Welcome back!

This lesson is a little bonus, and it’s very practical. If you live in France, even just for a short rental, you’ll need the right words to talk about your apartment, deal with landlords, neighbors, or maintenance people.

By the end of this lesson, you’ll know how to name the main rooms, furniture, appliances, and also how to explain common problems at home.

Let’s get started.

(C'est joli, nan ?)

Living in Your French Apartment: Key Words and Phrases

When you live in France, even just renting for a short time, you need simple words to manage your home and talk to landlords, neighbors, or maintenance people. Here’s everything you need to know.

1. Rooms

Repeat after me:

• le salon → living room

• la chambre → bedroom

• la cuisine → kitchen

• la salle de bain → bathroom

• les toilettes / les WC → toilet (in France, often pronounced like “VC”)

• le balcon → balcony

• le garage → garage

• l’ascenseur → elevator

• l’immeuble → building

👉 Tip: l’immeuble doesn’t mean “skyscraper.” It simply means any apartment building.

2. Appliances and Utilities

Now let’s learn some useful words for your home appliances and utilities.

Repeat after me:

• le lave-linge → washing machine

• le sèche-linge → dryer

• le réfrigérateur / le frigo → fridge

• le four → oven

• la cuisinière → stove

• le micro-ondes → microwave

• le chauffage → heating

• la clim (climatisation) → air conditioning

• l’eau chaude → hot water

• la WiFi / Internet → WiFi (In France, people argue whether it’s le or la. You’ll hear both!)

3. Furniture

Repeat after me:

• le lit → bed

• la table → table

• la chaise → chair

• le canapé → sofa

• l’armoire → wardrobe

• l’étagère → shelf

4. Renting and Bills Vocabulary

If you’re renting or managing an apartment, these words will come up often.

Repeat after me:

• le loyer → rent

• les charges → utilities / fees

• le propriétaire / la propriétaire → landlord / landlady

• l’agence immobilière → real estate agency

• l’agent immobilier → real estate agent

• le bail /LEUBAY/→ lease / rental contract

• l’état des lieux → move-in inspection / property condition report

• la visite → apartment viewing / visit

• le justificatif de domicile → proof of residence / proof of address

• le garant → guarantor / co-signer

• le syndic → building manager / condo association

• les parties communes → common areas

• la caution → security deposit

5. Useful Phrases

Here are practical phrases you’ll definitely need:

• J’ai perdu mes clés. → I lost my keys.

• La porte est cassée. → The door is broken.

• Le chauffage ne fonctionne pas. → The heating doesn’t work.

• Le lave-linge ne marche pas. → The washing machine isn’t working.

• L’eau chaude ne marche pas. → The hot water isn’t working.

• Je voudrais louer cet appartement. → I would like to rent this apartment.

• Combien est le loyer par mois ? → How much is the rent per month?

• Les charges sont incluses ? → Are utilities included?

• Je dois payer une caution ? → Do I have to pay a deposit?

• Il y a un ascenseur dans l’immeuble ? → Is there an elevator in the building?

• Excusez-moi, pouvez-vous m’aider ? → Excuse me, can you help me?

• Il y a un problème avec… → There is a problem with…

• Je cherche un plombier / un électricien. → I’m looking for a plumber / electrician.

👉 Notice how many phrases start with Il y a… → “There is…” That’s a very handy construction. And "Il y a" is said "Y'a" /YA/ in spoken French.

Extra Vocabulary

• l’électricité → electricity

• le gaz → gas

• la facture → bill

• l’ampoule → lightbulb

• l’évier → sink

• le robinet → tap / faucet

Emergency Phrases

• Il y a une fuite d’eau. → There is a water leak.

• Il n’y a pas d’électricité. → There is no electricity.

• C’est urgent. → It’s urgent.

Cultural Note

In France, it is very common for apartments to be rented without appliances or furniture. Sometimes even the kitchen is completely empty. So phrases like Je cherche un appartement meublé (I’m looking for a furnished apartment) or L’appartement est-il équipé ? (Is the apartment equipped?) are essential.

6. Mini Dialogues

Let’s practice two short conversations.

Dialogue 1
— Bonjour, le chauffage ne marche pas dans mon appartement.
(Hello, the heating doesn’t work in my apartment.)
— Je vais envoyer quelqu’un pour le réparer.
(I’ll send someone to fix it.)
— Merci beaucoup !
(Thank you very much!)

Dialogue 2
— Excusez-moi, le lave-linge ne fonctionne pas depuis ce matin.
(Excuse me, the washing machine hasn’t been working since this morning.)
— Je vous envoie un technicien aujourd’hui.
(I’ll send a technician today.)

👉 Repeat these dialogues out loud. They’re exactly the kinds of interactions you’ll have in real life.

7. Practice Tips

Here’s how to make these words and phrases stick:

1. Walk through your apartment and name every room, piece of furniture, and appliance in French.

2. Practice reporting problems out loud: Le micro-ondes ne fonctionne pas.

3. Roleplay with a friend. One plays the landlord, the other the tenant. Switch roles and repeat.

4. Ask questions about rent, deposits, and utilities: Combien est le loyer ? or Je dois payer une caution ?

🎯 What You Can Do Now

After this lesson, you can:

• Name rooms, furniture, and appliances in French.

• Report common problems at home.

• Rent or manage an apartment confidently in French.

What’s Next

Bravo for finishing this bonus lesson! These words may not sound glamorous, but they are some of the most useful you’ll ever need.

Tourne la page, la prochaine leçon est importante.