bain
/bɛ̃/
bain is the French word for bath.
The word means bath. When you want to say you are taking a bath, you use the phrase prendre un bain with the verb prendre rather than using verbs like 'making' or 'doing'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun bain is masculine and is typically used with the definite article le to form le bain (the bath).
How do you pronounce it?
/bɛ̃/
Did you know?
- In France, a bain de foule is not a bath in water, but an expression used to describe a politician or celebrity immersed in a large crowd of people.
- The word bain is a linguistic sibling to the word bagne, which refers to a penal colony or a place of forced labor.
- French has a unique term bain-marie for a double boiler. It refers to a gentle heating method that avoids direct contact with the fire, named after the alchemist Mary the Jewess.
Examples in context
- Prenez un bain chaud pour vous détendreTake a hot bath to relax
- Je vais te rejoindre dans le bainI will join you in the bath
- J'ai besoin d'un bon bain chaud ce soirI need a good hot bath tonight
- Vous devriez prendre un bain relaxant après une longue journée de travail.You should take a relaxing bath after a long day of work.
- Je prends un bain chaud.I am taking a warm bath.
- L'enfant veut un bain.The child wants a bath.
- Il est temps de prendre un bain.It is time to take a bath.
Example conversation
Manon and Nathan are preparing for the evening at home.
- ManonNathan, est-ce que tu veux un bain ?Nathan, do you want a bath?
- NathanOui, je vais prendre un bain maintenant.Yes, I am going to take a bath now.
- ManonD'accord, je prépare l'eau pour toi.Okay, I will prepare the water for you.
- NathanMerci, tu es très gentille.Thank you, you are very kind.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry bain, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bain, CC BY-SA 4.0.
