décharge
/de.ʃaʁʒ/feminine
The English word 'landfill' is translated into French as décharge. Wiktionary also lists dépotoir.
Meaning: site at which refuse is buried (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| décharge | /de.ʃaʁʒ/ | feminine |
| dépotoir | /de.pɔ.twaʁ/ | masculine |
The term refers to a site at which refuse is buried.
Which one should you use?
décharge is the standard, neutral term for a landfill or a place where waste is discharged. In contrast, dépotoir is more colloquial and often carries a more negative connotation of a messy or neglected dumping ground.
How does it change in a sentence?
décharge is a feminine noun, and its plural form is décharges. dépotoir is a masculine noun, and its plural form is dépotoirs.
How do you pronounce it?
/de.ʃaʁʒ/ (two syllables)
Did you know?
- In a legal context, a décharge refers to a 'release' or 'discharge' from an obligation, such as a 'décharge de responsabilité' (a waiver of liability).
- The word dépotoir comes from the verb dépoter, which means to remove a plant from its pot. In a waste context, it evokes the image of emptying contents out of a container.
- In a figurative sense, French speakers use dépotoir to describe a room or a city that is extremely dirty and disorganized, regardless of whether there is actual trash present.
Examples in context
- Nous avons fait plusieurs tentatives infructueuses de reboiser la décharge publique locale.We have made several failed attempts at foresting the local landfill.This sentence shows how to use décharge in the context of a local public landfill.Tatoeba #4256654 by Adelpa, translation #878217 by papabear
- Cette décharge est située près de la forêt.This landfill is located near the forest.
- Il ne faut pas jeter de pneus à la décharge.You must not throw tires in the landfill.
Example conversation
Léa and Gabriel are discussing waste management in their town.
- LéaOù est la décharge la plus proche ?Where is the nearest landfill?
- GabrielElle se trouve juste après le pont.It is located just after the bridge.
- LéaEst-ce qu'elle est loin d'ici ?Is it far from here?
- GabrielNon, c'est à seulement dix minutes.No, it is only ten minutes away.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “landfill” translations and entries décharge, dépotoir, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries décharge, dépotoir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
