B1 · 30 words
Looking for a flat in French
The advert, the viewing, the keys.
Practise this list
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
rafraîchirto freshen up, to redecorateVerbB1
Adjective (5)
Grammar for these: Adjective agreement · Where the adjective goes
équipéfittedAdjectiveB1
non meubléunfurnishedAdjectiveB1
spacieuxspaciousAdjectiveB1
douilletcosyAdjectiveB1
abordableaffordableAdjectiveB1
Phrase (7)
quitter les lieuxto vacate the premisesPhraseB1
charges comprisesbills includedPhraseB1
remettre les clésto hand over the keysPhraseB1
mettre en locationto let outPhraseB1
faire une réclamationto make a complaintPhraseB1
mal isolépoorly insulatedPhraseB1
donner son congéto give noticePhraseB1
Noun (f) (6)
Grammar for these: Definite article: le, la, les · Indefinite article: un, une
la résidencethe residential developmentNoun (f)B1
la bailleressethe landladyNoun (f)B1
les charges locativesthe service chargesNoun (f)B1
la visite du logementthe viewingNoun (f)B1
l’annoncethe advertNoun (f)B1
la vétustéfair wear and tearNoun (f)B1
Noun (m) (10)
Grammar for these: Definite article: le, la, les · Indefinite article: un, une
l’occupantthe occupantNoun (m)B1
le garantthe guarantorNoun (m)B1
le contrat de locationthe tenancy agreementNoun (m)B1
le délai de résiliationthe notice periodNoun (m)B1
l’agent immobilierthe estate agentNoun (m)B1
le premier étagethe first floorNoun (m)B1
le descriptif du logementthe property descriptionNoun (m)B1
le dégâtthe damageNoun (m)B1
le crédit immobilierthe mortgageNoun (m)B1
le colocatairethe flatmateNoun (m)B1
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This list belongs to Work and the office — 40 lists and 1 606 words that can also be practised as a whole.