tableau blanc
masculine
The English phrase "whiteboard" is translated into French as tableau blanc. Wiktionary also lists tableau.
Meaning: large vertical writing area (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| tableau | /ta.blo/ | masculine |
| tableau blanc | masculine |
A tableau blanc is a large vertical writing area.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of tableau (board/table) and blanc (white).
Which one should you use?
While tableau blanc specifically refers to a whiteboard, the shortened form tableau is commonly used in classrooms to refer to the writing surface regardless of its color or material.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of 'tableau blanc' is tableaux blancs.
Did you know?
- A tableau can refer to a dramatic scene or a 'frozen' picture in a play, known in English as a 'tableau vivant'.
- English speakers may find it interesting that blanc shares a common ancestor with the English word 'blink'.
- In French, the word tableau refers to a data table or spreadsheet in a digital context.
Examples in context
- Je lui achèterai un tableau.I'll buy him a whiteboard.This sentence shows how to use tableau when referring to buying a whiteboard.Tatoeba #10449476 by Aghsi_n_Unezruf, translation #12203982 by Miktsoanit
- Sur le tableau blanc, le maître a écrit un bon nombre de phrases.The teacher wrote a good number of sentences on the whiteboard.This sentence demonstrates the use of tableau blanc to describe a teacher writing on a board.Tatoeba #7196414 by Talwit, translation #11679519 by tieguy
- Le professeur utilise un tableau blanc pour expliquer les concepts.The teacher uses a whiteboard to explain the concepts.
- On a besoin d'un tableau Véléda pour noter nos idées.We need a whiteboard to write down our ideas.
- Le professeur a nettoyé le tableau blanc.The teacher cleaned the whiteboard.
Example conversation
Lucas and Emma are in a classroom preparing for a presentation.
- LucasEst-ce qu'il y a un tableau blanc ici ?Is there a whiteboard here?
- EmmaOui, il est juste là-bas.Yes, it is right over there.
- LucasSuper, je vais écrire le plan sur le tableau blanc.Great, I will write the outline on the whiteboard.
- EmmaD'accord, je vais chercher les marqueurs.Okay, I will go get the markers.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “whiteboard” translations and entries tableau, tableau blanc, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries blanc, tableau, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
