mur
/myʁ/masculine
The English word wall is translated into French as mur, paroi or cloison depending on the context.
Meaning: substantial structure acting as side or division in a building (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| mur | /myʁ/ | masculine |
| paroi | /pa.ʁwa/ /pa.ʁwɑ/ |
feminine |
| cloison | /klwa.zɔ̃/ | feminine |
In French, the term for wall changes based on whether you are describing a heavy structural element, a thin lining or an interior partition. mur refers to both physical building structures and metaphorical walls, such as a wall of sound.
Which one should you use?
mur is the general term used for heavy, structural or exterior walls. Use paroi when referring to a thin wall, a lining or the side of an organ or a container. Use cloison specifically when you mean a partition or a non-structural interior wall used to divide a room.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
mur is a masculine noun, while both paroi and cloison are feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/myʁ/
Did you know?
- The term cloison is the root of the English word 'cloisters', which refers to covered walks in a monastery.
- In French, the phrase les murs ont des oreilles means 'the walls have ears' and is used to warn someone that they might be overheard.
- The word mur originates from the Proto-Indo-European root *mey-, which meant 'to strengthen'.
Examples in context
- Ce mur est froid.This wall feels cold.This sentence is useful for describing the temperature or sensation of a mur.Tatoeba #1316281 by sacredceltic, translation #57212 by CK
- J'ai peint le mur.I painted the wall.This sentence is useful for describing an action performed on a mur.Tatoeba #11728042 by Aiji, translation #5927321 by mailohilohi
- Mets-la sur le mur.Put it on the wall.This sentence is useful for describing a position relative to a mur.Tatoeba #6914951 by Aiji, translation #2648060 by CK
- L'architecture de ce bâtiment est magnifique, avec de grands murs en pierre.The architecture of this building is magnificent, with large stone walls.
- J'ai accroché un tableau sur le mur de ma chambre.I hung a painting on the wall of my bedroom.
- Le mur en briques rougesThe red brick wall
- Le mur de verre transparentThe transparent glass wall
- 284 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Léa are in their new apartment looking at the living room.
- HugoEst-ce que ce mur est solide ?Is this wall sturdy?
- LéaOui, le mur semble en bon état.Yes, the wall seems to be in good condition.
- HugoParfait, on peut fixer l'étagère.Perfect, we can fix the shelf.
- LéaBonne idée, Hugo.Good idea, Hugo.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wall” translations and entries mur, paroi, cloison, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cloison, mur, paroi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
