poubelle
/pu.bɛl/feminine
The French word for bin is poubelle.
poubelle is the most common and widely used word in French for a container used for rubbish. For example, you might use the phrase sortir la poubelle to mean taking the rubbish out to the street for collection. You can also use the phrase Grosse poubelle to refer to a big bin.
Meaning: container for rubbish (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
poubelle is a feminine noun, which is why the definite article la is used in the phrase la poubelle (the bin).
How do you pronounce it?
/pu.bɛl/
Did you know?
- The word poubelle is actually a person's name. It comes from Eugène Poubelle, a Parisian official who mandated that every apartment must have a waste container in 1884.
- In some Francophone regions, you might hear bac used for a large outdoor bin, which is the same word used for a baby's bathtub.
- The term poubelle can occasionally be used in a very informal or insulting way to describe someone who is 'trashy' or 'worthless', much like the English slang 'trash'.
Examples in context
- La poubelle est vide.The bin is empty.This sentence shows how to describe a bin that is empty.Tatoeba #8313185 by Julien_PDC, translation #5693979 by marcj794
- Où est votre poubelle ?Where's your rubbish bin?This sentence is useful for asking where a rubbish bin is located.Tatoeba #3628025 by fleur74, translation #12442585 by sundown
- La poubelle est pleine.The bin is full.This sentence shows how to describe a bin that is full.Tatoeba #8313184 by Julien_PDC, translation #12438893 by sundown
- Je vais jeter les déchets dans la poubelle.I'm going to throw the trash in the bin.
- Pose cette boîte dans la corbeille, s'il te plaît.Please place that box in the bin.
- 15 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Léa are in the kitchen.
- HugoOù est la poubelle ?Where is the bin?
- LéaElle est sous la table.It is under the table.
- HugoJe vais vider la poubelle.I am going to empty the bin.
- LéaMerci, Hugo !Thanks, Hugo!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bin” translations and entries poubelle, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries poubelle, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
