French to English Real Estate Terms Glossary
Searching for a property in another language can be difficult, even if you speak or understand the language at a high level. French property adverts and classifieds are often confusing and use slang, acronyms and abbreviations that make finding out if a property has what you’re looking for very stressful. To help, we have compiled a list of some of the most common terms you’re likely to come across during your search.
If you spot a term that you think should be added to the list, please drop us a comment in the box at the bottom of the page!
| French Term: | English meaning / translation |
|---|---|
| Abri | Shelter; often a shed or outbuilding (small) |
| Acceuil | Welcome / Reception |
| Acompte | Deposit / Down-payment |
| Acte Authentique | Legal document - deed of sale. |
| Affaire | Bargain |
| Agence immobilière | Real-Estate Agency |
| Aménagé | Converted / Equipped |
| Ancien (anc.) | Older building |
| Année de la construction | Year in which the property was built |
| Appartement meublé à louer | Furnished flat/apartment for rent |
| appartement à vendre | Apartment for sale |
| Ardoise | Slate roof |
| arrondissement (arr) | Urban district |
| ascenseur (asc) | Lift / Elevator |
| assurance habitation | Home insurance |
| Atelier | Workshop |
| Attenant | Adjacent / adjoining / attached |
| Attestation d'acquisition | A written certificate from the notaire to confirm the property purchase |
| bail | Lease |
| balcon (blc) | Balcony |
| batiment | Building |
| belles prestations | Luxurious / Quality fixtures and fittings |
| bon de visite | A form you sign before viewing a house with a French estate agent. Upon signing this document, you agree not to make an offer on the house directly to the seller. |
| box | Enclosed car garage |
| buanderie | Utility / Laundry Room |
| bureau(x) | Office(s) |
| cabanon | Shed / Toolshed - usually made of brick or stone |
| cadastre | Land / Planning registry |
| calme | Quiet |
| caution | Damage deposit |
| cave | Cellar |
| cellier | Store-room / Pantry |
| certificat d'urbanisme (CU) | Town planning certificate |
| chambre (ch, chbr) | Bedroom |
| charges locatives | service and maintenance charges for collective amenities e.g. Water, Gas |
| chauffage | Heating |
| chauffage au gaz | Gas heating |
| chauffage au mazout | Oil heating |
| chauffage collectif | Shared heating |
| cheminée | Chimney |
| Chiffres d'affaires (CA) | Sales Figures/Turnover |
| clause suspensive | A clause within the Compromis de Vente outlining any conditions that must be met before the final deed of sale is completed |
| coin cuisine | Kitchenette |
| combles | Attic |
| commerce | Business / Shop |
| Compromis de Vente | Preliminary / Provisional Sale Agreement between the two parties |
| concierge/gardien (gard) | Caretaker |
| concubinage | To be 'en concubinage' is to live with a partner but not be married |
| constructible | Suitable for development. Planning laws do not prohibit this land being built-on |
| copropriété | Shared property (usually apartments) |
| cuisine (cuis) | Kitchen |
| cuisine americaine | Open-plan kitchen. Not necessarily in the American style |
| cuisine aménagée | Fitted kitchen |
| cuisine équipée | Equipped kitchen |
| de plain pied | Single-storey |
| digicode | Security code pad - usually to allow entry into building |
| dossier de candidature | Application form to rent a property |
| douche (dche) | Shower |
| dépendances | Outbuildings |
| dépot de garantie | Security deposit |
| EDF/GDF | Utility companies - Electricité de France and Gaz de France |
| en (x) niveaux | (x number of) storeys |
| en bon état | In good condition |
| entrée (ent) | Entrance |
| exclusivité | Available through only one agent |
| expert comptable | Certified Public Accountant |
| exposé sud | South-facing |
| FNAIM - Federation Nationale des Agents Immobilier | French National Association of estate agents, of which Antique Immo is a proud member |
| fosse septique | Septic tank |
| frais d'agence inclus (FAI) | Agency fees included |
| garage (gge) | Same as a 'box', above: Enclosed car garage |
| grange | Barn |
| grenier | Loft / Attic |
| hauteur sous plafond (HSP) | Ceiling height |
| honoraires d'agence | Agency fees |
| immeuble (imm) | Building |
| immobilier | Real-estate |
| jardin (jard.) | Garden |
| jumelé | Semi-detached |
| largeur (larg.) | Width |
| logement meublé | Furnished property |
| logement vide | Unfurnished property |
| loyer | Rent |
| lu et approuvé | Read and approved (usually appears on contracts) |
| maison d'amis | Guest house |
| neuf | As-new / new condition |
| nombre de pièces | Number of rooms (only living room and bedrooms) |
| nombreux (nbx) | Many |
| notaire | Notary |
| parking | Parking space |
| permis de construire | Planning permission / Building permit |
| pièce (p) | Room |
| placards | Cupboards (built-in) |
| porte (pte) | Door |
| prix (px) | Price |
| préavis | Advance notice period |
| prêt immobilier | Mortgage |
| quartier (quart) | Neighbourhood |
| rangements | Storage areas |
| restanques | Terraced |
| rez de chaussée (rdc) | Ground floor |
| rez de jardin (rdj) | Ground floor |
| résidence (rés) | Building |
| salle de bain (sdb) | Bathroom |
| salle de bains (baignoire) | Bathroom (with bath) |
| salle de douche | Shower |
| salle de séjour (séj ss) | Living room / lounge |
| salle d'eau (s.d'eau) | Washroom with shower |
| salle à manger (sàm) | Dining room |
| sans vis-a-vis | Not overlooked |
| sous-sol (s.sol, s/s) | Basement |
| sous terrain (s/terrain) | Below ground |
| standing (std) | Luxury (building) |
| superficie totale | Floor space (total) |
| surface habitable (SH) | Total living space |
| sur terrain de | Property size |
| séjour (séj) | Lounge |
| séparé (sép.) | Separated |
| T - Type (T3, T4) | Property type and size classification. Apartments are usually 'T' and Houses are usually 'F'. The number that follows specifies the number of 'pièces'; i.e. the number of rooms excluding the kitchen and bathroom. Example T3 = Appartement trois-pièces |
| terrasse | Terrace / Large balcony / Patio area |
| toiture | Roof |
| tout confort (tt cft.) | Well equipped / Mod-cons |
| tout à l'égout | Connected to mains sewerage system |
| très bon état (TBE) | Very good condition |
| TVA (taxe sur la valeur ajoutée) | VAT (Value Added Tax) |
| vue imprenable | Unobstructed view |
| WC séparées | Seperate toilets |
| À rafraichir | In need of re-decoration |
| étage (et.) | Floor |
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