nettoyer
/nɛ.twa.je/
The English phrase 'clean up' is translated into French as nettoyer.
nettoyer is used to mean making an area or a thing clean.
Meaning: to make an area or a thing clean (verb)
Which one should you use?
While nettoyer means to clean, it is often used for the act of washing or scrubbing, whereas ranger is used specifically for tidying up or organizing a space. Assainir is a verb that conveys the notion of cleaning up by making something hygienic or sanitizing it. Faire le ménage translates to 'to do the household chores' and can be used to encompass various cleaning tasks. Faire du rangement is a casual way to express 'to tidy up' and conveys the act of organizing and straightening things.
How does it change in a sentence?
The past participle of nettoyer is nettoyé (cleaned). The first person singular present indicative form of nettoyer is nettoie.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of nettoyer is /nɛ.twa.je/. It has 3 syllables.
Did you know?
- In French slang, nettoyer can be used to describe 'wiping out' an opponent or completely clearing a game board in a competitive setting.
- The phrase faire le ménage can be used metaphorically in politics or business to mean 'cleaning house' by removing incompetent people from an organization.
- The term assainir is used not just for hygiene, but also in finance to describe 'cleaning up' a balance sheet or stabilizing a budget.
Examples in context
- Il m'a aidé à nettoyer le bordel.He helped me clean up the mess.This sentence shows how to use nettoyer when helping someone clean up a mess.Tatoeba #1945298 by sacredceltic, translation #1944100 by Spamster
- Tu peux m'aider à nettoyer ce bordel ?Could you help me clean up this mess?This sentence is a way to ask for help using nettoyer to clean up a mess.Tatoeba #10518491 by lbdx, translation #6345962 by CK
- Je ferais mieux de nettoyer maintenant.I'd better clean up now.This sentence expresses the need to use nettoyer at the present moment.Tatoeba #8352485 by Aiji, translation #2361820 by CK
- Veuillez nettoyer la salle après la réunionPlease clean up the room after the meeting
- Je vais ranger la cuisine après le dînerI will clean up the kitchen after dinner
- J'ai besoin de faire le ménage dans ma chambreI need to clean up my room
- Je dois nettoyer tout mon appartement avant l'arrivée des invitésI have to clean up my entire apartment before the guests arrive
- Il faut faire du rangement dans le salonWe need to clean up the living room
- Range ta chambre avant que tes amis arriventClean up your room before your friends come over
- 14 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Léa are in the kitchen after cooking.
- HugoJe vais nettoyer la table maintenant.I am going to clean up the table now.
- LéaMerci, Hugo. Je m'occupe de la vaisselle.Thanks, Hugo. I'll take care of the dishes.
- HugoOn doit aussi nettoyer le sol.We also need to clean up the floor.
- LéaD'accord, je vais chercher le balai.Okay, I'll go get the broom.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “clean up” translations and entries nettoyer, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
