At the A1 level, you just need to know that 'une persienne' is a thing on a window. It is like a shutter. You can say 'La persienne est bleue' (The shutter is blue) or 'Je ferme la persienne' (I close the shutter). It is a feminine noun, so we use 'la' or 'une'. Think of it as a decoration for the house that also helps with the sun. You might see them in pictures of Paris. It is a good word to learn when you talk about your house or your room. Don't worry about the slats yet; just think of it as a pretty shutter.
At the A2 level, you can start using 'persienne' to describe your daily routine or your home in more detail. You might say 'Le matin, j'ouvre les persiennes' (In the morning, I open the shutters). You should also know the plural form 'les persiennes' because most windows have two. You can use simple adjectives like 'vieilles' (old) or 'neuves' (new). It is helpful to know this word if you are traveling to France and staying in an Airbnb, as the owner might give you instructions about them. You can also distinguish it from 'la fenêtre' (the window) itself.
At the B1 level, you should understand the specific function of a persienne. It's not just any shutter; it's the one with slats (louvers) that lets air through. You can use it in sentences about the weather or comfort, such as 'Il fait chaud, fermons les persiennes pour garder la fraîcheur' (It's hot, let's close the shutters to keep the coolness). You should be comfortable with verbs like 'entrouvrir' (to open slightly) and understand the cultural context of why they are so common in France. You might also encounter this word in short stories or news articles about home improvement.
At the B2 level, you can use 'persienne' to discuss architectural styles or more complex domestic situations. You might talk about the 'charme des persiennes en bois' versus the 'praticité des volets roulants'. You should be able to understand the word in a literary context, where it might be used to describe the atmosphere of a room (e.g., 'la lumière tamisée par les persiennes'). You can use it in more formal writing, like a letter to a landlord about repairs. You should also be aware of the difference between a 'persienne' and a 'jalousie' or 'contrevent'.
At the C1 level, 'persienne' becomes a tool for descriptive and nuanced language. You can use it to evoke specific imagery in creative writing, focusing on the interplay of light and shadow ('le jeu d'ombres des persiennes'). You should understand its historical and etymological roots (from 'Perse'). You can participate in discussions about urban heritage and the preservation of traditional building elements. You'll recognize the word in classical French literature (Balzac, Zola) where it often plays a role in setting a scene of domestic observation or social class.
At the C2 level, you have a complete mastery of the word 'persienne' and its connotations. You can use it metaphorically or in high-level architectural critiques. You understand the subtle social signals conveyed by the state or color of a building's persiennes. You can translate complex English texts involving various types of window treatments into precise French, choosing between 'persienne', 'jalousie', 'contrevent', or 'store' with perfect accuracy. You appreciate the word's phonetic qualities and its place in the 'patrimoine' of French vocabulary, using it effortlessly in any register.

persienne in 30 Sekunden

  • A feminine noun meaning a louvered shutter with horizontal slats.
  • Essential for French architecture, especially in hot or sunny regions.
  • Differs from solid shutters (volets pleins) by allowing air and light flow.
  • Commonly used in plural 'les persiennes' for window pairs.

The word persienne refers to a specific type of window shutter characterized by its horizontal slats, or louvers. Unlike a solid shutter (un volet plein), a persienne is designed to allow air and a filtered amount of light to enter a room even when the shutters are closed. This architectural feature is iconic in French townhouses and Mediterranean climates where managing heat while maintaining privacy and ventilation is crucial. The name itself hints at its exotic origins, suggesting a style that traveled from Persia to the West, bringing with it an elegant solution to the harsh sun.

Architectural Context
In French architecture, persiennes are often seen on the facades of Haussmannian buildings in Paris or stone houses in Provence. They are usually made of wood, though modern versions can be PVC or aluminum.

Pendant la canicule, nous gardons chaque persienne close pour maintenir la fraîcheur à l'intérieur de la maison.

The use of the word persienne is quite specific. While English speakers might simply say 'shutters' for everything, a French speaker distinguishes between a volet (which could be solid) and a persienne (which is always louvered). If you are looking through the slats to spy on the street without being seen, you are looking through a persienne. This creates a unique play of light and shadow, often described in French literature as a 'cliar-obscur' effect on the floor or walls of a room during a sunny afternoon.

Materiality
Traditionally, these are painted in specific regional colors: light blue in Provence, gray in Paris, or green in many rural areas, contributing to the visual identity of French landscapes.

Il a peint ses persiennes en vert olive pour assortir les volets à la porte d'entrée.

Culturally, the persienne represents a certain 'art de vivre.' It signifies the slow pace of summer, the siesta, and the protection of the private sphere. When you hear this word in a conversation, it's often about home maintenance, the weather, or a description of a building's charm. It is a word that evokes the senses: the sound of them clattering in the wind, the smell of fresh paint, and the sight of striped sunlight on a wooden floor.

Synonym Note
The term 'jalousie' is a very close relative, often used to describe the slats themselves or a specific type of adjustable louvered shutter.

La lumière passait à travers la persienne entrouverte, dessinant des lignes d'or sur le tapis.

Using persienne correctly involves understanding its grammatical gender (feminine) and the common verbs associated with window treatments. You will rarely find a single persienne; they almost always come in pairs, so you will frequently use the plural form les persiennes. The most common actions are opening (ouvrir), closing (fermer), and partially opening or leaving ajar (entrouvrir or entre-bailler).

Action Verbs
To describe the act of adjusting them: 'rabattre les persiennes' (to pull them back/close them) or 'pousser les persiennes' (to push them open).

Dès que le soleil se couche, j'aime fermer les persiennes pour me sentir en sécurité.

When describing the state of the shutters, use adjectives like closes (closed), ouvertes (open), clinquantes (rattling), or délabrées (dilapidated). Because they are exterior elements, they are subject to weather, so you might discuss their condition during a renovation project. You might say 'les persiennes ont besoin d'un coup de peinture' (the shutters need a coat of paint).

Prepositional Use
We often use 'à travers' (through) with persienne: 'regarder à travers les persiennes'.

Elle observait les passants discrètement à travers la persienne.

In a more technical or real estate context, you might see descriptions like 'fenêtres avec persiennes métalliques' or 'appartement avec persiennes d'origine'. These details are important for buyers looking for 'le cachet de l'ancien' (the charm of the old). In daily life, if you are staying at a French friend's house, they might ask you: 'Tu peux fermer les persiennes avant de partir ?' (Can you close the shutters before leaving?). This is a standard request to keep the house cool or secure.

Plural vs Singular
While 'une persienne' exists, you will almost always hear 'les persiennes' because windows have two sides or because we refer to the whole system.

Les persiennes grincent quand il y a beaucoup de vent.

The word persienne is ubiquitous in French life, appearing in practical, commercial, and literary settings. If you are walking through a French city, you are surrounded by them. Consequently, you will hear this word in hardware stores (magasins de bricolage) like Leroy Merlin or Castorama when people are buying replacement slats or hinges. You'll also hear it in the context of urban planning or apartment living, where the color or style of your persiennes might be regulated by the 'copropriété' (building association) or the 'Architectes des Bâtiments de France'.

Real Estate and Tourism
Rental listings often highlight 'persiennes en bois' as a feature of charm. Tour guides might point them out when discussing the 'style Haussmannien'.

L'annonce précisait que l'appartement avait conservé ses persiennes d'époque en fer forgé.

In literature and cinema, the persienne is a classic element of the French aesthetic. Authors like Marcel Proust or Gustave Flaubert used the word to set a mood—often one of stifling heat or domestic intimacy. In movies set in Paris, the sound of someone opening their persiennes in the morning is a shorthand for 'a new day in the city'. You might also hear it in weather reports or news segments about heatwaves (la canicule), where experts advise citizens to 'fermer les persiennes' to keep their homes habitable.

Daily Life
Parents might tell children: 'Va fermer les persiennes, il commence à faire nuit'.

Il y avait un petit jour qui passait par la persienne, suffisant pour lire sans lampe.

Finally, you will hear it in the context of home security. Many French people believe that persiennes, especially metal ones, provide an extra layer of protection against break-ins. When leaving for vacation, a common checklist item is 'Est-ce qu'on a bien verrouillé les persiennes ?' (Did we lock the shutters properly?). This practical usage keeps the word very much alive in the modern French vocabulary, far beyond its poetic or historical associations.

Artistic Reference
Photographers love the 'effet persienne'—the rhythmic shadows created by the slats on a subject's face.

L'artiste a capturé le reflet bleu des persiennes sur la façade en pierre.

The most frequent mistake for English speakers is using persienne as a generic word for all types of window coverings. While in English 'shutter' or 'blind' can be broad, French is more precise. A common error is calling an indoor fabric blind a persienne—that is a store. Another mistake is calling a solid, heavy wooden door-like shutter a persienne—that is a volet (specifically a volet plein). If it doesn't have the louvered slats, it's technically not a persienne.

Gender Errors
Many learners mistakenly treat 'persienne' as masculine because many architectural terms are masculine. Always remember: 'LA persienne'. Saying 'le persienne' will sound very unnatural to a native ear.

Faux : Je vais fermer le persienne.
Correct : Je vais fermer la persienne.

Confusion with 'Jalousie': While they are similar, a 'jalousie' often refers specifically to the adjustable nature of the slats or a specific type of window where the glass itself is louvered. Using 'persienne' is generally safer for the exterior shutters of a house. Another mistake is pronunciation; the 'ie' in the middle should be pronounced clearly, and the 'ne' at the end is soft but present. It is not 'per-shun' (like the English word Persian), but 'per-syenn'.

Spelling Slip-ups
Watch out for the double 'n'. Some learners write 'persiene' with one 'n', which is incorrect. It follows the pattern of 'parisienne' or 'italienne'.

Il faut deux 'n' pour écrire persienne correctement.

Finally, don't forget that persienne can also be an adjective in very rare, specific contexts (relating to Persia), but 99% of the time you will use it as a noun. If you mean 'a Persian woman', that is also 'une Persane', not 'une persienne'. This is a common point of confusion for those trying to derive nationalities. A 'persienne' is an object, a 'Persane' is a person.

Context Mistake
Using 'persienne' for modern office blinds (venetian blinds) is common but often 'store vénitien' is more accurate.

On ne dit pas les persiennes du bureau mais les stores du bureau.

French has a rich vocabulary for window treatments, reflecting its architectural history. To truly master the use of persienne, you should know its cousins. The most general term is volet. A volet is any kind of shutter. If you're not sure if the shutter has slats or is solid, volet is the safe bet. However, if you want to be precise about the louvered style, persienne is the way to go.

Persienne vs. Volet
A 'volet' can be solid (volet plein) or louvered (persienne). All persiennes are volets, but not all volets are persiennes.

J'hésite entre installer des persiennes pour l'air ou des volets pleins pour l'obscurité totale.

Another alternative is jalousie. Historically, a jalousie is a type of shutter or window with fixed or movable slats that allow one to look out without being seen (hence the name, related to 'jealousy'—keeping an eye on others). In modern usage, 'jalousie' often refers to the adjustable slats themselves. Then there is the contrevent, an older term for an exterior shutter designed to protect against the wind ('contre le vent'). While technically different, in casual conversation, many people use these terms interchangeably.

Indoor Alternatives
For internal treatments, use 'store' (blind) or 'rideau' (curtain). A 'store vénitien' is the closest indoor equivalent to a persienne.

À l'intérieur, elle a mis un store, mais à l'extérieur, elle a gardé les persiennes.

In technical or architectural descriptions, you might encounter brise-soleil. This is a more modern, often larger-scale structure designed to block direct sunlight while allowing light and air, often seen on office buildings. While a persienne is a domestic object, a brise-soleil is a structural design element. Understanding these nuances will help you describe a French building like a pro and avoid the confusion of using a broad term when a specific one is required.

Regional Terms
In some parts of the French-speaking world, like Quebec or the Caribbean, other words might prevail, but 'persienne' remains the standard term in France.

Les persiennes blanches de cette villa rappellent les maisons coloniales.

How Formal Is It?

Wusstest du?

The name comes from the belief that these louvered shutters originated in Persia, though they became popular in Europe via Italy.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /pɛʁ.sjɛn/
US /pɛr.sjɛn/
The stress in French is usually on the final syllable: per-si-ENNE.
Reimt sich auf
vienne tienne mienne italienne parisienne antienne lycéenne moyenne
Häufige Fehler
  • Pronouncing it like the English word 'Persian' (per-shun).
  • Forgetting the 'n' sound at the end.
  • Making the 'r' too much like an English 'r'.
  • Treating the 'i' as a separate full syllable (per-si-enne) instead of a quick glide.
  • Misplacing the stress on the first syllable.

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 3/5

Common in literature and real estate but has a specific spelling.

Schreiben 4/5

The double 'n' and the 'ie' combination can be tricky for beginners.

Sprechen 3/5

Pronunciation is straightforward once you avoid the 'Persian' trap.

Hören 2/5

Distinctive sound, usually easy to catch in context.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

fenêtre maison bois fermer ouvrir

Als Nächstes lernen

jalousie contrevent façade canicule menuiserie

Fortgeschritten

claire-voie moucharabieh lambrequin espagnolette

Wichtige Grammatik

Feminine Noun Agreement

La persienne est **blanche**.

Plural Formation

Une persienne -> Des persienne**s**.

Preposition 'À travers'

Je regarde **à travers** les persiennes.

Partitive Article with Materials

C'est une persienne **en** bois.

Verb 'Faire' + Infinitive

Le vent **fait claquer** les persiennes.

Beispiele nach Niveau

1

La persienne est ouverte.

The shutter is open.

Feminine singular noun.

2

J'ai une persienne verte.

I have a green shutter.

Adjective agreement (verte) with feminine noun.

3

Regarde la persienne !

Look at the shutter!

Imperative form.

4

La persienne est sur la fenêtre.

The shutter is on the window.

Preposition 'sur'.

5

C'est une belle persienne.

It is a beautiful shutter.

Adjective 'belle' before the noun.

6

La persienne est fermée.

The shutter is closed.

Past participle used as adjective.

7

Où est la persienne ?

Where is the shutter?

Interrogative sentence.

8

Ma persienne est petite.

My shutter is small.

Possessive adjective 'ma'.

1

Je ferme les persiennes le soir.

I close the shutters in the evening.

Plural noun 'les persiennes'.

2

Il y a des persiennes à chaque fenêtre.

There are shutters at every window.

Expression 'il y a'.

3

Les persiennes sont en bois.

The shutters are made of wood.

Material 'en bois'.

4

Elle peint la persienne en bleu.

She is painting the shutter blue.

Present tense verb 'peindre'.

5

Les persiennes protègent du soleil.

The shutters protect from the sun.

Verb 'protéger' + 'de'.

6

Tu peux ouvrir la persienne, s'il te plaît ?

Can you open the shutter, please?

Polite request with 'pouvoir'.

7

Nous avons acheté de nouvelles persiennes.

We bought new shutters.

Plural adjective 'nouvelles'.

8

Le vent fait bouger la persienne.

The wind makes the shutter move.

Causative construction 'faire' + infinitive.

1

Pendant la sieste, on baisse les persiennes.

During the nap, we lower the shutters.

Use of 'on' as a general 'we'.

2

La lumière passe à travers les persiennes.

Light passes through the shutters.

Prepositional phrase 'à travers'.

3

Ces persiennes sont typiques du sud de la France.

These shutters are typical of the south of France.

Demonstrative adjective 'ces'.

4

Il a laissé la persienne entrouverte pour l'air.

He left the shutter ajar for the air.

Adjective 'entrouverte'.

5

Les persiennes métalliques sont plus solides.

Metal shutters are stronger.

Comparative 'plus... que'.

6

Je préfère les persiennes aux rideaux.

I prefer shutters to curtains.

Verb 'préférer' A 'à' B.

7

L'appartement a des persiennes d'origine.

The apartment has original shutters.

Noun phrase 'd'origine'.

8

N'oublie pas de verrouiller les persiennes avant de partir.

Don't forget to lock the shutters before leaving.

Negative imperative.

1

La façade est embellie par de magnifiques persiennes.

The facade is embellished by magnificent shutters.

Passive voice 'est embellie par'.

2

Il faut entretenir les persiennes pour éviter la rouille.

The shutters must be maintained to avoid rust.

Impersonal 'il faut' + infinitive.

3

Elle observait la rue sans être vue, derrière sa persienne.

She watched the street without being seen, behind her shutter.

Gerund 'sans être vue'.

4

Le règlement de copropriété impose des persiennes grises.

The building rules impose gray shutters.

Complex subject 'règlement de copropriété'.

5

Les persiennes grinçaient sous l'effet du mistral.

The shutters creaked under the effect of the mistral wind.

Imperfect tense for description.

6

On a remplacé les persiennes en bois par du PVC.

The wooden shutters were replaced by PVC.

Replacement construction 'remplacer A par B'.

7

La persienne permet de tamiser la lumière du jour.

The shutter allows for softening the daylight.

Verb 'permettre de'.

8

Malgré les persiennes closes, la chaleur pénétrait dans la pièce.

Despite the closed shutters, the heat entered the room.

Conjunction 'malgré'.

1

L'ombre portée des persiennes dessinait des zébrures sur le sol.

The cast shadow of the shutters drew stripes on the floor.

Literary vocabulary 'zébrures'.

2

Le poète évoque la mélancolie des persiennes délavées par le temps.

The poet evokes the melancholy of shutters faded by time.

Past participle 'délavées' with agent 'par'.

3

Il y avait dans ce salon une atmosphère feutrée, accentuée par les persiennes closes.

There was a muffled atmosphere in this living room, accentuated by the closed shutters.

Adjective 'feutrée'.

4

Les persiennes à la jalousie permettaient d'épier les voisins en toute discrétion.

The louvered shutters allowed for spying on neighbors in complete discretion.

Noun phrase 'à la jalousie'.

5

La restauration des persiennes d'époque exige un savoir-faire artisanal.

The restoration of period shutters requires artisanal expertise.

Subject-verb agreement with 'restauration'.

6

À travers les interstices de la persienne, on devinait l'agitation du marché.

Through the gaps in the shutter, one could make out the bustle of the market.

Vocabulary 'interstices'.

7

Elle aimait le cliquetis familier des persiennes que l'on rabat au crépuscule.

She loved the familiar clicking of the shutters being closed at twilight.

Relative clause 'que l'on rabat'.

8

L'esthétique des persiennes contribue au cachet architectural de la ville.

The aesthetic of the shutters contributes to the city's architectural charm.

Verb 'contribuer à'.

1

Le dispositif des persiennes, hérité des structures orientales, révolutionna l'habitat urbain.

The shutter system, inherited from Oriental structures, revolutionized urban housing.

Appositive phrase 'hérité des...'.

2

Sous l'inclinaison savante des lames de la persienne, la pièce demeurait fraîche.

Under the clever tilt of the shutter's slats, the room remained cool.

Precise vocabulary 'lames'.

3

La persienne n'est pas qu'un simple accessoire ; elle est le filtre entre l'intime et le public.

The shutter is not just a simple accessory; it is the filter between the private and the public.

Restrictive 'ne... que'.

4

Il contemplait les rais de lumière qui s'infiltraient par la persienne défectueuse.

He contemplated the rays of light infiltrating through the defective shutter.

Vocabulary 'rais de lumière'.

5

L'usage des persiennes s'est généralisé au XVIIIe siècle pour pallier les inconvénients du vis-à-vis.

The use of shutters became widespread in the 18th century to overcome the drawbacks of being overlooked.

Verb 'pallier' (no preposition).

6

Les persiennes, par leur jeu de pleins et de vides, modulent l'espace intérieur.

The shutters, through their play of solids and voids, modulate the interior space.

Abstract architectural terminology.

7

On perçoit l'influence méditerranéenne dans la persistance de la persienne en bois peint.

One perceives the Mediterranean influence in the persistence of the painted wooden shutter.

Noun 'persistance'.

8

La persienne agit comme une membrane thermique, protégeant l'alcôve des ardeurs du jour.

The shutter acts like a thermal membrane, protecting the alcove from the day's heat.

Metaphorical usage 'membrane thermique'.

Häufige Kollokationen

persiennes en bois
persiennes métalliques
fermer les persiennes
ouvrir les persiennes
persiennes peintes
persiennes d'origine
entre-bailler les persiennes
persiennes coulissantes
le clapotis des persiennes
réparer une persienne

Häufige Phrasen

À travers les persiennes

— Looking through the slats of the shutters.

Il regardait la pluie à travers les persiennes.

Fermer les persiennes à double tour

— To lock the shutters very securely.

Avant de partir en vacances, ils ferment les persiennes à double tour.

Laisser les persiennes closes

— To keep the shutters shut, usually to stay cool.

En été, il vaut mieux laisser les persiennes closes la journée.

Persiennes à la française

— A specific style of louvered shutters opening outwards.

Cette villa dispose de magnifiques persiennes à la française.

Coup de peinture sur les persiennes

— Giving the shutters a fresh coat of paint.

Mes persiennes auraient bien besoin d'un coup de peinture.

Persiennes qui battent

— Shutters that are banging against the wall in the wind.

J'ai mal dormi à cause des persiennes qui battent.

Derrière les persiennes

— Hiding or being inside behind the shutters.

On se sent protégé derrière les persiennes.

Persiennes ajourées

— Shutters with gaps to let light through.

Les persiennes ajourées créent de belles ombres.

Changer les persiennes

— To replace the shutters.

Nous allons changer les persiennes pour du PVC.

Persiennes en fer

— Iron shutters, often seen in older cities.

Les persiennes en fer sont lourdes à manipuler.

Wird oft verwechselt mit

persienne vs Persane

A Persian woman. Don't use 'persienne' for a person.

persienne vs Store

An indoor blind, usually fabric or plastic. Persiennes are exterior.

persienne vs Volet roulant

A shutter that rolls up. Persiennes swing open.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"Regarder par le trou de la persienne"

— To be curious or nosy about others' business.

Elle passe sa journée à regarder par le trou de la persienne.

informal
"Vivre derrière ses persiennes"

— To live a reclusive or very private life.

Depuis son accident, il vit derrière ses persiennes.

neutral
"Une lumière de persienne"

— A specific type of striped, filtered light.

Le peintre a parfaitement rendu cette lumière de persienne.

artistic
"Fermer ses persiennes au monde"

— To isolate oneself from society.

Après l'échec, elle a fermé ses persiennes au monde.

literary
"Être comme une persienne"

— To be thin or full of gaps (rare/regional).

Ce vieux toit est comme une persienne, il pleut partout.

informal
"L'effet persienne"

— The visual phenomenon of light stripes.

L'effet persienne sur son visage était très beau.

photography
"Persiennes de l'âme"

— A poetic way to describe the eyes or the heart's protection.

Il ouvrit enfin les persiennes de son âme.

poetic
"Battre comme une persienne"

— To be loose or unstable.

Sa porte bat comme une persienne.

informal
"Se cacher derrière les persiennes"

— To avoid a confrontation or being seen.

Il se cache derrière les persiennes quand les impôts passent.

neutral
"Ouvrir les persiennes sur l'avenir"

— To look forward to the future with hope.

Il est temps d'ouvrir les persiennes sur l'avenir.

figurative

Leicht verwechselbar

persienne vs Volet

Both are shutters.

Volet is general; persienne specifically has slats for air.

Un volet plein ne laisse pas passer le jour.

persienne vs Jalousie

Both have slats.

Jalousie often refers to the slats themselves or adjustable ones.

Il a réglé la jalousie pour voir la rue.

persienne vs Rideau

Both cover windows.

Rideau is fabric and interior; persienne is rigid and exterior.

Tire le rideau pour cacher la vue.

persienne vs Contrevent

Both are exterior window covers.

Contrevent is a technical/old term for protection against wind.

Fermez les contrevents, l'orage arrive.

persienne vs Paravent

Sounds slightly similar.

A paravent is a folding screen used inside a room, not on a window.

Elle se change derrière le paravent.

Satzmuster

A1

La persienne est [adjectif].

La persienne est bleue.

A2

Je [verbe] les persiennes.

Je ferme les persiennes.

B1

Il fait [météo], donc je [verbe] les persiennes.

Il fait chaud, donc je baisse les persiennes.

B2

Grâce aux persiennes, on peut [infinitif].

Grâce aux persiennes, on peut garder la fraîcheur.

C1

À travers les persiennes, on aperçoit [nom].

À travers les persiennes, on aperçoit le jardin.

C2

La persienne constitue un rempart contre [nom].

La persienne constitue un rempart contre l'ardeur du soleil.

B1

Des persiennes en [matière].

Des persiennes en métal.

A2

Ouvrez les persiennes !

Ouvrez les persiennes !

Wortfamilie

Substantive

persianage (rare architectural term for the slat work)

Verben

persienner (rarely used, to fit with persiennes)

Adjektive

persienné (fitted with louvers)

Verwandt

Perse
Persan
volet
jalousie
fenêtre

So verwendest du es

frequency

High in written descriptions and daily household talk.

Häufige Fehler
  • Le persienne La persienne

    It is a feminine noun. Using the masculine article is a very common error for beginners.

  • Un persien Un Persan

    Don't confuse the object (persienne) with the nationality (Persan).

  • Fermer le rideau (for shutters) Fermer la persienne

    Curtains (rideaux) and shutters (persiennes) are different objects.

  • Persiene Persienne

    Spelling mistake: forgetting the second 'n'.

  • Using 'persienne' for a rolling shutter. Volet roulant

    A persienne specifically has slats and usually swings open; it doesn't roll into a box.

Tipps

Plural is Key

You will almost always see 'les persiennes' in the plural because windows usually have two shutter panels. Practice the plural form more than the singular.

The Siesta Secret

In France, closing the persiennes during the day is the best way to keep a house cool without air conditioning. It's a vital survival skill in summer!

Adjective Agreement

Since it's feminine, adjectives must agree: 'une persienne bleUE', 'des persiennes casséES'.

Double N

Don't forget the double 'n'. It follows the same spelling rule as many feminine nationalities like 'Canadienne' or 'Indienne'.

Soft 'E'

The final 'e' is silent, but it makes the 'n' sound clear. Make sure you don't cut the word off at 'persi'.

Literary Clues

When you see 'persienne' in a book, look for words like 'lumière', 'ombre', or 'chaleur' nearby to understand the mood.

Renovation Talk

If you are talking about fixing them, use 'poncer' (to sand) and 'peindre' (to paint).

Look for the Slats

If the shutter is solid wood without gaps, call it a 'volet'. If it has slats, call it a 'persienne'.

The 'S' Sound

The 's' in 'persienne' is unvoiced (like 'hiss'), not voiced like a 'z'.

Airbnb Tip

French hosts often expect you to close the persiennes at night for security. It's polite to ask where the latches are.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of a PERSIAN cat peeking through the slats of a PERSIENNE. The 'i' in the middle is like the eye peeking out.

Visuelle Assoziation

Visualize a bright blue window in Provence with wooden slats. The slats are the 'fingers' of the house letting the air in.

Word Web

fenêtre volet lame soleil bois maison façade ombre

Herausforderung

Try to describe the color and material of the shutters on three different houses using the word 'persienne'.

Wortherkunft

Borrowed from the French word 'Persienne', which literally means 'Persian'. It was introduced in the 18th century.

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: Coming from Persia (Iran).

Indo-European (Romance via French).

Kultureller Kontext

No specific sensitivities, but be aware that in some contexts, nationality words used as objects can have complex histories; here it is purely architectural.

In English, we often just say 'shutters' or 'louvers'. Using 'persienne' in English usually refers specifically to the French style.

Marcel Proust's 'À la recherche du temps perdu' The movie 'Amélie' (visuals of Parisian windows) Paintings by Henri Matisse

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Home Improvement

  • poncer les persiennes
  • lasurer les persiennes
  • changer les gonds
  • mesurer la fenêtre

Weather

  • protéger de la chaleur
  • bloquer le vent
  • laisser passer l'air
  • canicule

Real Estate

  • charme de l'ancien
  • façade ravalée
  • persiennes en bon état
  • vue sur cour

Security

  • verrouiller de l'intérieur
  • barre de sécurité
  • fermeture solide
  • cambriolage

Daily Life

  • faire le noir
  • ouvrir en grand
  • claquer au vent
  • baisser les persiennes

Gesprächseinstiege

"Est-ce que tu préfères les persiennes ou les volets roulants ?"

"De quelle couleur sont les persiennes de ta maison ?"

"Penses-tu que les persiennes sont nécessaires pour garder une maison fraîche ?"

"Est-il facile de peindre des persiennes soi-même ?"

"As-tu déjà vu les persiennes colorées dans le sud de la France ?"

Tagebuch-Impulse

Décris la vue depuis ta fenêtre à travers une persienne entrouverte.

Imagine que tu rénoves une vieille maison française. Quelles persiennes choisis-tu ?

Raconte une matinée d'été où tu ouvres tes persiennes sur un nouveau paysage.

Pourquoi la persienne est-elle un symbole de la vie privée selon toi ?

Écris un court poème sur le jeu de lumière créé par une persienne.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

A 'volet' is a general term for any shutter. A 'persienne' specifically refers to a shutter with horizontal slats that allow air and light to pass through even when closed.

It is feminine: une persienne, la persienne.

Usually, persiennes are exterior. If they are inside and made of slats, they are often called 'stores vénitiens'.

The name comes from 'Perse' (Persia), as the style was believed to have originated there before becoming popular in Europe.

Yes, they are a staple of Haussmann-style architecture in Paris, often painted gray or black.

Traditionally wood or iron, but modern ones can be aluminum or PVC.

You say 'fermer les persiennes'.

Yes, especially the metal ones, they add a layer of security to the window.

No, a Persian person is 'un Persan' (m) or 'une Persane' (f). 'Persienne' is only for the object.

It sounds like the English word 'pen' or the end of 'Parisienne'.

Teste dich selbst 200 Fragen

writing

Describe your favorite color for a persienne and why.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

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writing

Write a sentence using 'persienne' and 'soleil'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

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writing

Explain why people in the South of France use persiennes.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Describe the difference between a persienne and a store.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Write a short story about a child peeking through a persienne.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Compare wooden persiennes with metal ones in terms of durability.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Describe the play of light created by a persienne in a dark room.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Write a formal letter asking your landlord to repair the persiennes.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Discuss the architectural importance of the persienne in Paris.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

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writing

Create an advertisement for a company that sells high-quality persiennes.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Describe a rainy day as seen through a persienne.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Explain the etymology of the word 'persienne'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

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writing

What are the disadvantages of having wooden persiennes?

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Write a dialogue between two neighbors about their new persiennes.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

How do persiennes contribute to the 'charme' of a house?

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Describe the sound a persienne makes in the wind.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Translate: 'The light through the shutters was beautiful.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Write a list of 5 verbs you can use with 'persienne'.

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Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Describe a house in Provence using the word 'persienne'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

Why is 'persienne' a feminine noun? (Explain the grammar rule).

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

Pronounce 'la persienne' clearly.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Say 'J'ouvre les persiennes' three times fast.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Describe your window at home using 'persienne' or 'volet'.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Explain the benefits of persiennes in French.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Tell a story about a windy night and a banging persienne.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Argue for wooden persiennes over plastic ones.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Describe the aesthetic of a Parisian street in French.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Explain how a persienne works to a child.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Discuss the etymology of 'persienne'.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Roleplay: You are at a hardware store buying new persiennes.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Describe the shadows created by a persienne.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

How do you maintain wooden shutters? Explain in French.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Discuss the difference between privacy and isolation using 'persienne'.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Say: 'La persienne est bleue et belle.'

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Talk about a time you forgot to close your shutters.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Describe the view through a persienne in the morning.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

What is the best material for a persienne? Why?

Read this aloud:

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speaking

How does the light change when you close the persiennes?

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Explain the phrase 'regarder à travers les persiennes'.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Describe a famous French building that has persiennes.

Read this aloud:

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listening

Listen to the word: 'persienne'. Is it masculine or feminine?

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listening

Identify the sound: 'grincement'. What is happening to the persienne?

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listening

Listen to a sentence: 'Ouvre les persiennes'. Is the person asking to open or close?

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listening

Listen to: 'Les persiennes en bois'. What is the material?

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listening

Listen to: 'Il y a du vent, les persiennes claquent'. Why are they making noise?

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listening

Listen to a description: 'Elles sont grises et en métal'. What is being described?

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listening

Listen to: 'Ferme la persienne de gauche'. Which one should you close?

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listening

Listen to: 'La lumière filtre'. What is the light doing?

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listening

Listen to: 'Persienne à lames mobiles'. Are the slats fixed or movable?

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listening

Listen to: 'Un coup de peinture'. What does the persienne need?

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listening

Listen to: 'Elles sont d'origine'. Are they new or old?

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listening

Listen to: 'Le loquet est cassé'. What part is broken?

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listening

Listen to: 'Une persienne entrouverte'. Is it fully open?

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listening

Listen to: 'Les persiennes de la villa'. Where are they?

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listening

Listen to: 'Le mistral fait bouger les persiennes'. What is moving them?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
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/ 200 correct

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