salle d'arts plastiques
The English phrase "art room" is translated into French as salle d'arts plastiques.
In a school setting, salle d'arts plastiques is the standard way to refer to a classroom dedicated to visual arts.
Which one should you use?
While salle d'arts plastiques is the specific term for a school art room, a more general term for an art studio or a room for any kind of art is atelier d'artiste.
Did you know?
- The word plastiques in salle d'arts plastiques does not refer to the material plastic, but comes from the Greek word for 'molding'. It describes art that is shaped or modeled, such as sculpture and painting.
- In a French school, students often refer to the salle d'arts plastiques simply as les arts plastiques, treating the subject name as a shorthand for the physical location.
- The word salle shares the same roots as the English word 'hall', both descending from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'human settlement' or 'dwelling'.
Examples in context
- Les élèves entrent dans la salle d'arts plastiques.The students are entering the art room.
- La salle d'arts plastiques est très grande.The art room is very large.
Example conversation
Two students are looking for their classroom in a school hallway.
- LucasEmma, tu sais où est la salle d'arts plastiques ?Emma, do you know where the art room is?
- EmmaOui, elle est au bout du couloir.Yes, it is at the end of the hallway.
- LucasC'est loin d'ici ?Is it far from here?
- EmmaNon, c'est juste à côté de la bibliothèque.No, it is right next to the library.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries salle, CC BY-SA 4.0.
