papier peint
/pa.pje pɛ̃/masculine
The English word "wallpaper" is translated into French as papier peint.
The term papier peint refers to decorative paper used to cover walls.
Meaning: decorative paper for walls (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, papier peint means "painted paper". In this phrase, the word peint is the past participle of the verb peindre (to paint), functioning here as an adjective.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
papier peint is a masculine noun. If you want to say "some wallpaper," you use the masculine partitive article to say du papier peint.
Did you know?
- In French, the word papier comes from Old Catalan before entering Old French.
- French has a specific term papier peint panoramique for murals that create a large, continuous scene across a wall.
- The term papier peint is used in French art history to describe a specific genre of 18th-century luxury decorative arts.
Examples in context
- Les murs étaient recouverts de papier peint.The walls were covered with wallpaper.This sentence is useful for describing walls that have been covered with papier peint.Tatoeba #8862831 by lbdx, translation #7794135 by Hybrid
- Qu'as-tu contre le papier peint d'apprêt ? Ça a l'air chic !What have you got against woodchip wallpaper? It looks chic!This sentence is useful for expressing an opinion about the style of papier peint.Tatoeba #2021629 by sacredceltic, translation #8301161 by sundown
- J'aime beaucoup ce papier peint bleu.I really like this blue wallpaper.
Example conversation
Lucas and Léa are looking at a room in their new apartment.
- LucasOn doit changer le papier peint ici.We have to change the wallpaper here.
- LéaTu as une idée pour la couleur ?Do you have an idea for the color?
- LucasUn papier peint gris serait parfait.A grey wallpaper would be perfect.
- LéaJe suis d'accord avec toi.I agree with you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wallpaper” translations and entries papier peint, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries papier, papier peint, peint, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
