serre
/sɛʁ/feminine
The English phrase greenhouse is serre in French.
A serre refers to a building in which plants are grown more quickly than outside. You can specify the type of greenhouse using these terms: une serre agricole for an agricultural greenhouse and une serre de jardin for a garden greenhouse.
Meaning: building in which plants are grown more quickly than outside (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
To refer to multiple greenhouses, use the plural form serres.
How do you pronounce it?
/sɛʁ/
Did you know?
- Because of its link to serrer, the word serre is also the French word for a bird of prey's 'talon' or 'claw'.
- The word serre comes from the verb serrer, which means 'to tighten' or 'to squeeze'. This refers to the way the structure holds heat and humidity tightly inside.
- While English uses the word 'green' to describe the house, French focuses on the enclosure. To describe a 'green house' (a house painted green), a French speaker must say une maison verte to avoid confusion with a serre.
Examples in context
- Je cultive des orchidées dans ma serre.I grow orchids in my greenhouse.This sentence is useful for seeing how to describe growing orchids in your serre.Tatoeba #6768 by Cocorico, translation #256317 by CK
- Ils cultivent des fraises dans leur serre.They grow strawberries in their greenhouse.This sentence shows how to use serre when talking about growing strawberries.Tatoeba #3645935 by sacredceltic, translation #306209 by CK
- Les voisins ont fait sur leur balcon une véritable serre.The neighbours have turned their balcony into a proper greenhouse.This sentence illustrates how a balcony can be used as a serre.Tatoeba #6160699 by felix63, translation #8855648 by sundown
- La serre est un lieu essentiel pour cultiver des plantes tropicales.The greenhouse is an essential place for cultivating tropical plants.
- J'adore me détendre dans mon jardin d'hiver pendant les mois froids.I love relaxing in my greenhouse during the cold months.
- 11 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Lucas are discussing their gardening plans.
- EmmaLucas, est-ce que tu peux m'aider avec la serre ?Lucas, can you help me with the greenhouse?
- LucasBien sûr, Emma. Que dois-je faire ?Of course, Emma. What should I do?
- EmmaIl faut transporter les pots à l'intérieur.We need to carry the pots inside.
- LucasD'accord, je m'en occupe tout de suite.Okay, I'll take care of it right away.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “greenhouse” translations and entries serre, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries serre, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
