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French plumbing vocabulary: 12 pipes, taps and fittings in pictures

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Name twelve visible plumbing parts in French, from a tap and trap to an elbow and washer. Compare their shapes, then match descriptions to picture cards.

In short

A pipe or hose is un tuyau, a tap is un robinet and the trap below a sink is un siphon. For a loose fitting, describe its shape: un coude turns a corner and un té has three openings. The twelve cards below show each component separately.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

A simple exposed U-shaped trap beneath a white washbasin, plain tap above, loose brass elbow fitting and flat black rubber washer on the floor nearby.
Le siphon sits beneath le lavabo. Illustration: Atelier

Pipes and changes of direction

le tuyaupipe or hoseLe tuyau passe sous l’évier.
le tube en cuivrecopper tubeCe tube en cuivre est droit.
le coudeelbow fittingCe coude forme un angle droit.
le tétee fittingLe té a trois ouvertures.

Joining and sealing

le raccordconnectorCe raccord relie deux tuyaux de tailles différentes.
le manchonstraight couplingCe manchon est court et droit.
le jointseal or washerLe joint est un petit anneau noir.
la vanneshut-off valveLa vanne a une poignée rouge.

At the sink

le robinettapLe robinet est au-dessus du lavabo.
le siphonsink trapLe siphon est sous le lavabo.
la bondewaste fittingLa bonde est au fond du lavabo.
le flexible de doucheshower hoseLe flexible de douche est argenté.

Twelve visible plumbing components

Shape clues you can say
Shape or positionFrench descriptionItem
A right angleIl forme un angle droit.le coude
Three openingsIl a trois ouvertures.le té
A straight sleeveIl est court et droit.le manchon
Under the basinIl est sous le lavabo.le siphon

Un raccord is a broad word for a connector. A coude, a té and a manchon are more specific shapes; the raccord card here shows a reducing connector. Un joint is the seal, while une bonde is the waste fitting at the basin’s drain opening.

Devant une photo du lavabo
  1. Cliente

    Il y a une petite pièce noire dans le sac.

    There’s a small black part in the bag.

  2. Vendeur

    Elle est plate et ronde ?

    Is it flat and round?

  3. Cliente

    Oui. Je cherche un joint comme celui-ci.

    Yes. I’m looking for a seal like this one.

  4. Vendeur

    Et la pièce qui forme un U ?

    And the part that forms a U?

  5. Cliente

    C’est le siphon qui est sous le lavabo.

    That’s the trap under the washbasin.

Question 1No account needed
Find the fitting with three openings.Cette pièce a la forme d’un T.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

le té. Le té has the shape of a T and three openings; the other two fittings have two.

Question 2No account needed
Which card shows the seal?C’est un anneau noir en caoutchouc.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

le joint. The black rubber ring is le joint. The waste fitting shown is metal.

Question 3No account needed
Which part is below the basin?Cette pièce forme un U sous le lavabo.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

le siphon. The U-shaped part below the basin is le siphon, the sink trap.

Question 4No account needed
Choose the straight coupling.Je cherche la pièce courte et droite avec deux ouvertures de même taille.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

le manchon. The straight sleeve with equal openings is le manchon. The elbow bends.

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