French For Beginners: Describing Your Living Room

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Written byAmélie Pinon

Let's describe the living room of a typical French family.

In this lesson, I'll give you the most important French vocabulary and sample sentences for talking about the items in a living room.

How do you say 'living room' in French?

If you want to say 'living room' in French, there are two main ways to say it:

  1. Salle de séjour: This literally translates to "room of stay", and is the most formal term for 'living room' in French.
  2. Salon: This is the most common, informal way to say 'living room' in French. It's likely of Italian origin (salone).

Most common items (in French) found in your living room

There are many items typical to a French living room. Here's a list of the most common ones with their plural forms:

French ItemPlural FormEnglish Translation
Un canapéDes canapésSofa
Un fauteuilDes fauteuilsArmchair
Une table basseDes tables bassesCoffee table
Un tapisDes tapisRug
Une lampeDes lampesLamp
Un coussinDes coussinsCushion
Un rideauDes rideauxCurtain
Une étagèreDes étagèresShelf
Un cadreDes cadresPicture frame
Une télévisionDes télévisionsTelevision
Une chaîne Hi-FiDes chaînes Hi-FiStereo system
Un lecteur DVDDes lecteurs DVDDVD player
Un vaseDes vasesVase
Des livres-Books
Des magazines-Magazines
Un jeu de sociétéDes jeux de sociétéBoard game
Une horlogeDes horlogesClock
Un miroirDes miroirsMirror
Une planteDes plantesPlant
Un cheminéeDes cheminéesFireplace

Sample sentences describing a living room in French

Le salon est meuble avec beaucoup de gout.

The living room is furnished in very good taste (a lot of taste).

Take note of the use of the informal expression "avec beaucoup de gout" (with a lot of taste).

A gauche, nous trouvons deux grandes fenetres.

On the left, we find two large windows.

Les fenetres du salon donnent sur une petite cour.

The windows of the living room look onto (give on) a little court.

En face des fenetres, il y a le divan et le fauteuil autour du tapis.

Opposite the windows are the sofa and the armchair, situated around the rug.

C'est un beau divan, fauteuil.

The sofa and armchair are beautiful.

La bibliotheque a beaucoup des livres.

The bookcase has a lot of books. This family likes to read.

La table basse est devant le divan.

The coffee table is in front of the sofa.

Pres du fauteuil, il y a une lampe.

Near the armchair, there is a lamp.

Des beaux tableaus et des belles plantes sont partout.

Beautiful paintings and lovely plants are everywhere.

Sur les murs, il y des photographies de paysages de France.

On the walls, there are photographs of French landscapes.

Most important verbs in a living room context

In a living room context, you'll find these verbs most helpful.

Most of them are foundational verbs that you should know anyway.

French InfinitiveEnglish Translation
S'asseoirTo sit down
Se leverTo stand up
RegarderTo watch
ÉcouterTo listen
ParlerTo talk
JouerTo play
LireTo read
ÉteindreTo turn off
AllumerTo turn on
RangerTo tidy up
NettoyerTo clean
DécorerTo decorate
RecevoirTo entertain guests
DétendreTo relax
ApprécierTo enjoy
ChangerTo change
DéplacerTo move
InstallerTo set up
AppelerTo call
InviterTo invite

Practise describing your living room in French

Hopefully what I've provided here will get you describing your living room in French in adequate detail.

Obviously, every house is different so there are no doubt going to be items I've missed.

Also check out my lesson describing your bedroom in French after this one.

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French For Beginners: Describing Your Living Room
In this lesson, I'll give you the most important French vocabulary and sample sentences for talking about the items in a living room.
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