pompe à vide
The English phrase "vacuum pump" is translated into French as pompe à vide.
pompe à vide is the standard noun used to describe equipment designed to create a vacuum.
Meaning: equipment (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of pompe (pump), à (to/for) and vide (vacuum/empty).
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the plural form, pompes à vide, only the noun pompe takes an s. The prepositional phrase à vide remains unchanged.
Did you know?
- In French, if you use the word pompe without the phrase à vide, you might accidentally be referring to a type of low-cut slip-on shoe.
- The word pompe can refer to an extravagant ceremony or parade, deriving from the Ancient Greek word for 'procession'.
- The phrase à vide is used in French transportation to describe a vehicle running without any cargo or passengers.
Examples in context
- Le laboratoire utilise une pompe à vide pour évacuer l'air des échantillons.The laboratory uses a vacuum pump to remove air from the samples.
- La pompe à vide est en panne.The vacuum pump is broken.
- Il faut une pompe à vide pour ce laboratoire.A vacuum pump is needed for this laboratory.
Example conversation
In a science laboratory.
- EmmaGabriel, où est la pompe à vide ?Gabriel, where is the vacuum pump?
- GabrielElle est sur la table, Emma.It is on the table, Emma.
- EmmaEst-ce que la pompe à vide fonctionne ?Is the vacuum pump working?
- GabrielOui, elle est prête pour l'expérience.Yes, it is ready for the experiment.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pompe, vide, à, CC BY-SA 4.0.
