eaux usées
/o y.ze/
In French, waste water is eaux usées.
The term eaux usées is used to refer to waste water.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase eaux usées is a literal combination of eaux (waters) and usées (used/worn out).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Canada, eaux d'égout may be used as an alternative for waste water to mean sewage water.
How does it change in a sentence?
While the plural eaux usées is the standard term for wastewater in a general or industrial sense, the singular eau usée can be used when referring to a specific body of water.
How do you pronounce it?
/o y.ze/
Did you know?
- In France, the phrase eaux usées is often paired with eaux vannes to distinguish between general greywater and sewage from toilets.
- The adjective usé comes from the verb user, which can also mean 'to exhaust' someone. Thus, waste water is linguistically treated as water that has been 'exhausted'.
- The adjective usées in eaux usées is the same word used to describe 'worn-out' shoes or old clothes. This frames waste water not as 'dirty' water, but as water that has been 'worn out' through use.
Examples in context
- Les eaux usées doivent être traitées avant d'être rejetées dans la rivière.The waste water must be treated before being discharged into the river.
- Ne jette pas ça dans l'évier, c'est de l'eau sale.Don't pour it down the sink, it's waste water.
- On a besoin de vider la piscine, mais où devraient aller les eaux de vidange ?We need to empty the pool, but where should the waste water go?
- L'usine traite les eaux usées.The factory treats the waste water.
- Il ne faut pas rejeter d'eaux usées dans la rivière.Waste water must not be discharged into the river.
- Le système de filtration des eaux usées est vieux.The waste water filtration system is old.
Example conversation
Nathan and Léa are discussing an environmental report at a park.
- NathanLéa, as-tu lu le rapport sur les eaux usées ?Léa, have you read the report on the waste water?
- LéaOui, c'est un problème très grave pour la ville.Yes, it is a very serious problem for the city.
- NathanLe traitement des eaux usées doit être amélioré.The treatment of waste water must be improved.
- LéaJe suis tout à fait d'accord avec toi.I completely agree with you.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry eaux usées, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
