passer la serpillière
To mop the floor in French is passer la serpillière.
This phrase is used specifically to describe the act of cleaning a floor using a mop and water.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'to pass the floor cloth'.
How does it change in a sentence?
In this expression, the verb passer is used to mean 'to run over' or 'to apply' a tool across a surface.
Did you know?
- The word serpillière shares a root with the Latin word for 'bullrush', a type of water plant. This suggests that the original floor cloths were made from dried river reeds or rushes.
- The phrase passer la serpillière is a central part of the grand ménage de printemps, a culturally significant deep cleaning ritual performed every spring.
- In many French-speaking regions, if you use a modern plastic mop instead of a traditional cloth, you might say you are using a balai à franges rather than a serpillière.
Examples in context
- Pouvez-vous passer la serpillière ?Can you mop the floor?
- As-tu lavé le sol ?Did you mop the floor?
- Je dois passer la serpillière dans la cuisine.I have to mop the kitchen floor.
- Peux-tu passer la serpillière après avoir balayé ?Can you mop the floor after sweeping?
Example conversation
Léa and Hugo are preparing the house for guests.
- LéaHugo, tu peux passer la serpillière dans l'entrée ?Hugo, can you mop the floor in the entryway?
- HugoOui, je vais le faire tout de suite.Yes, I will do it right away.
- LéaMerci, le sol sera propre pour les invités.Thank you, the floor will be clean for the guests.
- HugoPas de problème, je m'en occupe.No problem, I'm on it.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries la, passer, serpillière, CC BY-SA 4.0.
