fer à repasser
/fɛ.ʁ‿a ʁ(ə).pa.se/
The English phrase "iron for clothes" is fer à repasser in French.
fer à repasser refers to the small electrical appliance used to remove wrinkles from fabric by heating it.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of fer (iron), à (for/to) and the infinitive verb repasser (to iron).
Which one should you use?
While fer can mean the metal iron, you must include à repasser to specify the household appliance. Using fer alone in a domestic context might be ambiguous or refer to the material.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun fer is masculine, so it is used with the masculine article un or le (e.g., un fer à repasser). Note that the verb repasser means "to iron" in French.
How do you pronounce it?
/fɛ.ʁ‿a ʁ(ə).pa.se/
Did you know?
- While repasser means 'to iron', the same verb also means 'to stop by' someone's house or 'to go back' through a place. Context is the only way to tell if someone is doing laundry or visiting a friend.
- Historically, a fer à repasser was not electrical but was heated on a stove or filled with hot coals. This required a specific smoothing technique different from modern ironing.
- The verb repasser literally translates to 'to pass again'. It originates from the idea of running a tool over the fabric a second time to smooth it out.
Examples in context
- J'ai besoin d'utiliser le fer à repasserI need to use the iron for clothes.
- Je dois repasser cette chemiseI have to iron this shirt.
- J'ai du mal à repasser les plis sur cette jupeI struggle to iron the wrinkles on this skirt.
- Où est mon fer à repasser ?Where is my clothes iron?
- Où est le fer à repasser ?Where is the iron?
- Il faut acheter un nouveau fer à repasser.We need to buy a new iron.
- Le fer à repasser est très chaud.The iron is very hot.
Example conversation
Emma is looking for an iron to prepare her clothes for work.
- EmmaLucas, tu vois mon fer à repasser ?Lucas, do you see my iron?
- LucasJe crois qu'il est dans le placard.I think it is in the cupboard.
- EmmaMerci, je l'ai trouvé.Thanks, I found it.
- LucasFais attention, il est très chaud.Be careful, it is very hot.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 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.
