tableau noir
masculine
The English word 'chalkboard' translates to French as tableau noir. If unsure, use tableau noir. Wiktionary also lists ardoise.
Meaning: slate board for writing on with chalk (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| tableau noir | masculine | |
| ardoise | /aʁ.dwaz/ |
A chalkboard is a slate board used for writing with chalk. In a classroom setting, French speakers often drop the adjective and simply refer to the chalkboard as le tableau.
What does it mean word for word?
The term tableau noir is a literal translation of 'blackboard', where tableau means board and noir means black.
Which one should you use?
While tableau noir is the standard term, ardoise refers specifically to a slate board, which is the material often used for smaller chalkboards or school slates.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, you may commonly hear the term tableau à craie for a chalkboard.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective noir follows the noun tableau in gender and number agreement, as seen in the phrase un tableau noir.
Did you know?
- In French, if you 'effacer l'ardoise', you are figuratively wiping the slate clean to start over or forgive a debt.
- The word tableau is a versatile term that can also mean a painting or a picture, depending on the context.
- The word ardoise is used in French restaurants to describe the 'slate' menu board where daily specials are written.
Examples in context
- Viens au tableau noir.Come to the chalkboard.This sentence is useful for telling someone to come to the tableau noir.Tatoeba #2831099 by denise12, translation #9951436 by traeton
- N'oubliez pas d'écrire cela au tableau noir.Don't forget to write that on the chalkboard.
- Le professeur efface le tableau à craie après chaque cours.The teacher erases the chalkboard after every class.
- Le professeur écrit sur le tableau noir.The teacher is writing on the chalkboard.
- Il y a de la poussière sur le tableau noir.There is dust on the chalkboard.
Example conversation
In a classroom after a lesson.
- ManonHugo, peux-tu nettoyer le tableau noir ?Hugo, can you clean the chalkboard?
- HugoOui Manon, je m'en occupe tout de suite.Yes Manon, I will take care of it right away.
- ManonMerci, il est très sale.Thank you, it is very dirty.
- HugoPas de problème, je vais le faire.No problem, I will do it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chalkboard” translations and entries tableau noir, ardoise, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
