égout
/e.ɡu/masculine
The French word for "sewer" is égout.
The word égout refers to the pipes used to remove human waste and to provide drainage.
Meaning: pipes used to remove human waste and to provide drainage (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of égout is les égouts. If you want to refer specifically to an entire sewer network or system, use the phrase le réseau d'égouts.
How do you pronounce it?
/e.ɡu/
Did you know?
- Paris possesses a unique museum called le Musée des Égouts, where visitors can walk through active sewer tunnels to learn about the city's sanitation history.
- The famous 19th-century novel Les Misérables by Victor Hugo uses the égouts of Paris as a critical setting for a chase scene and a reflection on the city's hidden underbelly.
- The word égout is a 'deverbal' noun, meaning it is directly built from the verb égoutter, which means 'to drip' or 'to drain'.
Examples in context
- L'égout passait sous la route.The sewer ran under the road.This example shows the location of the égout relative to a road.Tatoeba #5224292 by nimfeo, translation #13489443 by rul
- L'eau de pluie s'écoule de la gouttière à travers la descente dans l'égout.Rainwater flows from the gutter, down the downpipe and into the sewer.This sentence describes rainwater flowing through a gutter and downpipe into the égout.Tatoeba #6978036 by Micsmithel, translation #12463864 by sundown
- Le réseau des égouts est essentiel pour la santé publique.The sewer system is essential for public health.
- Est-ce que ta maison est reliée au tout-à-l'égout ?Is your house connected to the sewer system?
- Attention ! Ne laissez pas tomber cela dans les égouts.Careful! Don't let that drop into the sewer.
- L'odeur de l'égout est très forte ici.The smell of the sewer is very strong here.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Chloé are walking through a narrow street after a storm.
- HugoIl y a une mauvaise odeur près de l'égout.There is a bad smell near the sewer.
- ChloéC'est sans doute à cause de la pluie, Hugo.It is probably because of the rain, Hugo.
- HugoL'égout semble déborder un peu.The sewer seems to be overflowing a bit.
- ChloéTu as raison, pressons le pas.You are right, let's hurry.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sewer” translations and entries égout, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries égout, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
