Vocabulary list
French lighting vocabulary: lamps, bulbs and shades
Twelve lighting words in French with pictures: l'ampoule, l'abat-jour, le lampadaire, l'applique, l'interrupteur, la guirlande. Change a bulb and talk about light.
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- 12 words
- Gender marked
- With examples
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In short
A bulb is une ampoule, a lampshade un abat-jour, a floor lamp un lampadaire, a wall light une applique, a ceiling light un plafonnier and the switch l'interrupteur. To switch on: allumer; to switch off: éteindre.
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Picture cards: twelve lighting words
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The words with examples
How do you say turn on and turn off the light in French?
| French | English |
|---|---|
| allumer / éteindre la lumière | switch the light on / off |
| L'ampoule a grillé. | The bulb has blown. |
| changer une ampoule | change a bulb |
| Il fait sombre. | It's dark. |
| une ampoule LED | an LED bulb |
Griller (to grill) is what a bulb does when it blows: l'ampoule a grillé. In shops, bulbs are sold by fitting: à vis (screw, E27 or E14) or à baïonnette (bayonet, B22, common in the UK but rare in France). Bring the old bulb if you're unsure.