĂŠcoule très lentement dans lâĂŠvier / la douche.
The water isnât draining in the sink/shower.
Lâeau a une drĂ´le de couleur.
La couleur de lâeau est bizarre.
The water has a weird color.
Lâeau est froide : je nâai plus dâeau chaude.
The waterâs cold: I donât have hot water anymore.
Ăa fuit sous lâĂŠvier.
Itâs leaking under the sink.
Le radiateur fuit / ne chauffe pas.
The radiatorâs leaking / not heating.
Les tuyaux font un drĂ´le de bruit.
The pipes are making a weird noise.
Le chauffe-eau ne marche plus.
The water heater isnât working anymore.
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Scheduling and Paying a French Plumber
Now that you know how to describe and talk about simple plumbing problems, you have to find a plumber (thatâs probably the hardest part) and then schedule a visit. Letâs see some phrases that you can use when you get the plumber on the phone or when s.he is on-site.
Vous pouvez venir aujourdâhui ?
Can you come today?
Quand est-ce que vous pouvez venir ?
When can you come?
Câest une urgence.
Itâs an emergency.
Ăa va coĂťter combien ?
How much is this going to cost?
Ăa va prendre combien de temps ?
How long is it going to take?
Vous avez besoin de pièces en plus ?
Do you need extra parts?
Il y a une garantie sur la rĂŠparation ?
Is there a warranty on the repair?
Vous pensez pouvoir rÊparer ça quand ?
When do you think you can fix this?
Câest grave, vous pensez ?
Do you think itâs serious?
Vous avez une idĂŠe dâoĂš vient le problème ?
Do you have an idea whatâs causing the problem?
Je dois couper lâeau en attendant ?
Do I need to turn off the water while waiting?
Je dois faire attention Ă quelque chose en particulier ?
Is there anything special I should watch out for?
French Plumbing Vocabulary
Now letâs look at a list French vocabulary organized by the different rooms/places in a typical house. Note for example that âa sinkâ has two different translations based on what room itâs located in!
Dans La Cuisine (In the Kitchen)
- LâĂŠvier : The sink
- Le robinet : The faucet/tap
- Les canalisations : The pipes
- Le dĂŠbouchage : The unclogging
- La vidange : The drainage
- Le tuyau dâĂŠvacuation : The drain pipe
- LâĂŠgouttoir : The drainer
- La fuite sous lâĂŠvier : The leak under the sink
- Le siphon : The trap (U-bend)
- La bonde : The plug or drain stopper
- La tuyauterie : The plumbing/pipes
Dans La Salle de bain (In the Bathroom)
- Le lavabo : The bathroom sink
- La baignoire : The bathtub
- La douche : The shower
- Le pommeau de douche : The shower head
- Le mĂŠlangeur : The mixer tap
- Le robinet mitigeur : The single-handle mixer
- La chasse dâeau : The toilet flush
- Les toilettes / Le WC : The toilet
- La cuvette des toilettes : The toilet bowl
- Le rĂŠservoir : The toilet tank
- Le siphon de sol : The floor drain
- La bonde de baignoire : The bathtub drain
- La fuite dâeau : The water leak
- Le calcaire : The limescale
- Le tuyau flexible : The flexible hose
La Buanderie (Laundry room)
- La machine Ă laver : The washing machine
- Le tuyau dâarrivĂŠe dâeau : The water inlet hose
- Le tuyau de vidange : The drain hose
- Le chauffe-eau : The water heater
- Le ballon dâeau chaude : The hot water tank
- Le raccordement : The connection for pipes or hoses
- La purge : The drain or bleed (air from pipes)
Le Sous-sol / La Cave (Basement)
- La pompe de relevage : The sump pump
- La chaudière : The boiler
- La canalisation dâĂŠvacuation : The wastewater pipe
- La conduite dâeau principale : The main water line
- La vanne dâarrĂŞt : The shutoff valve
- Le filtre : The filter
- Le dĂŠgorgement : The unblocking (of pipes)
- Le clapet anti-retour : The non-return valve (check valve)
- La ventilation de tuyaux : The pipe vent
LâExtĂŠrieur (Outside)
- Le tuyau dâarrosage : The garden hose
- Le tuyau dâĂŠvacuation des eaux de pluie : The rainwater drainage pipe
- Le trop-plein : The overflow
- La gouttière : The gutter
- Le regard : The inspection chamber (access point to pipes)
- Le robinet extĂŠrieur : The outdoor faucet
- La vidange de piscine : The pool drain
- La fosse septique : The septic tank
GĂŠnĂŠral (generic)
- La fuite : The leak
- Le tuyau : The pipe
- Le raccord : The fitting/joint
- Le joint : The seal/gasket
- Le dĂŠbouchage : The unclogging
- La soupape : The valve
- La pression dâeau : The water pressure
- Le purgeur : The bleeder valve
- La clĂŠ Ă molette : The adjustable wrench
- Le colmatage : The sealing
- LâĂŠtanchĂŠitĂŠ : The water-tightness
- Lâobstruction : The blockage
Although I hope you never get to use this vocabulary while you are on vacation, I hope this list will help you if you do.
If you have any additional vocabulary you think should be added to this list, feel free to suggest it in the comment section below.
Merci !
Frequently Asked Questions
This guide helps you communicate with plumbers in France by providing essential plumbing vocabulary in French. Itâs especially useful if youâre renting a house or on vacation and need to explain common plumbing issues.
The vocabulary is grouped by room (like kitchen, bathroom, and basement), with terms for things like sinks, pipes, and drains. Each word includes the correct French article (âle,â âla,â etc.) to help you use it properly in conversation.
You can describe everyday plumbing issues like leaks, clogged drains, or broken fixtures in French. There are also terms for more specific problems, like a faulty water heater or a sump pump thatâs not working.
If youâre in France and need to talk to a plumber who does not speak English, this guide gives you the key words and phrases to explain whatâs wrong, making it easier to get the help you need quickly.
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