How to Say “Tap” in French

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robinet
The French word for tap is robinet.
robinet only refers to the plumbing fixture.
Meaning: to touch something, often repeatedly (verb)

Related words

Connection made to an electrical or fluid conductor without breaking it (noun): dérivation.

Cylindrical tool used to cut an internal screw thread in a hole (noun): taraud.

How does it change in a sentence?

The noun robinet is masculine and is used with the indefinite article un as in un robinet.

What mistakes should you avoid?

English speakers often mistakenly use the French word robinet to mean the physical action of tapping something, whereas robinet only refers to the plumbing fixture.

Did you know?

  • Early French taps were often sculpted in the shape of a sheep's head, which is why the word for 'sheep' became the root for the plumbing term.
  • The word tapoter is an onomatopoeic verb, meaning it is designed to sound like the actual rhythmic noise of 'tapping' a surface.
  • French distinguishes between a robinet and a vanne. While both can be translated as 'tap' or 'valve', a vanne is typically used for larger industrial pipes or main water shut-off systems.

Examples in context

  • Le robinet est fermé.
    The tap is off.
    This sentence is useful for describing a closed state of the robinet.
    Tatoeba #1578643 by sacredceltic, translation #1578640 by sundown
  • Tom ferma le robinet.
    Tom turned the tap off.
    This sentence shows the past tense action of turning off the robinet.
    Tatoeba #5865624 by Aiji, translation #6183538 by sundown
  • J'ai fermé le robinet.
    I turned off the tap.
    Tatoeba #1070331 by sacredceltic, translation #799855 by CM
  • J'ai ouvert le robinet pour remplir la baignoire.
    I turned on the tap to fill the bathtub.
  • Je vais ouvrir le p'tit robinet pour arroser les plantes.
    I'm going to turn on the little tap to water the plants.
  • Ferme bien le robinet, s'il te plaît.
    Please close the tap tightly.
  • 44 more sentences on Tatoeba

Example conversation

Manon and Hugo are in the kitchen.

  1. Manon

    Hugo, peux-tu ouvrir le robinet ?
    Hugo, can you turn on the tap?
  2. Hugo

    Oui, je le fais tout de suite.
    Yes, I'll do it right away.
  3. Manon

    N'oublie pas de fermer le robinet après.
    Don't forget to close the tap afterwards.
  4. Hugo

    Ne t'inquiète pas, Manon.
    Don't worry, Manon.

Sources

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Lewis Milton
Lewis MiltonHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
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