lessive
The French word for laundry is lessive.
The word lessive refers to that which needs to be laundered. Interestingly, the phrase la lessive can also be used to refer specifically to laundry detergent.
Meaning: that which needs to be laundered (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some regions, particularly in French-speaking Canada, le lavage can be used to refer to laundry.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often use lessive to mean a pile of clothes, but le linge is a more precise term for the actual clothes or linen being washed, whereas lessive often implies the soap or the process.
Did you know?
- Historically, the phrase faire la lessive referred to the arduous process of boiling water and using ash-based lye to scrub fabrics by hand.
- While lessive is the standard term, you might see blanchissage in professional or hotel contexts. This refers specifically to the industrial whitening and cleaning of linens.
- In Quebec, you will frequently hear le lavage used to describe laundry. This differs from France, where lavage usually refers to washing a car or a specific surface.
Examples in context
- Vous faites ma lessive.You're doing my laundry.This sentence is useful for saying someone is doing your laundry using lessive.Tatoeba #8435533 by Aiji, translation #7787947 by AlanF_US
- La lessive peut attendre.The laundry can wait.This sentence shows how to say the laundry can wait using lessive.Tatoeba #6926641 by Aiji, translation #4502792 by CK
- Avez-vous fait la lessive ?Have you done the laundry?This sentence is a way to ask if someone has done the laundry using lessive.Tatoeba #7555326 by Aiji, translation #4772241 by CK
- Je dois faire la lessive ce soir.I need to do the laundry tonight.
- Les chemises sont dans la buanderie.The shirts are in the laundry room.
- Où est-ce que je peux faire mon linge ?Where can I do my laundry?
- Je dois acheter de la lessive ce soir.I have to buy laundry detergent tonight.
- J'ai un peu de lavage à faire.I have a bit of laundry to do.
- Je dépose mes vêtements à la blanchisserie demain.I'll drop off my clothes at the laundry service tomorrow.
- 16 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Chloé are cleaning their apartment together.
- GabrielJe vais lancer une lessive.I am going to start a load of laundry.
- ChloéC'est gentil, Gabriel. Merci beaucoup.That's kind, Gabriel. Thank you very much.
- GabrielOù est le panier de lessive ?Where is the laundry basket?
- ChloéIl est dans la salle de bain, Chloé.It is in the bathroom, Chloé.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
