corbeille
/kɔʁ.bɛj/feminine
The English phrase 'recycle bin' is corbeille in French.
In a computing context, corbeille is the standard term for the digital recycle bin or trash can.
Meaning: container (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word corbeille literally means 'basket'.
Which one should you use?
While corbeille is used for digital recycling or small baskets, poubelle is the standard word for a physical household trash can or garbage bin.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, Canada, people often use the expression bac bleu or bac de récupération.
How does it change in a sentence?
As a feminine noun, the definite article used is la corbeille.
How do you pronounce it?
corbeille is pronounced /kɔʁ.bɛj/ and consists of 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- While corbeille is the digital term, the physical waste bin poubelle is named after Eugène Poubelle, the prefect of the Seine who introduced mandatory waste containers in Paris in 1883.
- In French, the term corbeille describes a specific architectural ornament shaped like a basket, showing that the word represents a form rather than just a function.
- In French wedding traditions, a corbeille is often a decorative basket used for gifts, which is far removed from the concept of discarding files.
Examples in context
- Méthode de désinstallation : Balancez le dossier au complet dans la corbeille.Uninstall method: Chuck the whole folder into the recycle bin.This sentence demonstrates how to use corbeille when describing the process of moving a folder to the digital recycle bin.Tatoeba #394444 by Scott, translation #394390 by blay_paul
- Nous devrions placer ces papiers dans la corbeille de recyclage.We should put those papers in the recycle bin.
- Mets-les dans le bac de recyclage, s'il te plaît.Put them in the recycle bin, please.
- Oui, dépose-les dans le bac bleu.Yes, put them in the blue bin.
- Videz la corbeille de votre ordinateur régulièrement.Empty your computer's recycle bin regularly.
- J'ai mis ce fichier dans la corbeille par erreur.I put this file in the recycle bin by mistake.
Example conversation
Emma and Lucas are tidying up their shared office.
- EmmaLucas, est-ce que la corbeille est pleine ?Lucas, is the recycle bin full?
- LucasOui, elle déborde complètement.Yes, it is completely overflowing.
- EmmaJe vais m'en occuper tout de suite.I will take care of it right away.
- LucasMerci beaucoup, Emma !Thank you very much, Emma!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “recycle bin” translations and entries corbeille, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
