fer à repasser
/fɛ.ʁ‿a ʁ(ə).pa.se/masculine
The English phrase "clothes iron" is translated into French as fer à repasser.
The term fer à repasser refers to the appliance used for pressing clothes. The specific action of ironing clothes is performed using the verb repasser.
Meaning: appliance for pressing clothes (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of fer (iron), à (for/to) and repasser (to iron).
Which one should you use?
In casual conversation, the phrase is often shortened to just un fer.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun is masculine, so it uses the indefinite article un (e.g., un fer à repasser).
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /fɛ.ʁ‿a ʁ(ə).pa.se/. It has 4 syllables.
Did you know?
- Because repasser also means 'to stop by' or 'to come back', saying je repasse could mean you are returning to a place or that you are ironing, depending on the context.
- Because repasser means 'to go over again', French speakers use the same verb when they are proofreading a text or reviewing a document.
- The word fer comes from the Latin ferrum, which is the same root used for the symbol Fe on the periodic table.
Examples in context
- Pouvez-vous me prêter votre fer à repasser, s'il vous plaît?Could you lend me your clothes iron, please?
- Je préfère utiliser un fer à repasser électrique pour plus de facilité.I prefer using an electric clothes iron for convenience.
- Tu peux me prêter ton fer à repasser? J'ai besoin de repasser ma chemise.Can you lend me your clothes iron? I need to iron my shirt.
- J'ai besoin de trouver un nouveau fer, le mien est cassé.I need to find a new clothes iron, mine is broken.
- Je préfère utiliser un fer à repasser électrique, c'est plus rapide.I prefer using an electric clothes iron, it's faster.
- Le fer à repasser est très chaud.The clothes iron is very hot.
- J'ai besoin d'un nouveau fer à repasser.I need a new clothes iron.
Example conversation
Emma and Nathan are in the laundry room.
- EmmaNathan, où est le fer à repasser ?Nathan, where is the clothes iron?
- NathanIl est sur la table de la buanderie.It is on the laundry table.
- EmmaEst-ce que le fer à repasser fonctionne bien ?Does the clothes iron work well?
- NathanOui, il fonctionne parfaitement.Yes, it works perfectly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “clothes iron” translations and entries fer à repasser, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries fer, repasser, à, CC BY-SA 4.0.
