immeuble résidentiel
masculine
The English phrase 'apartment building' translates to French as immeuble résidentiel.
The term refers to a residential building containing multiple flats.
Meaning: residential building with multiple flats (noun)
Which one should you use?
In a residential context, un immeuble specifically refers to an apartment building, whereas un bâtiment is a more generic term for any structure or building.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In France, the term HLM is used to refer to affordable housing.
How does it change in a sentence?
immeuble résidentiel is a masculine noun.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use un appartement to mean the entire building. However, un appartement refers only to a single unit or flat within the building.
Did you know?
- The word immeuble shares a fascinating linguistic history with the word meuble, which means 'furniture'. While they sound similar, they are actually opposites: meuble comes from 'movable' and immeuble comes from 'immovable'.
- A resident of an immeuble might mention their gardien or gardienne, a live-in caretaker who often has their own apartment in the building.
- French uses the word digicode to describe the electronic keypad entry systems found in most immeubles, a term not used in English.
Examples in context
- Il habite dans un immeuble résidentiel.He lives in an apartment building.
- Cet immeuble résidentiel est très ancien.This apartment building is very old.
- Nous cherchons un immeuble résidentiel calme.We are looking for a quiet apartment building.
Example conversation
Léa and Gabriel are walking in the city.
- LéaRegarde cet immeuble résidentiel, Gabriel !Look at that apartment building, Gabriel!
- GabrielOui, il a l'air très moderne.Yes, it looks very modern.
- LéaJe pense qu'il y a des appartements libres.I think there are vacant apartments.
- GabrielC'est une bonne idée, Léa.That is a good idea, Léa.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “apartment building” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries immeuble, CC BY-SA 4.0.
