machine à laver
/ma.ʃi.n‿a la.ve/France, feminine
The English phrase "washing machine" is translated into French as machine à laver. Wiktionary also lists laveuse.
Meaning: machine that washes clothes (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| machine à laver | /ma.ʃi.n‿a la.ve/ | France, feminine |
| laveuse | /la.vøz/ | Canada, feminine |
The term refers to a machine used for washing clothes.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase machine à laver is literally a "machine to wash".
Which one should you use?
The term used depends on your location: machine à laver is the standard term in France, while laveuse is commonly used in Quebec and the rest of Canada.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Belgium, you may sometimes encounter the term machine à lessiver instead of machine à laver. In Canada, specifically in Quebec and across the country, laveuse is the common way to refer to the appliance.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun is feminine, so you use the feminine article une (e.g., une machine à laver).
How do you pronounce it?
/ma.ʃi.n‿a la.ve/
Did you know?
- The French word machine shares a root with the English word 'machine', but in French, the similar-sounding word machin is a slang term for a 'thingamajig' or an unnamed object.
- The Latin word lavāre, which is the ancestor of laver, also gave rise to the English word 'lavatory', although the meaning shifted from washing clothes to washing the body.
- While machine à laver refers to the appliance, the word lavoir refers to the historic public wash-houses where people gathered to wash clothes by hand before machines existed.
Examples in context
- Où est votre machine à laver ?Where's your washing machine?This sentence is useful for asking about the location of a machine à laver.Tatoeba #3628024 by fleur74, translation #9440133 by sundown
- Tu as cassé la machine à laver.You broke the washing machine.This sentence is useful for stating that someone broke the machine à laver.Tatoeba #1818733 by sacredceltic, translation #1394002 by CK
- Je n'ai pas de machine à laver.I don't have a washing machine.This sentence is useful for expressing that you do not possess a machine à laver.Tatoeba #6818891 by Rockaround, translation #6805821 by CK
- Je peux utiliser votre machine à laver ?Can I use your washing machine?
- Ma machine à laver est en panne.My washing machine is broken.
- J'ai mis les vêtements dans la machine à laver.I put the clothes in the washing machine.
- Il faut mettre la lessive dans le lave-linge.You need to put the detergent in the washing machine.
- 46 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Hugo are discussing household chores in their kitchen.
- EmmaEst-ce que la machine à laver est libre ?Is the washing machine free?
- HugoOui, je viens de finir ma lessive.Yes, I just finished my laundry.
- EmmaMerci, je vais lancer une machine à laver.Thanks, I'm going to start a load in the washing machine.
- HugoD'accord, n'oublie pas le produit.Okay, don't forget the detergent.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “washing machine” translations and entries machine à laver, laveuse, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries laver, machine, à, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
