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A2 noun #7,500 am häufigsten 10 Min. Lesezeit

lessive

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Erklärung lessive in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'lessive' is a basic vocabulary word related to the home and shopping. You should know that it is a feminine noun ('la lessive') and that it means the soap used for washing clothes. You will primarily use it with simple verbs like 'acheter' (to buy) or 'avoir' (to have). For example: 'J'achète de la lessive'. You might also learn it as part of the phrase 'faire la lessive' (to do the laundry), which is a common daily activity. At this stage, focus on the physical product you see in the supermarket and the basic chore. You don't need to worry about complex metaphors yet; just remember that it is essential for keeping your clothes clean.

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At the A2 level, you begin to use 'lessive' in more descriptive contexts. You should be able to distinguish between 'lessive liquide' (liquid) and 'lessive en poudre' (powder). You will also use it to describe your routine: 'Le samedi, je fais la lessive'. You start to understand partitive articles better, using 'de la lessive' when the amount is not specified. You might also encounter the word in simple instructions, like 'mettre la lessive dans le bac'. This level focuses on practical communication—being able to ask for it in a store or discuss household chores with a roommate or host family.

At the B1 level, you can handle more complex situations involving 'lessive'. You might discuss environmental issues, such as the impact of 'lessives chimiques' on the planet versus 'lessives écologiques'. You understand that 'une lessive' can refer to a single load of laundry ('J'ai deux lessives à faire'). You are also introduced to the idiomatic expression 'être lessivé', which means to be very tired. You can follow more detailed instructions on clothing labels and understand the difference between detergent, fabric softener (adoucissant), and bleach (eau de Javel). Your vocabulary is expanding to include the entire 'laundry' ecosystem.

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At the B2 level, you are comfortable with the nuances of 'lessive'. You can understand marketing language in advertisements and the sociological implications of domestic labor. You might read articles about the history of 'les lavoirs' in France and how 'la lessive' was once a communal social activity. You can use the verb 'lessiver' in its figurative sense (to drain or exhaust) and understand more technical terms like 'tensioactifs' (surfactants) found in detergent. You are able to debate the merits of different household products and express your opinion on consumer habits related to cleaning products.

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At the C1 level, 'lessive' appears in literary and high-level journalistic contexts. You might encounter it as a metaphor for social or political 'cleansing'. You understand the etymological roots from Latin and how the word evolved from 'lye' to 'detergent'. You can appreciate wordplay in slogans and humor, like the famous sketches by Coluche about detergents. You are also familiar with professional terminology used in the 'blanchisserie' (industrial laundry) sector. Your understanding of the word is deep enough to catch subtle cultural references and to use the word and its derivatives (lessivable, lessivage) in precise, sophisticated ways.

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At the C2 level, your mastery of 'lessive' is near-native. You understand the most obscure idiomatic uses and the historical weight of the term in French culture. You can analyze the evolution of the word in French literature—from the descriptions of Zola's washerwomen in 'L'Assommoir' to modern social critiques of domesticity. You can navigate complex legal or environmental documents regarding chemical regulations for 'détergents et lessives'. You possess a complete grasp of all registers, from the informal 'je suis lessivé' to the highly technical or academic discussions of chemical properties or historical laundry practices.

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Lessive is the French word for laundry detergent, available in liquid, powder, or pod forms.
It is a feminine noun (la lessive) and also refers to the act of doing laundry.
The phrase 'faire la lessive' is the standard way to say 'to do the laundry' in French.
In slang, being 'lessivé' means you are totally exhausted or worn out from work or stress.

The French word lessive is a fundamental noun that every learner must master, primarily referring to laundry detergent. However, its history and usage run much deeper than a simple cleaning product. Historically, the term is derived from the Latin 'lixivium', which referred to lye—a substance made from wood ashes used for washing. In modern France, when you walk down the cleaning aisle of a Carrefour or Monoprix, you will see 'lessive' everywhere, available in liquid (liquide), powder (en poudre), or capsules (capsules/tablettes). It is the essential agent that facilitates the cleaning of 'le linge' (the laundry).

Primary Meaning: The chemical product (detergent) used to wash clothes. It is a feminine noun: la lessive.

N'oublie pas d'acheter de la lessive liquide en faisant les courses.

Beyond the product itself, 'lessive' often refers to the entire process or the load of laundry being washed. When a French person says 'je fais ma lessive', they aren't making the soap; they are doing their laundry. This metonymy is common in household chores. In a cultural context, the 'lessive' was once a social event in French villages. Women would gather at the 'lavoir' (communal wash-house) to scrub clothes. While the physical labor has been replaced by machines, the terminology persists. You will hear it used in domestic settings, in advertisements emphasizing 'blancheur éclatante' (brilliant whiteness), and in environmental discussions regarding 'lessive écologique' and the impact of phosphates on water systems.

Extended Meaning: The act of washing clothes or the batch of clothes currently in the machine.

La lessive est en train de tourner dans la machine.

The word is also central to discussions about household economy. With rising inflation, the price of 'la lessive' is a frequent topic in consumer reports. Brands like Ariel, Dash, and Le Chat are household names in France. Understanding the nuances of this word allows you to navigate grocery shopping, manage a household in a French-speaking country, and even understand metaphorical references in literature and news, such as 'le blanchiment' (money laundering), which shares the conceptual root of cleaning and whitening.

Modern Context: Usage in the context of sustainability, such as 'lessive sans plastique' or DIY 'lessive maison' using Marseille soap.

Ma grand-mère fabrique sa propre lessive avec du savon de Marseille et du bicarbonate.

Il y a une promotion sur la lessive au supermarché cette semaine.

Cette lessive sent bon la lavande et le frais.

Using lessive correctly requires attention to both grammatical structure and typical collocations. As a feminine noun, it is always accompanied by feminine articles: la lessive, une lessive, de la lessive. One of the most common verbs paired with it is faire. When you say 'faire la lessive', you are describing the entire chore of washing clothes. For beginners, it is crucial to distinguish between the product you buy and the action you perform.

The Product (Noun): Used with partitive articles when referring to an unspecified quantity: 'Je mets de la lessive dans le bac'.

Combien de lessive faut-il mettre pour un cycle court ?

In more advanced contexts, you might use 'lessive' to describe the laundry load itself. For instance, 'J'ai trois lessives à faire aujourd'hui' means 'I have three loads of laundry to do today'. This usage is extremely common in daily life. You also encounter it in technical instructions for washing machines, where you might see 'compartiment à lessive' (detergent drawer). If you are using a laundromat, you will see signs for 'vente de lessive' (detergent for sale).

The Action (Idiomatic): 'Faire une lessive' means to run a wash cycle. 'Faire la lessive' means to do the laundry as a general chore.

Le dimanche, je consacre mon après-midi à faire la lessive.

Adjectives often follow 'lessive' to specify its type. You will hear 'lessive liquide' (liquid detergent), 'lessive en poudre' (powder detergent), 'lessive hypoallergénique' (hypoallergenic), or 'lessive biologique' (organic/bio). In a sentence, these adjectives must agree in gender (feminine). For example, 'Cette lessive est très efficace' (This detergent is very effective). If you are washing delicate fabrics, you might use 'une lessive pour lainages' (a detergent for woolens).

Prepositional Phrases: 'À la lessive' can describe the smell or the method: 'Une odeur de propre associée à la lessive'.

Il a versé la lessive directement dans le tambour de la machine.

Quelle lessive utilises-tu pour les vêtements de bébé ?

On a oublié de mettre la lessive, il faut recommencer le cycle.

In France, the word lessive is omnipresent in domestic life. You will hear it most frequently in the context of household management and shopping. At the supermarket, the 'rayon lessive' is often one of the largest sections, filled with colorful bottles and boxes. Sales assistants might ask if you found the 'lessive en promotion'. At home, roommates or family members will frequently ask 'C'est à qui la lessive dans la machine ?' (Whose laundry is in the machine?) or 'On n'a plus de lessive' (We're out of detergent).

In the Supermarket: The signage will read 'Lessives et Entretien' or simply 'Soins du Linge'.

Je vais au supermarché, on a besoin de lessive et d'adoucissant.

Television and radio advertisements in France are another major source for this word. French marketing for detergents often focuses on sensory experiences—the smell of 'grand air' (fresh air) or 'souvenirs d'enfance' (childhood memories). You might hear slogans like 'La lessive qui lave plus blanc que blanc' (The detergent that washes whiter than white), a famous phrase popularized by the comedian Coluche while mocking advertising tropes. In news and documentaries, 'lessive' appears in discussions about water pollution and the 'microplastiques' released during the wash cycle.

In the Media: Used in consumer advocacy programs like '60 Millions de Consommateurs' to compare product efficiency.

La publicité pour cette nouvelle lessive passe tout le temps à la télé.

Furthermore, the word appears in professional contexts. If you work in a hotel or a hospital, 'la gestion de la lessive' (laundry management) is a vital logistical part of the job. In these settings, 'lessive industrielle' refers to heavy-duty detergents. Even in the world of fashion, designers might discuss the 'lessive' (wash) of a pair of jeans, though 'délavage' is more technical. Finally, in the financial world, 'lessiveuse' is a slang term for a mechanism used to launder dirty money, echoing the 'cleaning' aspect of the word.

Professional/Slang: 'Lessiver' (verb) can mean to ruin someone financially or to exhaust them completely.

Après cette journée de travail, je suis totalement lessivé.

Le distributeur de la laverie ne prend que les pièces pour la lessive.

Il y a une odeur de lessive fraîche dans toute la maison.

One of the most frequent errors English speakers make is confusing lessive with other 'L' words related to cleaning. The most common confusion is between 'la lessive' (the detergent) and 'le lave-linge' (the washing machine). While they are related, you cannot use them interchangeably. You put the 'lessive' *into* the 'lave-linge'. Another confusion arises with 'le linge', which refers to the laundry or linens themselves. If you say 'Je lave ma lessive', it sounds like you are washing your soap, which is nonsensical.

Lessive vs. Lave-linge: Lessive = Soap/Action. Lave-linge = The appliance. 'La machine' is often used as a synonym for lave-linge.

Faux: Ma lessive est en panne. (Correct: Mon lave-linge est en panne.)

Another mistake involves the verb 'lessiver'. While 'lessive' is the noun, the verb 'lessiver' technically means to wash with lye or to scrub thoroughly. In modern daily life, we rarely use 'lessiver' to mean 'doing the laundry'. Instead, we use 'faire la lessive' or 'laver le linge'. If you tell someone 'Je vais lessiver mes vêtements', it sounds like you are going to give them an aggressive, industrial-strength scrubbing. However, 'lessiver' is very common in the passive form 'être lessivé' to mean 'to be exhausted'.

The Partitive Article: Don't forget the partitive! It's 'de la lessive' (some detergent), not just 'lessive'.

Correct: J'achète de la lessive. Faux: J'achète la lessive (unless referring to a specific one).

Gender errors are also frequent. Because 'lessive' ends in '-ive', it is feminine. Beginners often mistakenly use masculine articles ('le lessive'), perhaps confusing it with 'le savon' (soap). Always remember: la lessive. Additionally, when using 'lessive' to mean a 'load', remember it is countable. If you have a lot of clothes to wash, you have 'plusieurs lessives' to do, not 'beaucoup de lessive' (which would mean you have a large quantity of soap).

Quantity Confusion: 'Faire une lessive' = Wash one load. 'Mettre de la lessive' = Add soap.

Il y a trop de lessive dans le tiroir, ça va déborder !

J'ai fini ma troisième lessive de la journée.

Ne confonds pas la lessive avec l'assouplissant.

While lessive is the standard term for detergent, several related words are used depending on the context and the specific product. Understanding these alternatives will help you navigate a French laundry room like a pro. The most general alternative is 'détergent', though this is often used in more technical or industrial contexts. In everyday conversation, 'lessive' remains the king. Another crucial word is 'savon' (soap), which is generally used for personal hygiene or hand-washing dishes, but 'savon de Marseille' is a specific type of soap often used to make traditional 'lessive'.

Lessive vs. Savon: Lessive is for clothes in a machine. Savon is for hands, body, or specific hand-scrubbing of stains.

J'utilise du savon de Marseille pour détacher le col avant de mettre la lessive.

You will also encounter 'adoucissant' or 'assouplissant', which both mean fabric softener. These are added in a separate compartment from the 'lessive'. For tough stains, you might use a 'détachant' (stain remover). If you are referring to the act of washing by hand, you might use the verb 'laver à la main'. When discussing the laundry itself, 'le linge' is the most common term. For example, 'étendre le linge' means to hang the laundry to dry. 'Blanchissage' is a more formal or professional term for the cleaning and ironing of linens, often used by 'pressings' (dry cleaners).

Laundry Room Vocabulary: Assouplissant (softener), Détachant (stain remover), Eau de Javel (bleach).

N'oublie pas d'ajouter l'adoucissant après la lessive.

If the 'lessive' is finished, you might say 'la machine est terminée'. If you are talking about the result of the wash, you would talk about 'le linge propre'. In a professional setting, like a hotel, the department is called 'la blanchisserie'. Understanding these synonyms and related terms ensures that you don't just know the word for the soap, but you understand the entire ecosystem of garment care in French-speaking cultures. From 'l'eau de Javel' (bleach) to 'le séchage' (drying), each word has its place alongside 'lessive'.

Regional Variations: France: Lessive. Canada: Savon à linge. Belgium/Switzerland: Generally follow French usage.

Le pressing propose un service de lessive et de repassage.

Cette lessive écologique est à base de savon noir.

On utilise le terme 'détergent' sur les étiquettes de sécurité de la lessive.

How Formal Is It?

Wusstest du?

Before commercial soaps, 'lessive' was made by pouring hot water over wood ashes in a cloth over the clothes. The alkaline salts in the ash cleaned the fabric.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /le.siv/

US /le.siv/

Final syllable stress (standard French).

Reimt sich auf

vive arrive archive convive dérive missive poursuive salive

Häufige Fehler

Pronouncing the 'e' at the end (it is silent).
Using a 'z' sound instead of a sharp 's' (it is /s/, not /z/).
Confusing the first vowel 'e' with 'é' (it is a mid-open 'e').

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 2/5

Easy to recognize on packaging and in simple texts.

Schreiben 3/5

Requires remembering the feminine gender and the double 's'.

Sprechen 2/5

Pronunciation is straightforward for English speakers.

Hören 2/5

Distinct sound, usually clear in context of home/shopping.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

laver vêtements propre eau savon

Als Nächstes lernen

lave-linge adoucissant repasser sécher tache

Fortgeschritten

lixiviation tensioactif blanchisserie alcalin décrassage

Wichtige Grammatik

Partitive Articles with Uncountable Nouns

On utilise 'de la' lessive car on ne compte pas chaque grain de poudre.

Feminine Adjective Agreement

La lessive est 'efficace' (not efficacee, but feminine form).

Gender of Nouns ending in -ive

La plupart des noms en -ive sont féminins (la missive, laive, la lessive).

Negation with Partitives

Je n'ai plus 'de' lessive (the article becomes 'de').

Verbs of Routine (Faire)

Faire + article + noun for chores (faire la vaisselle, faire la lessive).

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Beispiele nach Niveau

Où est la lessive ?

Where is the laundry detergent?

Simple question with 'où' and the feminine noun 'la lessive'.

J'achète de la lessive.

I am buying some laundry detergent.

Use of the partitive article 'de la' for an unspecified quantity.

La lessive sent bon.

The detergent smells good.

Subject-verb agreement with a feminine singular noun.

Il n'y a plus de lessive.

There is no more laundry detergent.

Negative structure 'ne... plus de' where 'de' replaces the partitive.

Je fais la lessive.

I am doing the laundry.

The idiomatic expression 'faire la lessive' for the chore.

C'est une bonne lessive.

It is a good detergent.

Adjective 'bonne' agrees with the feminine noun 'lessive'.

Elle utilise la lessive.

She is using the detergent.

Definite article 'la' indicates a specific detergent.

La lessive est bleue.

The detergent is blue.

Color adjective 'bleue' agrees with the feminine noun.

Je dois faire une lessive ce soir.

I have to do a load of laundry tonight.

'Une lessive' here refers to one wash cycle/load.

Préfères-tu la lessive liquide ou en poudre ?

Do you prefer liquid or powder detergent?

Comparison between two types of the noun.

Mets la lessive dans le petit compartiment.

Put the detergent in the small compartment.

Imperative mood used for instructions.

Cette lessive est en promotion au magasin.

This detergent is on sale at the store.

Demonstrative adjective 'cette' for feminine nouns.

Il faut peu de lessive pour cette machine.

You need little detergent for this machine.

Adverb of quantity 'peu de' followed by the noun.

La lessive est terminée, je vais étendre le linge.

The wash is finished, I'm going to hang the laundry.

Metonymy: 'la lessive' refers to the wash cycle.

Ma mère fait toujours la lessive le lundi.

My mother always does the laundry on Mondays.

Habitual action in the present tense.

N'oublie pas d'acheter de la lessive pour bébé.

Don't forget to buy baby detergent.

Preposition 'pour' used to specify the purpose.

Je suis lessivé après cette longue journée.

I am exhausted after this long day.

Figurative use of the past participle 'lessivé' as an adjective.

Cette lessive écologique protège l'environnement.

This eco-friendly detergent protects the environment.

Use of the adjective 'écologique'.

Il y a une fuite de lessive sous la machine.

There is a detergent leak under the machine.

Noun complement 'de lessive' describing the type of leak.

Elle a fait trois lessives aujourd'hui.

She did three loads of laundry today.

Plural use of 'lessives' to mean loads.

La lessive n'a pas bien enlevé la tache de vin.

The detergent didn't remove the wine stain well.

Negative past tense (passé composé).

On peut fabriquer sa propre lessive avec du savon.

One can make their own detergent with soap.

Infinitive 'fabriquer' following the modal verb 'peut'.

Il a versé trop de lessive et il y a trop de mousse.

He poured too much detergent and there is too much foam.

Adverb 'trop de' showing excess.

La lessive en capsules est très pratique.

Detergent in pods is very practical.

Prepositional phrase 'en capsules' describing the form.

Le marketing des lessives repose souvent sur l'odeur du frais.

Detergent marketing often relies on the scent of freshness.

Plural 'lessives' referring to the product category.

Autrefois, la lessive était un moment de partage au lavoir.

In the past, laundry was a moment of sharing at the wash-house.

Imperfect tense for historical description.

Cette marque de lessive est accusée de pollution.

This detergent brand is accused of pollution.

Passive voice 'est accusée'.

Il faut vérifier si cette lessive convient aux textiles délicats.

You must check if this detergent is suitable for delicate textiles.

Indirect question with 'si'.

Le prix de la lessive a augmenté de façon significative.

The price of detergent has increased significantly.

Abstract noun 'le prix' modified by 'de la lessive'.

Elle a été lessivée par son entraînement sportif.

She was wiped out by her sports training.

Figurative feminine passive form.

La lessive sans parfum est idéale pour les peaux sensibles.

Fragrance-free detergent is ideal for sensitive skin.

Adjective 'idéale' agrees with 'lessive'.

Le compartiment à lessive doit être nettoyé régulièrement.

The detergent compartment must be cleaned regularly.

Compound noun 'compartiment à lessive'.

L'industrie de la lessive investit massivement dans la R&D.

The detergent industry invests heavily in R&D.

Use of the noun 'industrie' followed by a complement.

La lessive des consciences est un thème récurrent en politique.

The 'cleansing' of consciences is a recurring theme in politics.

Highly metaphorical use of 'lessive'.

Le scandale a révélé une véritable lessiveuse d'argent sale.

The scandal revealed a real money-laundering machine.

Slang/Metaphorical use of 'lessiveuse'.

L'efficacité de la lessive dépend de la dureté de l'eau.

The effectiveness of the detergent depends on water hardness.

Formal scientific observation.

Zola décrit avec réalisme la dureté de la lessive au XIXe siècle.

Zola describes with realism the hardship of laundry in the 19th century.

Literary reference.

Le délavage de ce jean a été fait avec une lessive spéciale.

The fading of these jeans was done with a special wash.

Technical use in the textile industry.

Cette politique de 'lessive' sociale est vivement critiquée.

This policy of social 'cleansing' is strongly criticized.

Sociopolitical metaphor.

Il ne reste qu'un fond de lessive dans le bidon.

Only a tiny bit of detergent remains in the container.

Idiomatic 'un fond de' meaning a small remainder.

L'étymologie de 'lessive' nous renvoie aux cendres de bois.

The etymology of 'lessive' takes us back to wood ashes.

Etymological discussion.

Le film explore la symbolique de la lessive comme rite de purification.

The film explores the symbolism of laundry as a rite of purification.

Abstract symbolic analysis.

La réglementation européenne sur les lessives est devenue drastique.

European regulation on detergents has become drastic.

Legal/Administrative register.

La lessive de l'âme passe parfois par l'oubli.

The cleansing of the soul sometimes involves forgetting.

Poetic/Philosophical metaphor.

Les tensioactifs contenus dans la lessive modifient la tension superficielle.

The surfactants in the detergent modify the surface tension.

Advanced chemical terminology.

Elle manie l'ironie comme une lessive corrosive.

She wields irony like a corrosive detergent.

Advanced literary simile.

Le concept de 'lessive' médiatique vise à réhabiliter son image.

The concept of a media 'wash' aims to rehabilitate his image.

Modern media jargon.

La lessiveuse étatique a broyé ses derniers espoirs.

The state 'laundry machine' (bureaucracy) crushed his last hopes.

Metaphor for destructive bureaucracy.

Häufige Kollokationen

Lessive liquide

Lessive en poudre

Faire la lessive

Bac à lessive

Dose de lessive

Lessive écologique

Lessive hypoallergénique

Marque de lessive

Rayon lessive

Lessive maison

Häufige Phrasen

Mettre une lessive en route

— To start a wash cycle in the machine.

Je vais mettre une lessive en route avant de partir.

Étendre la lessive

— To hang the laundry out to dry.

Il fait beau, on peut étendre la lessive dehors.

Ramasser la lessive

— To bring in the dry laundry.

Vite, il pleut, il faut ramasser la lessive !

Trier la lessive

— To sort the laundry by color or fabric.

Trier la lessive prend beaucoup de temps.

Une lessive de blanc

— A load of white laundry.

Je fais une lessive de blanc à 60 degrés.

Une lessive de couleur

— A load of colored laundry.

Ne mélange pas la lessive de couleur avec le blanc.

C'est jour de lessive

— It's laundry day.

Désolé, je ne peux pas sortir, c'est jour de lessive.

Une odeur de lessive

— A smell of clean laundry/detergent.

J'adore cette odeur de lessive dans les draps.

Acheter de la lessive

— To buy detergent.

On doit passer au supermarché acheter de la lessive.

Verser la lessive

— To pour the detergent.

Verse la lessive doucement dans le bac.

Wird oft verwechselt mit

lessive vs Lave-linge

The machine itself, not the soap. You put lessive into the lave-linge.

lessive vs Linge

The clothes or fabric. You wash the linge with lessive.

lessive vs Vaisselle

Refers to dishes. You use 'liquide vaisselle', not 'lessive', for dishes.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"Être lessivé"

— To be completely exhausted or worn out.

Après ce marathon, je suis totalement lessivé.

Informal

"Laver son linge sale en famille"

— To settle private disputes or scandals privately rather than in public.

On ne parle pas de ça aux voisins, on lave son linge sale en famille.

Common

"Lave plus blanc que blanc"

— Used to mock advertising hyperbole or someone trying too hard to look innocent.

Son discours politique se veut plus blanc que blanc.

Ironical

"Une lessiveuse d'argent"

— A mechanism or business used for money laundering.

Ce casino servait de lessiveuse pour la mafia.

Informal/Journalistic

"Passer à la lessiveuse"

— To be subjected to a harsh, draining process or interrogation.

Le candidat est passé à la lessiveuse lors de l'interview.

Metaphorical

"C'est la grande lessive"

— A massive cleanup, often referring to firing many people or a radical change in an organization.

Après l'échec, c'est la grande lessive dans l'entreprise.

Journalistic

"Lessiver quelqu'un"

— To ruin someone financially or to exhaust them completely.

Le casino l'a complètement lessivé.

Informal

"Sentir la lessive"

— To smell very clean (sometimes used ironically for someone too neat).

Il sent toujours la lessive fraîche.

Neutral

"Faire une lessive de cerveau"

— Brainwashing (less common than 'lavage de cerveau' but used).

Ils ont subi une véritable lessive de cerveau.

Informal

"Mettre à la lessive"

— To put something in the wash (specifically used for the action).

Mets ton pull à la lessive, il est sale.

Common

Leicht verwechselbar

lessive vs Lessive vs. Savon

Both clean things.

Lessive is specifically for textiles in a machine; savon is for skin or general cleaning.

On se lave les mains avec du savon, mais on lave les draps avec de la lessive.

lessive vs Lessive vs. Détergent

They are synonyms.

Lessive is the common household name; détergent is the technical/chemical name.

Le détergent est l'agent actif de la lessive.

lessive vs Lessive vs. Blanchissage

Both relate to cleaning clothes.

Lessive is the product/chore; blanchissage is the service or professional process.

Le blanchissage est inclus dans le prix de la chambre.

lessive vs Lessive vs. Lessivage

Similar roots.

Lessive is for laundry; lessivage is for walls or heavy industrial cleaning.

Le lessivage des murs est nécessaire avant de peindre.

lessive vs Lessive vs. Assouplissant

Both go in the machine.

Lessive cleans; assouplissant (softener) makes clothes soft and smell good.

Ne confonds pas les deux compartiments !

Satzmuster

Où est [article] lessive ?

Où est la lessive ?

Je dois acheter [partitive] lessive.

Je dois acheter de la lessive.

Je suis [adjective] après le travail.

Je suis lessivé après le travail.

Il est important de choisir une lessive [adjective].

Il est important de choisir une lessive écologique.

Le concept de [noun] de la société est complexe.

Le concept de lessive de la société est complexe.

J'aime l'odeur de [article] lessive.

J'aime l'odeur de la lessive.

Il y a une promotion sur [article] lessive.

Il y a une promotion sur la lessive.

On peut faire sa lessive [preposition] savon.

On peut faire sa lessive avec du savon.

Wortfamilie

Substantive

lessiveuse (washing machine/pot)

lessivage (the act of scrubbing/washing)

blanchissage (laundry service)

Verben

lessiver (to wash/scrub/exhaust)

délave (to fade clothes)

Adjektive

lessivable (washable, used for paint)

lessivé (exhausted)

délavé (faded)

Verwandt

linge

lavoir

lave-linge

buanderie

savon

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So verwendest du es

frequency

Extremely high in domestic and commercial contexts.

Häufige Fehler

Le lessive → La lessive
Lessive is a feminine noun. You must use 'la', 'une', or 'de la'.
Je lave la lessive → Je fais la lessive / Je lave le linge
You don't wash the detergent; you use the detergent to wash the clothes (le linge).
Ma lessive est cassée → Mon lave-linge est cassé
The 'lessive' is the soap; the 'lave-linge' is the appliance that can break down.
J'ai beaucoup de lessive à faire → J'ai plusieurs lessives à faire
If you mean many loads, use the plural 'lessives'. 'Beaucoup de lessive' means you have a large volume of soap.
Utiliser lessive pour la vaisselle → Utiliser du liquide vaisselle
Detergent for clothes is chemically different from dish soap.

Tipps

Use the Partitive

When buying or using detergent, use 'de la lessive'. This indicates an unspecified amount of the substance.

Learn the Forms

Distinguish between 'liquide', 'poudre', and 'capsules' to be specific when shopping.

Savon de Marseille

In France, 'savon de Marseille' is the gold standard for traditional laundry cleaning. Many people use it for stains.

Feeling Wiped Out

Use 'je suis lessivé' after a long day of French class to sound more natural!

Look for Promotions

Detergent is expensive in France; look for 'en promotion' or '2 pour 1' deals in supermarkets.

Counting Loads

Use 'une lessive' when counting how many loads you have to do: 'J'ai trois lessives à faire'.

Not for Dishes

Never use 'lessive' for dishes. It's too harsh and creates too much foam for a dishwasher.

Listen for 'Faire'

Whenever you hear 'faire' followed by 'lessive', it always refers to the chore, not making soap.

Spelling Check

Remember the double 's' in lessive. One 's' would change the pronunciation to /z/.

Eco-friendly Options

Look for 'Ecolabel' on 'lessive' bottles in France to ensure they are better for the water system.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of 'Less-Sieve'. You want 'LESS' dirt to go through the 'SIEVE' of your clothes, so you use 'LESSIVE'.

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a giant bottle of detergent with a French flag on it, sitting on top of a pile of dirty clothes.

Word Web

Machine à laver Linge sale Propre Savon Bulles Odeur Eau Mousse

Herausforderung

Go to a French supermarket website (like Carrefour.fr) and try to find three different types of 'lessive' (liquide, poudre, capsules).

Wortherkunft

Derived from the Latin 'lixivium', meaning lye or a solution of alkaline salts.

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: A liquid used for washing, specifically lye made from wood ashes.

Romance (Latin root).

Kultureller Kontext

Be aware that 'lessivé' is informal slang for tired; avoid it in very formal business meetings where 'épuisé' is better.

English speakers often say 'doing the laundry', which covers both the act and the clothes. French splits this into 'faire la lessive' (the act/soap) and 'le linge' (the clothes).

L'Assommoir by Émile Zola (depicts the life of washerwomen) Coluche's 'La publicité' sketch (mocks detergent ads) La Mère Denis (famous detergent brand ambassador)

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Supermarket Shopping

Où est le rayon lessive ?
Quelle lessive est en promo ?
Je cherche de la lessive liquide.
C'est une lessive pour peaux sensibles ?

Household Chores

C'est ton tour de faire la lessive.
Il reste de la lessive ?
J'ai une lessive à étendre.
La lessive est finie.

Laundromat (Laverie)

Est-ce que la lessive est incluse ?
Le distributeur de lessive est cassé.
Combien coûte une dose de lessive ?
Il faut mettre la lessive ici.

Work/Exhaustion

Je suis complètement lessivé.
Cette réunion m'a lessivé.
Il a l'air lessivé ce matin.
Reposons-nous, on est lessivés.

Environmental Issues

Cette lessive pollue les rivières.
Je fabrique ma lessive écologique.
Lessive sans phosphates.
L'impact de la lessive sur l'eau.

Gesprächseinstiege

"Quelle marque de lessive utilises-tu d'habitude ?"

"Est-ce que tu préfères la lessive en poudre ou la lessive liquide ?"

"Fais-tu ta lessive toi-même ou vas-tu à la laverie ?"

"Connais-tu une recette pour faire de la lessive maison ?"

"À quelle fréquence fais-tu la lessive chez toi ?"

Tagebuch-Impulse

Décris ta routine de lessive. Quel jour la fais-tu et quels produits utilises-tu ?

Penses-tu que les publicités pour la lessive sont efficaces ou ennuyeuses ? Pourquoi ?

As-tu déjà essayé de fabriquer ta propre lessive ? Raconte ton expérience.

Raconte une fois où tu étais vraiment 'lessivé' après une longue journée.

L'impact écologique des produits ménagers comme la lessive t'inquiète-t-il ?

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

It is feminine. You should always say 'la lessive' or 'une lessive'. Using 'le' is a common mistake for beginners.

No, that is 'le lave-linge' or 'la machine à laver'. However, 'la lessive' can refer to the load of clothes inside the machine.

It's an idiom meaning to be very tired. For example: 'J'ai travaillé 10 heures, je suis lessivé !'

The word is simply 'la lessive'. You don't need to add another word for detergent.

'Lessive' is the soap or the act of washing. 'Linge' refers to the actual clothes or linens being washed.

The most common way is 'faire la lessive'. You can also say 'faire une lessive' if referring to one specific load.

No, for dishes you use 'liquide vaisselle' or 'pastilles pour lave-vaisselle'.

Yes, but in Quebec, people often use 'savon à linge' as well.

It is laundry detergent in powder form, as opposed to 'lessive liquide'.

You put it in the 'bac à lessive' (detergent drawer) or directly in the 'tambour' (drum) if it's a pod.

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