ordures
standard
The French word for "garbage" is ordures, which sounds like "or-DUR" with the French u. The bin itself is a poubelle, pronounced "poo-BEL". It is also called déchets.
Meaning: household waste (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | Note |
|---|---|
| ordures | standard |
| poubelle | bin |
| déchets | waste |
Ordures is used for household garbage, as in sortir les ordures. Déchets is the more general word for waste and is used in recycling and environment talk.
Which one should you use?
In everyday speech people more often name the container and say jeter à la poubelle, "to throw in the bin".
How do you pronounce it?
The u in ordures is the French u: say "ee" with your lips rounded as for "oo". The r is made at the back of the throat. Déchets sounds like "day-SHEH".
Did you know?
- The French word poubelle comes from the name of Eugène Poubelle, the Paris prefect who made garbage bins compulsory in 1884.
Examples in context
- Je sors les ordures.I am taking out the garbage.
- Mets ça à la poubelle.Put that in the bin.
- Le tri des déchets est obligatoire.Waste sorting is required.
Example conversation
Nicolas asks his roommate Léa in Lyon to take out the garbage.
- NicolasLéa, tu peux sortir les ordures?Léa, can you take out the garbage?
- LéaOui, j'y vais.Yes, I am going.
- NicolasMerci!Thanks!
