ordures
/ɔʁ.dyʁ/
The English phrase rubbish is translated into French as ordures.
ordures specifically refers to organic or household waste that is typically collected for disposal. While 'ordures' refers to physical waste or garbage, it is not used metaphorically to mean 'nonsense' as the English word 'rubbish' can be.
Meaning: items of low quality (noun)
Which one should you use?
Les déchets is a more formal and technical way to refer to rubbish or waste. Les trucs nuls can be translated as crappy stuff or rubbish.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word ordures is almost always used in its plural form.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɔʁ.dyʁ/
Did you know?
- In France, the phrase poubelle for 'bin' comes from Eugène Poubelle, the prefect of the Seine who imposed standardized waste containers in Paris in 1884.
- If a French person wants to say something is 'rubbish' in the sense of being useless or low quality, they might use the slang daube.
- If you call a person ordures, you are not calling them a piece of trash, but rather a disgusting and contemptible individual. It is a very strong insult involving a person's character rather than their cleanliness.
Examples in context
- Sors les ordures !Take the rubbish out.This sentence is useful for practicing the command to take the rubbish out using ordures.Tatoeba #2071488 by sacredceltic, translation #6172189 by sundown
- Sortez les ordures !Take out the rubbish.Tatoeba #2071490 by sacredceltic, translation #12419943 by sundown
- Regarde toutes les ordures dans cette maison !Look at all the rubbish in this house!This sentence is useful for pointing out the rubbish in a house using ordures.Tatoeba #1128927 by sacredceltic, translation #12392865 by sundown
- Veuillez jeter les ordures dans la poubellePlease throw the rubbish in the bin
- La gestion des déchets est essentielle pour protéger l'environnementWaste management is essential to protect the environment
- Ce film était plein de trucs nulsThis movie was full of rubbish
- Ces magazines sont remplis de bêtisesThese magazines are filled with rubbish
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Manon and Hugo are looking at cheap toys in a store.
- ManonRegarde ces jouets, ce sont des ordures.Look at these toys, they are rubbish.
- HugoOui, elles vont se casser tout de suite.Yes, they are going to break immediately.
- ManonPourquoi vendent-ils des ordures comme ça ?Why do they sell rubbish like that?
- HugoParce que c'est très bon marché, Manon.Because it is very cheap, Manon.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ordures, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
