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French screws and fasteners vocabulary: 12 small hardware items

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Tell a screw from a bolt, a washer from a nut and a hook from an eye screw in French. Learn twelve fixings with picture cards and shop questions.

In short

A screw is une vis, a nut is un écrou and a washer is une rondelle. Here, un boulon is the screw-and-nut assembly: look for both parts. These twelve words help you name a small fixing by its point, thread, hole or curved end.

Steel screws, hexagonal nuts, flat washers and hooks on a French workshop counter.
Une vis, un écrou and une rondelle have different shapes. Illustration: Atelier

Threads and rings

la visscrewCette vis a une pointe et une tête plate.
le boulonbolt and nut assemblyLe boulon comprend une vis et un écrou.
l’écroum.nutCet écrou a six côtés et un trou fileté.
la rondellewasherLa rondelle est plate et ronde.

Fixing into a surface

la chevillewall plugCette cheville en plastique est grise.
le clounailCe clou est long et pointu.
le rivetrivetLe rivet a une petite tête ronde.
l’agrafef.stapleL’agrafe a deux petites pointes.

Holding and hanging

la goupillesplit pinCette goupille a deux branches.
le crochethookLe crochet est ouvert au bout.
le pitoneye screwCe piton a un anneau fermé.
la tige filetéethreaded rodLa tige filetée n’a pas de tête.

Which small part is it?

Four visible clues
French clueMeaningLook for
une pointea pointed tipa screw, nail or staple
un trou filetéa threaded holea nut
un trou lissea smooth holea washer
un anneau ferméa closed ringan eye screw

la vis / le clouscrew / nail

Focus: thread versus smooth shaft

La vis a un filet ; le clou est lisse.
The screw has a thread; the nail is smooth.

le crochet / le pitonhook / eye screw

Focus: open curve versus closed ring

Je cherche le piton qui a un anneau fermé.
I’m looking for the eye screw with a closed ring.

Au comptoir de la quincaillerie
  1. Client

    Bonjour, je cherche des rondelles.

    Hello, I’m looking for some washers.

  2. Vendeuse

    Vous voulez quelle taille ?

    What size would you like?

  3. Client

    La même taille que celle-ci, s’il vous plaît.

    The same size as this one, please.

  4. Vendeuse

    D’accord. Et avec ça ?

    All right. Anything else?

  5. Client

    Deux écrous et quatre vis courtes.

    Two nuts and four short screws.

Question 1No account needed
Which card matches this description?C’est un anneau plat avec un trou lisse.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

la rondelle. La rondelle is the flat ring with a smooth hole; the nut has an internal thread.

Question 2No account needed
Choose the object with a closed eye.Je cherche une pièce avec un anneau fermé et une partie filetée.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

le piton. Le piton has a closed eye and a threaded shaft. The hook has an open curve.

Question 3No account needed
Which card shows both pieces?Il y a une vis et un écrou ensemble.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

le boulon. The boulon card shows the screw with its matching nut, forming one assembly.

Question 4No account needed
Name the two-legged fixing.Cette petite pièce a deux pointes parallèles.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

l’agrafe. L’agrafe has two parallel pointed legs; the nail has one pointed shaft.

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