AtelierLe journal · French, understood
English

Language

The course

Updated

Vocabulary list

French home-security vocabulary: locks, keys and entry devices

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Name twelve visible home-security objects in French, from a door cylinder to an entry badge, with picture cards and feature-matching questions.

In short

La serrure is the lock; la clé is the key. For a shared entrance, you may also need un badge or un interphone. The cards separate twelve physical objects by their visible features.

Devant l’immeuble
  1. Visiteur

    Je suis devant le portail. Où est l’interphone ?

    I’m at the gate. Where is the intercom?

  2. Hôte

    À gauche, à côté du digicode.

    On the left, next to the entry keypad.

  3. Visiteur

    D’accord, je le vois.

    OK, I can see it.

Locks and keys

la serruredoor lockLa serrure de la porte est neuve.
le cylindrelock cylinderIl faut remplacer le cylindre de la serrure.
la clékeyJ’ai laissé ma clé sur la table.
le cadenaspadlockLe cadenas ferme le portail.

Fittings on the door

le verroudoor boltLe verrou est en haut de la porte.
la chaîne de sécuritédoor security chainLa chaîne de sécurité est fixée à la porte.
l’entrebâilleur (m.)door restrictorL’entrebâilleur permet de garder la porte entrouverte.
le judasdoor viewer; peepholeJe regarde par le judas.

Devices at the entrance

l’interphone (m.)intercomLa voix du visiteur sort de l’interphone.
le visiophonevideo intercomL’écran du visiophone s’allume.
le digicodeentry keypadLe digicode est à côté du portail.
le badge d’accèsentry fobJ’ai un badge d’accès pour l’immeuble.

la serrure / le cylindrelock / cylinder

Focus: the complete mechanism and the part that receives the key

Le cylindre fait partie de la serrure.
The cylinder is part of the lock.

l’interphone / le visiophoneaudio intercom / video intercom

Focus: the pictured video device has a screen

Je vois l’entrée sur l’écran du visiophone.
I can see the entrance on the video intercom screen.

Recognise the entrance fittings

Question 1No account needed
Which picture shows a separate lock with a curved metal shackle?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

le cadenas. Le cadenas is the padlock with the curved metal shackle.

Question 2No account needed
Which object has a screen showing the entrance?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

le visiophone. The visible screen distinguishes le visiophone in these cards.

Question 3No account needed
Which object is a small fob carried on a keyring?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

le badge d’accès. Le badge d’accès is the small entry fob on the keyring.

Question 4No account needed
Which device is a wall-mounted grid of keys?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

le digicode. The grid of keys belongs to le digicode, the entry keypad.

Keep going