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B1  ·  30 words

Looking for a flat in French

The advert, the viewing, the keys.

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From these 30 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.

More about this list

The list for a fortnight of viewings. The first entry is la résidence, and it is not what the English word means. In a French advert une résidence is a whole managed development: a block or a group of blocks with a caretaker, shared grounds and a service charge — l’appartement est dans une résidence calme is telling you about the estate, not about the flat. English « residence » is a formal word for where one person lives, so « I live in a residence » reads as either a euphemism or a mistake; and « residency » is something else again, a legal status or a doctor’s post. The English for what the advert means is « a development » or simply « a block of flats ». The French word also runs into official language — le permis de résidence, la résidence principale — which is the sense an English reader will assume and the one the advert does not intend.

The words

Verb (2)

s’installerto move inVerbB1
Ils s’installent le premier du mois.They are moving in on the first of the month.
rafraîchirto freshen up, to redecorateVerbB1
Ils rafraîchissent les murs avant l’arrivée.They are freshening up the walls before the new tenants arrive.

Adjective (5)

Grammar for these: Adjective agreement · Where the adjective goes

équipéfittedAdjectiveB1
La cuisine est équipée.The kitchen is fitted.
non meubléunfurnishedAdjectiveB1
Le studio est loué non meublé.The studio flat is let unfurnished.
spacieuxspaciousAdjectiveB1
Le séjour est spacieux et clair.The living room is spacious and light.
douilletcosyAdjectiveB1
La chambre sous le toit est douillette.The room under the roof is cosy.
abordableaffordableAdjectiveB1
Ce quartier reste abordable.This district is still affordable.

Phrase (7)

quitter les lieuxto vacate the premisesPhraseB1
Il faut quitter les lieux avant midi.You have to vacate the premises before midday.
charges comprisesbills includedPhraseB1
Le loyer est de six cents euros charges comprises.The rent is six hundred euros with bills included.
remettre les clésto hand over the keysPhraseB1
On remet les clés à la fin de la visite.The keys are handed over at the end of the viewing.
mettre en locationto let outPhraseB1
Elle met le studio en location en septembre.She is letting out the studio flat in September.
faire une réclamationto make a complaintPhraseB1
Nous avons fait une réclamation par écrit.We made a complaint in writing.
mal isolépoorly insulatedPhraseB1
Le grenier est mal isolé.The loft is poorly insulated.
donner son congéto give noticePhraseB1
Il a donné son congé en mars.He gave notice in March.

Noun (f) (6)

Grammar for these: Definite article: le, la, les · Indefinite article: un, une

la résidencethe residential developmentNoun (f)B1
La résidence compte quarante logements.The development has forty flats.
la bailleressethe landladyNoun (f)B1
La bailleresse habite au même étage.The landlady lives on the same floor.
les charges locativesthe service chargesNoun (f)B1
Les charges locatives augmentent chaque année.The service charges go up every year.
la visite du logementthe viewingNoun (f)B1
La visite du logement dure dix minutes.The viewing lasts ten minutes.
l’annoncethe advertNoun (f)B1
L’annonce ne montre aucune photo.The advert shows no photographs at all.
la vétustéfair wear and tearNoun (f)B1
La vétusté n’est pas facturée au locataire.Fair wear and tear is not charged to the tenant.

Noun (m) (10)

Grammar for these: Definite article: le, la, les · Indefinite article: un, une

l’occupantthe occupantNoun (m)B1
L’occupant précédent a laissé les rideaux.The previous occupant left the curtains behind.
le garantthe guarantorNoun (m)B1
Le dossier demande un garant.The application asks for a guarantor.
le contrat de locationthe tenancy agreementNoun (m)B1
Le contrat de location court sur trois ans.The tenancy agreement runs for three years.
le délai de résiliationthe notice periodNoun (m)B1
Le délai de résiliation est de trois mois.The notice period is three months.
l’agent immobilierthe estate agentNoun (m)B1
L’agent immobilier arrive avec les clés.The estate agent arrives with the keys.
le premier étagethe first floorNoun (m)B1
L’appartement est au premier étage.The flat is on the first floor.
le descriptif du logementthe property descriptionNoun (m)B1
Le descriptif du logement mentionne deux caves.The property description mentions two cellars.
le dégâtthe damageNoun (m)B1
Le dégât vient d’une fuite au plafond.The damage comes from a leak in the ceiling.
le crédit immobilierthe mortgageNoun (m)B1
Le crédit immobilier court sur vingt ans.The mortgage runs for twenty years.
le colocatairethe flatmateNoun (m)B1
Mon colocataire travaille de nuit.My flatmate works nights.

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