Click here to go to 
AngloINFO 's front pageINFOrmation

 Real estate jargon

 Send | Print 

When reading the property-related classified advertisements in French newspapers and magazines, it can help to know some of the key jargon terms.

Commonly-seen words and phrases:
French  English explanation
2, 3, 4 pièces 2, 3 or 4 rooms (plus kitchen and bathroom)
maison 4 pièces 4 roomed house plus kitchen and bathroom
T1, T2, F1, F2 etc. Technically, an apartment (T) or house (F) with the specified number of rooms (pièces), although you can find T being used for houses and F for apartments too.
  • Example: F2 (appartement deux-pièces) = one-bedroom apartment
  • Example: T2 (appartement deux-pièces) = one-bedroom apartment
à rafraichir to be redone
ancien (anc.) old building (built more than 20 years ago) 
année de la construction year built
arrondissement (arr) district/borough
ascenseur (asc) lift
assurance habitation home insurance
balcon (blc) balcony
belles prestations attractive/quality fittings/fixtures
branchement lave-linge washing machine outlet
cabanon stone building with a roof on it (local usage)
calme quiet
caution damage deposit (rental property)
cave cellar
+ charges rental price excludes building charges
chambre (ch, chbr) bedroom
charges comprises (cc) including building charges
charges locatives monthly fees for collective amenities
chauffage collectif (shared) heating included in building charges
chauffage gaz gas heating
concierge/gardien  superintendent
copropriété shared property (apartments)
coin cuisine breakfast nook
cuisine (cuis) kitchen
cuisine americaine open-plan kitchen
cuisine équipée equipped kitchen
cuisine aménagée fitted kitchen
de plain pied single storey/bungalow
dépendances outbuildings
dépot de garantie rental deposit
digicode security door
dossier de candidature rental application form
douche (dche) shower
en 3 niveaux 3 storey
en bon état in good condition/repair
entrée (ent) entry
étage (et.) floor
état des lieux condition of property upon moving in or leaving
exclusivité available with this agent only
exposé sud south facing
frais d'agence inclus (FAI) inclusive of agency fees
garage (gge)/box  garage
gardien (gard)  caretaker
Genoise(s) the layer of roof tiles as seen from the edge. The more layers the better
hauteur sous plafond (HSP) ceiling clearance
honoraires d'agence agency fees
immeuble (imm) building or residence
immobilier  real estate
jardin (jard.) garden
jumelé semi-detached
largeur (larg.) width
logement meublé furnished rental or property
logement vide unfurnished rental or property
longère agglomeration of buildings in a line, normally only 6 metres deep (typical to Brittany)
loyer rent
maison d'amis separate guest house 
mazet (or maset) separate cottage (usually the original on the land)
meublé/équipé furnished
neuf all-new construction
nombre de pieces total number of rooms including reception and bedrooms
nombreux (nbx) many
parking parking place included
penderies wardrobe, hanging closet
pièce (p) room
pierre de taille (pdt) stone building
placards built-in cupboards/wall cupboards
porte (pte ) door
préavis notice of intent to vacate premises
prix (px ) rent
quartier (quart) district/neighbourhood
rangements built-in cupboards
récent built in the last decade
résidence (rés)  building
restanques  terraced land usually with drystone walls
rez de chaussée (RDC/rdc) ground floor
salle de bain (sdb) bathroom
salle de bains (baignoire) bathroom with bath
salle de douche shower
salle d'eau (s.d'eau) bathroom with shower
salle à manger (sàm) dining room
salle de séjour (séj ss) living room
séjour (séj) lounge/sitting room
séparé (sép.) separated
sous-sol (s.sol, s/s) basement
sous terrain (s/terrain) below ground level
stand (std) quality/luxury building
sur terrain de... property size
surface habitable (SH) total living space
terrasse terrace, paved exterior area, large balcony
très bon état (TBE) in good repair
tout confort (tt cft.) well equipped
WC séparées separate toilet

^ Top of Page ^


Page generated at 04:23; Saturday, May 10, 2008
This is the "Real estate jargon" INFOrmation Page at AngloINFO .
AngloINFO 's INFOrmation Pages provide an online encyclopaedia covering all aspects of "".
AngloINFO is your information source, for everyone living in or moving to , covering everything from the property and real estate contacts you need before and during your move to , to all aspects of everyday life in the international community for those living their lives in .
Copyright © 2000-2008 AngloINFO Limited. All rights reserved.