Paris Plumbing Glossary: 50 French-English Terms
Why This Glossary Matters
When a pipe bursts at midnight in your Paris apartment, knowing the right French word can be the difference between a quick fix and hours of confusion. Even if you call an English-speaking plumber, you may need to communicate with your landlord, building manager, or insurance company in French. This glossary covers the 50 most essential plumbing terms you will encounter.
Emergency Terms
Fuite (leak) | Fuite d'eau (water leak) | Inondation (flooding) | Tuyau casse (burst pipe) | Urgence plomberie (plumbing emergency) | Couper l'eau (shut off the water) | Vanne d'arret (shut-off valve) | Robinet d'arret (stop cock) | Disjoncteur (circuit breaker) | Compteur d'eau (water meter)
Fixtures and Appliances
Robinet (faucet/tap) | Mitigeur (mixer tap) | Evier (kitchen sink) | Lavabo (bathroom sink) | Baignoire (bathtub) | Douche (shower) | Toilettes / WC (toilet) | Chasse d'eau (toilet flush mechanism) | Chauffe-eau (water heater) | Cumulus (electric water heater tank) | Ballon d'eau chaude (hot water tank) | Lave-vaisselle (dishwasher) | Machine a laver (washing machine)
Pipes and Parts
Tuyau (pipe) | Tuyauterie (piping/plumbing system) | Canalisation (drain pipe/sewer pipe) | Siphon (trap/U-bend) | Joint (seal/gasket) | Raccord (fitting/connector) | Coude (elbow joint) | Te (T-junction) | Vanne (valve) | Clapet (non-return valve) | Colonne montante (riser/vertical stack) | Evacuation (drainage/waste pipe)
Common Problems
Bouchon (blockage/clog) | Canalisation bouchee (blocked drain) | Fuite (leak) | Goutte a goutte (drip) | Calcaire (limescale) | Tartre (scale buildup) | Corrosion (corrosion) | Gel des canalisations (frozen pipes) | Refoulement (sewage backup) | Mauvaise odeur (bad smell) | Pression faible (low water pressure) | Bruit dans les tuyaux (noisy pipes/water hammer)
People and Places
Plombier (plumber) | Chauffagiste (heating engineer) | Gardien/Concierge (building caretaker) | Syndic (property management company) | Proprietaire (landlord/owner) | Locataire (tenant) | Cave (basement/cellar) | Palier (landing) | Gaine technique (utility shaft) | Partie commune (common area)
Insurance and Administration
Assurance habitation (home insurance) | Degat des eaux (water damage) | Constat amiable (mutual damage report) | Declaration de sinistre (damage claim) | Lettre recommandee (registered letter) | Devis (quote/estimate) | Facture (invoice) | TVA (VAT) | Intervention (service call) | Diagnostic (diagnosis/assessment)
Useful Phrases for Emergencies
"J'ai une fuite d'eau" — I have a water leak. "L'eau ne s'arrete pas" — The water won't stop. "Ou est le robinet d'arret?" — Where is the shut-off valve? "Pouvez-vous envoyer un plombier?" — Can you send a plumber? "C'est urgent" — It is urgent. "Je ne parle pas bien francais" — I don't speak French well. "Combien ca coute?" — How much does it cost? "Pouvez-vous me donner un devis?" — Can you give me a quote?
