évacuation
/e.va.kɥa.sjɔ̃/
The French word for the noun 'drain' (a conduit for liquids) is évacuation.
tuyau d'évacuation refers to a drain pipe, and bouche d'évacuation refers to a drainage outlet or the mouth of a drain. If you are talking about the general system of draining water, use the phrase évacuation des eaux. For more specific infrastructure, you might use égout bouché for a blocked drain, égout pluvial for a storm drain or égout municipal for a city sewer. To refer to a drainage system, you can use either système de drainage or réseau d'assainissement.
Meaning: conduit for liquids (noun)
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The word has four syllables: /e.va.kɥa.sjɔ̃/.
Did you know?
- In some French-speaking regions, a small surface drain on a street is called a regard, which is more commonly understood in English as a 'look' or 'glance'.
- The word égout for a sewer drain is a phonetic relative of the word goutte, meaning 'drop'. It describes the way water trickles or drips down into the system.
- The term for drainage systems, assainissement, literally means 'making healthy'.
Examples in context
- Je déteste quand des cheveux bouchent le tuyau d'évacuation.I hate it when hair clogs the drain.This sentence is useful for expressing frustration when hair clogs the évacuation.Tatoeba #8943965 by lbdx, translation #2354312 by orcrist
- Un petit garçon, entraîné dans une bouche d'évacuation des eaux, s'est maintenu à la surface en employant les mouvements qu'il avait récemment appris au cours de natation.A small boy swept into a stormwater drain kept himself afloat using strokes he'd recently learned at swim school.This sentence describes a child staying afloat near a évacuation.Tatoeba #3761851 by sacredceltic, translation #3759668 by patgfisher
- J'ai vu un rat dans l'égout.I saw a rat in the drain.
- La conduite d'eau de l'évier est bouchée.The sink drain is blocked.
- L'eau s'écoule lentement dans le tuyau.The water is draining slowly in the drain/pipe.
- J'ai nettoyé le siphon de la baignoire.I cleaned the bathtub drain.
- N'oubliez pas de dégager les feuilles près des égouts pluviaux.Don't forget to clear the leaves near the storm drains.
- Le système de drainage de la maison est très efficace.The house drainage system is very efficient.
- L'eau s'écoule lentement par l'évacuation.The water flows slowly through the drain.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Léa are checking the bathroom after a leak.
- GabrielL'évacuation est complètement bouchée.The drain is completely blocked.
- LéaEst-ce que tu peux la déboucher, Gabriel ?Can you unclog it, Gabriel?
- GabrielJe vais essayer d'utiliser un produit.I will try to use a product.
- LéaD'accord, fais attention à ne pas en renverser.Okay, be careful not to spill any.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry évacuation, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
