prise
/pʁiz/
In French, the English word 'outlet' is translated as prise.
In French, prise refers to a socket or a grip. To specifically describe a power outlet, the standard phrase is prise de courant. In more formal contexts, particularly when discussing charging stations for electric vehicles, the term Borne électrique is sometimes used.
Meaning: shop (noun)
Which one should you use?
While prise can stand alone to mean a socket, the full phrase prise de courant is the standard way to specify a power outlet.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, Canada, prise is a common term used in both formal and informal contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of prise is prises.
How do you pronounce it?
/pʁiz/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful not to use prise to mean a retail 'outlet' shop. If you are looking for an outlet store (a shop selling goods at a discount), you should use un magasin d'usine instead.
Did you know?
- The term prise de tête is a common idiom meaning 'a headache' or 'something overly complicated', but it literally translates to 'a grip of the head'.
- The word prise is used in the term prise de sang to describe a blood draw or blood test.
- The word prise can also mean a 'catch' in the sense of a fish caught by an angler. It is used to describe the act of capturing or the result of the capture.
Examples in context
- Je cherche une prise de courant.I'm looking for a power outlet.This sentence is useful for expressing the need to find a prise.Tatoeba #10547836 by Micsmithel, translation #8470897 by Luiaard
- J'ai besoin d'une prise électrique.I need an electrical outlet.Tatoeba #10547822 by Micsmithel, translation #4332965 by AlanF_US
- Il y avait de la confiture dans la prise électrique.There was jam in the electric outlet.This sentence is useful for describing something found inside a prise.Tatoeba #10547832 by Micsmithel, translation #573907 by FeuDRenais2
- Pourrais-tu brancher l'aspirateur dans la prise de courant?Could you plug the vacuum cleaner into the power outlet?
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Nathan are looking for a place to charge their phones.
- EmmaOù est la prise ici ?Where is the outlet here?
- NathanJe ne vois aucune prise.I don't see any outlet.
- EmmaRegarde, il y a une prise là-bas !Look, there is an outlet over there!
- NathanSuper, je vais m'installer à côté.Great, I'll set up next to it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry prise, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
