Bedeutung
To wash clothes.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The 'lavoir' (public wash-house) is a historical landmark in many French villages. While no longer used, they are preserved as cultural heritage sites. Due to small apartment sizes, many Parisians use 'laveries automatiques' (laundromats). It's a place to read, study, or scroll on phones while waiting. The idiom 'laver son linge sale en famille' is very common in politics and media to describe avoiding public scandals. There is a strong cultural push to wash clothes at 30°C and air-dry them to save energy, which is reflected in detergent marketing.
The Detergent vs The Chore
Remember: 'La lessive' is the chore, but 'de la lessive' is the soap. 'Je fais la lessive avec de la lessive.'
Gender Matters
It is always 'LA' lessive. Using 'le' will immediately mark you as a beginner.
Bedeutung
To wash clothes.
The Detergent vs The Chore
Remember: 'La lessive' is the chore, but 'de la lessive' is the soap. 'Je fais la lessive avec de la lessive.'
Gender Matters
It is always 'LA' lessive. Using 'le' will immediately mark you as a beginner.
Sound like a native
Use 'faire une machine' when talking to friends about your daily tasks. It sounds more modern.
The Drying Rack
If you are in France, don't ask for a 'dryer' (sèche-linge) in every home; most people use an 'étendoir'.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'faire'.
Le samedi, je ______ la lessive.
The subject is 'je', so the correct form of 'faire' is 'fais'.
Which sentence is correct?
How do you say 'I did the laundry'?
'J'ai fait la lessive' is the correct passé composé form of the idiom.
Match the French phrase with its English meaning.
Match the following:
These are all common household chores.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Pourquoi tu ne sors pas ? B: Parce que je dois ______.
'Faire la lessive' is the standard way to explain you are busy with laundry.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Lessive vs. Vaisselle
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenLe samedi, je ______ la lessive.
The subject is 'je', so the correct form of 'faire' is 'fais'.
How do you say 'I did the laundry'?
'J'ai fait la lessive' is the correct passé composé form of the idiom.
Ordne jedem Element links seinen Partner rechts zu:
These are all common household chores.
A: Pourquoi tu ne sors pas ? B: Parce que je dois ______.
'Faire la lessive' is the standard way to explain you are busy with laundry.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
12 FragenIt's understood, but 'faire la lessive' is the standard idiomatic expression.
It is feminine: {la|f} lessive.
'Faire la lessive' is the general term for the chore. 'Faire une machine' is more informal and refers to one specific load.
Simply 'la lessive'. Context tells you if it's the soap or the chore.
Usually no. Ironing is 'le repassage'.
You use 'sécher le linge' or 'étendre le linge' (to hang it).
Yes, it is universal in France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Canada.
You say 'J'ai beaucoup de lessive à faire.'
You can say 'laver le linge', but you cannot say 'laver la lessive'.
A 'laverie' is a public laundromat.
It is neutral. It's appropriate for both formal and informal situations.
Où est la buanderie ?
Verwandte Redewendungen
Faire une machine
similarTo do a load of laundry
Étendre le linge
builds onTo hang the laundry
Le panier à linge
similarThe laundry basket
Laver son linge sale en famille
specialized formTo settle private matters privately
Faire la vaisselle
contrastTo do the dishes
