serrure à clé
The English phrase 'key lock' is serrure à clé in French.
This phrase refers to a mechanism that allows a door or container to be locked and unlocked using a physical key.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of serrure (lock) and à clé (with/using a key).
How does it change in a sentence?
The word clé can be pluralized to clés in the phrase serrure à clés if the lock is designed to be operated by multiple different keys.
Did you know?
- The phrase mettre la clé sous la porte means to lock the door, but it is used as an idiom to say a business has gone bankrupt and closed forever.
- A 'skeleton key' is called une clé passe-partout, which literally translates to 'a key that goes everywhere'.
- The word serrure is built from the verb serrer, which means 'to squeeze' or 'to tighten'. This suggests the lock works by gripping or squeezing the mechanism shut.
Examples in context
- Je recherche une serrure à clé pour ma porte.I'm looking for a key lock for my door.
- Assurez-vous de bien fermer votre porte à l'aide du verrou à clé.Make sure to securely lock your door using the key lock.
- Tu devrais installer un bon verrou avec clé afin d'améliorer la sécurité.You should install a good key lock to enhance security.
- La serrure à clé est cassée.The key lock is broken.
- Cette serrure à clé semble très ancienne.This key lock looks very old.
Example conversation
Léa and Lucas are looking at a new apartment.
- LéaEst-ce que c'est une serrure à clé ?Is this a key lock?
- LucasOui, elle fonctionne très bien.Yes, it works very well.
- LéaJe préférerais un code numérique.I would prefer a digital code.
- LucasOn peut changer la serrure plus tard.We can change the lock later.
