Property Words and Phrases
A guide to useful words, terms and phrases used in French property-related classified advertisements relating to buying or renting a house or apartment in France...
Property for sale (à vendre) or to let (à louer) is advertised in free property magazines, websites and newspapers. When searching for rental property, look for "locations de maisons, appartements" or "maisons, appartements à louer".
Description of property
"Rooms" such as bedrooms, studies, sitting rooms and reception rooms are described as "pièces". An advertisement will describe the total number of "pièces" in a property (this excludes utility rooms, kitchen, bathrooms) - no distinction is made between "bedrooms" and other rooms.
| French | English explanation |
|---|---|
| 2, 3, 4 pièces | 2, 3 or 4 rooms (plus kitchen and bathroom) |
| maison 4 pièces | 4 roomed house plus kitchen and bathroom |
| T1, T2, F1, F2 etc. | Technically, an apartment (T) or house (F) with the specified number of rooms (pièces), not including kitchen or bathroom(s), although you can find T being used for houses and F for apartments too. Example: F2 (maison deux-pièces) = one-bedroom apartment Example: T2 (appartement deux-pièces) = one-bedroom apartment |
| à rafraichir | to be redone / needs decorating |
| ancien (anc.) | old building (built more than 20 years ago) |
| année de la construction | year built |
| appartement meublé à louer | furnished flat/apartment to rent |
| appartement à vendre | apartment for sale |
| arrondissement (arr) | district/borough |
| ascenseur (asc) | lift |
| assurance habitation | home insurance |
| balcon (blc) | balcony |
| buanderie | utility room/laundry room |
| belles prestations | attractive/quality fittings/fixtures |
| box | covered parking space |
| branchement lave-linge | washing machine outlet |
| bureau(x) | office(s) |
| cabanon | shed / stone building with a roof on it (local usage) |
| calme | quiet |
| caution | damage deposit (rental property) |
| cave | cellar |
| cellier | storeroom/still room |
| + charges | rental price excludes building charges / outgoings |
| chambre (ch, chbr) | bedroom |
| charges comprises (cc) | including building charges / outgoings |
| charges locatives | service and maintenance fees for collective amenities |
| chauffage collectif | (shared) heating included in building charges |
| chauffage au gaz | gas heating |
| chauffage au mazout | oil heating |
| cheminée | fireplace |
| concierge/gardien | superintendent/caretaker |
| copropriété | shared property (apartments) |
| coin cuisine | breakfast nook / kitchenette |
| commerce | commercial space/shop |
| cuisine (cuis) | kitchen |
| cuisine americaine | open-plan kitchen |
| cuisine équipée | equipped kitchen |
| cuisine aménagée | fitted kitchen |
| de plain pied | single storey/bungalow |
| dépendances | outbuildings |
| dépot de garantie | rental deposit |
| digicode | security door (lock) keypad/keycode |
| dossier de candidature | rental application form |
| douche (dche) | shower |
| en 3 niveaux | 3 storey |
| en bon état | in good condition/repair |
| entrée (ent) | entry |
| étage (et.) | floor (level of a building) |
| état des lieux | condition of property report completed on moving in and referred to on leaving |
| exclusivité | available with this agent only / sole agency |
| exposé sud | south facing |
| frais d'agence inclus (FAI) | inclusive of agency fees |
| frais de Notaire | notary's fees |
| garage (gge)/box | garage |
| gardien (gard) | caretaker |
| Genoise(s) | the layer of roof tiles as seen from the edge. The more layers the better |
| gîte | a gîte or gîte rural is a house, cottage or self-contained accommodation available to rent for a few days, a weekend, weekly or a period of several weeks |
| hauteur sous plafond (HSP) | ceiling height |
| honoraires d'agence | agency fees |
| immeuble (imm) | building or residence |
| immobilier | real estate |
| jardin (jard.) | garden |
| jumelé | semi-detached |
| largeur (larg.) | width |
| logement meublé | furnished rental or property |
| logement vide | unfurnished rental or property |
| longère | agglomeration of buildings in a line, normally only 6 metres deep (typical to Brittany) |
| loyer | rent |
| maison d'amis | separate guest house |
| maison meublé à louer | furnished house to rent |
| mazet (or maset) | separate cottage (usually the original on the land) |
| meublé/équipé | furnished |
| neuf | all-new construction |
| nombre de pieces | total number of rooms including reception and bedrooms |
| nombreux (nbx) | many |
| parking | parking place included |
| penderies | wardrobe, hanging closet |
| pièce (p) | room |
| pierre de taille (pdt) | stone building (dressed stone) |
| placards | built-in cupboards/wall cupboards |
| porte (pte ) | door |
| préavis | notice period (period to give notice of intent to vacate premises) |
| prix (px ) | price |
| quartier (quart) | district/neighbourhood |
| rangements | built-in cupboards / storage spaces |
| récent | built in the last decade |
| résidence (rés) | building |
| restanques | terraced land usually with drystone walls |
| rez de chaussée (RDC/rdc) | ground floor |
| rez de jardin (RDJ/rdj) |
ground floor |
| salle de bain (sdb) | bathroom |
| salle de bains (baignoire) | bathroom with bath |
| salle de douche | shower |
| salle d'eau (s.d'eau) | washroom with shower |
| salle à manger (sàm) | dining room |
| salle de séjour (séj ss) | living room |
| sans vis-a-vis | not overlooked |
| séjour (séj) | lounge/sitting room |
| séparé (sép.) | separated |
| sous-sol (s.sol, s/s) | basement |
| sous terrain (s/terrain) | below ground level |
| standing (std) | quality / luxury building |
| sur terrain de... | property size (literally, "on a plot of...") |
| superficie totale | total floor space |
| surface habitable (SH) | total living space (a legal term defining habitable space, which excludes floor areas where the ceiling is below a certain height) |
| terrasse | terrace, paved exterior area, large balcony |
| très bon état (TBE) | in good repair |
| tout confort (tt cft.) | well equipped |
| vue imprenable | superb view / unobstructed view |
| WC séparées | separate toilet |