salle informatique
In French, computer laboratory is salle informatique.
The term salle informatique is the standard way to refer to a computer lab in schools and universities. While the word for laboratory exists in French, salle informatique is the most common choice in educational settings.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of salle (room) and informatique (computer science/computing), literally meaning 'computer room'.
Which one should you use?
There are several ways to express this depending on the context. Salle d'informatique can be translated as 'computer room' or 'computer hall', while laboratoire d'informatique provides a more formal or technical alternative. Laboratoire informatique is also a formal way to refer to a computer laboratory.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase plural, both the noun and the adjective must take an 's', resulting in salles informatiques.
Did you know?
- The word informatique is not a direct translation of 'computing' but is actually a clever 'portmanteau' created by blending 'information' and 'automatique'.
- While salle means 'room', it is the root of the English word 'salon', which originally described a large reception hall rather than a beauty parlor.
- In French, informatique refers to both the physical equipment and the academic field of computer science, whereas English typically separates 'computing' from 'computer science'.
Examples in context
- On se retrouve dans le labo d'infoLet's meet in the computer laboratory
- Grande salle d'informatiqueLarge computer laboratory
- Labo d'info interactifInteractive computer lab
- Où est la salle d'informatique?Where is the computer laboratory?
- Tu viens au labo d'info tout à l'heure?Are you coming to the computer lab later?
- J'adore passer du temps dans la salle d'ordis!I love spending time in the computer room!
- La salle informatique est ouverte tout l'après-midi.The computer laboratory is open all afternoon.
- Où se trouve la salle informatique de l'université ?Where is the university computer laboratory?
- Il y a beaucoup de nouveaux ordinateurs dans la salle informatique.There are many new computers in the computer laboratory.
Example conversation
Lucas and Manon are looking for a place to study.
- LucasManon, est-ce que tu connais la salle informatique ?Manon, do you know the computer laboratory?
- ManonOui, elle est au deuxième étage.Yes, it is on the second floor.
- LucasEst-ce qu'elle est calme pour travailler ?Is it quiet for working?
- ManonOui, c'est un endroit très tranquille.Yes, it is a very quiet place.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries informatique, salle, CC BY-SA 4.0.
