Meaning
To wash plates, cups, and cutlery after a meal.
Cultural Background
In France, it's common to leave the 'vaisselle' to soak in the sink (laisser tremper) if the food is stuck, but leaving it overnight is often seen as lazy. In Quebec, you might hear 'laver la vaisselle' more frequently than in France, and sometimes 'vaisselle' is used in the plural, though 'faire la vaisselle' is still perfectly understood. Belgians use 'faire la vaisselle' just like the French, but they might use different words for the items being washed, like 'essuie' for a dish towel (instead of 'torchon'). In many West African French-speaking countries, 'faire la vaisselle' is a daily task often done outside or in a courtyard, and it remains a very social, communal activity.
The 'Faire' Rule
In French, most household chores use 'faire' (faire le lit, faire les courses, faire le ménage). Memorize them as a group!
Singular Only
Never say 'les vaisselles'. Even if there are 100 plates, it's still 'la vaisselle'.
Meaning
To wash plates, cups, and cutlery after a meal.
The 'Faire' Rule
In French, most household chores use 'faire' (faire le lit, faire les courses, faire le ménage). Memorize them as a group!
Singular Only
Never say 'les vaisselles'. Even if there are 100 plates, it's still 'la vaisselle'.
Be Polite
In France, always offer to help with the 'vaisselle' at a dinner party. It's a great way to show you've mastered French etiquette.
The 'Plonge'
If you hear someone say they 'font la plonge', they are talking about a professional job, not just cleaning up at home.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb 'faire'.
Chaque soir, nous ________ la vaisselle après le dîner.
The subject is 'nous', so the correct conjugation of 'faire' is 'faisons'.
Which of these is the correct way to say 'I did the dishes'?
Hier, j'ai...
In the past tense, we use 'fait' (past participle of faire) and 'la vaisselle' is always singular.
Match the French phrase with its English equivalent.
Match the following:
These are all related kitchen chores.
Fill in the missing word in this dialogue.
A: Tu peux m'aider ? B: Oui, je vais ________ la vaisselle.
'Faire' is the most natural verb to use in this collocation.
Which phrase fits best in a professional restaurant setting?
You are applying for a job in a kitchen.
'Faire la plonge' is the specific professional term for dishwashing in a restaurant.
🎉 Score: /5
Visual Learning Aids
Manual vs. Machine
Practice Bank
5 exercisesChaque soir, nous ________ la vaisselle après le dîner.
The subject is 'nous', so the correct conjugation of 'faire' is 'faisons'.
Hier, j'ai...
In the past tense, we use 'fait' (past participle of faire) and 'la vaisselle' is always singular.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are all related kitchen chores.
A: Tu peux m'aider ? B: Oui, je vais ________ la vaisselle.
'Faire' is the most natural verb to use in this collocation.
You are applying for a job in a kitchen.
'Faire la plonge' is the specific professional term for dishwashing in a restaurant.
🎉 Score: /5
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, it is correct and understood, but 'faire la vaisselle' is the much more common idiomatic expression.
Yes, it is always 'la vaisselle'.
You would usually say 'Je lave un verre'. 'Faire la vaisselle' implies the whole set of items from a meal.
It's 'un lave-vaisselle'. Note that it's masculine, even though 'vaisselle' is feminine.
Yes, it is a universal phrase across the Francophonie.
There isn't a direct opposite, but 'salir la vaisselle' means to get the dishes dirty.
Yes, it covers everything used for cooking and eating.
French often uses 'faire' for tasks that involve a process or a routine chore.
It is 'faire LA vaisselle' (definite article) because you are doing 'the' dishes from the meal.
Je déteste faire la vaisselle.
Related Phrases
Faire la plonge
specialized formTo wash dishes in a restaurant.
Essuyer la vaisselle
builds onTo dry the dishes.
Ranger la vaisselle
builds onTo put the dishes away.
Un lave-vaisselle
similarA dishwasher machine.
Laver la vaisselle
synonymTo wash the dishes.
Se taper la vaisselle
informalTo be stuck doing the dishes.
