savon
/sa.vɔ̃/masculine
The French word for soap is savon.
savon refers to the substance used for washing. You can also use the related verb savonner to mean literally applying soap to something or figuratively making a surface slippery, such as when performing a prank. The reflexive form se savonner is used when referring to the act of soaping oneself.
Meaning: substance (noun)
Which one should you use?
While savon is the general term for the substance, the diminutive form savonnette is specifically used to refer to a small bar of soap or a travel-sized version.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When you are expressing an unspecified quantity of soap, use the partitive article du before the noun, forming du savon to mean 'some soap'.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables: /sa.vɔ̃/.
Did you know?
- The expression se faire savonner is used figuratively to describe someone who is being harshly scolded or 'chewed out' by a superior.
- Historically, the production of savon de Marseille became so vital to the French economy that it developed its own strict regional identity and quality standards.
- The English word 'soap' and the French word savon are distant cousins, both descending from the same Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to pour out' or 'to drip'.
Examples in context
- Où est le savon ?Where's the soap?This sentence is useful for asking about the location of the savon.Tatoeba #6022776 by sicerabibax, translation #6019863 by CK
- Je veux du savon.I want soap.This sentence is useful for expressing a desire for savon.Tatoeba #11899524 by zogwarg, translation #11899519 by CK
- J'ai besoin de savon.I need some soap.This sentence is useful for stating a need for savon.Tatoeba #4684099 by sacredceltic, translation #272215 by CK
- J'ai besoin de savon pour me laver les mainsI need soap to wash my hands
- Je cherche le savon, tu sais où il est?I'm looking for the soap, do you know where it is?
- Ma mère fabrique son propre pain de savonMy mother makes her own bar of soap
- As-tu acheté le savon dont j'avais besoin?Did you buy the soap I needed?
- Oui, j'ai acheté trois savonnettes parfumées.Yes, I bought three scented guest soaps.
- Est-ce que tu as trouvé le savon?Did you find the soap?
- Oui, j'ai trouvé le pain de savon que tu cherchais.Yes, I found the bar of soap you were looking for.
- 56 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Lucas are in the bathroom.
- EmmaEst-ce qu'il reste du savon ?Is there any soap left?
- LucasNon, il n'y a plus de savon.No, there is no more soap.
- EmmaPeux-tu en acheter, Lucas ?Can you buy some, Lucas?
- LucasOui, je vais en prendre.Yes, I will get some.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “soap” translations and entries savon, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries savon, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
