Propre is probably the first word that comes to mind when you want to say 'clean' in French. But just like in English, there are many nuances to 'clean' – from spotless to tidy, hygienic to pristine. And luckily, French has a rich vocabulary to match! Whether you're describing a sparkling kitchen, a fresh shirt, or even a morally 'clean' conscience, knowing these alternatives will make your French sound more natural and precise. It's not just about avoiding repetition; it's about expressing the exact shade of 'clean' you mean. So, let's dive into 9 different ways to say 'clean' in French, exploring their meanings and when to use them!

The standard 'clean' – propre

The standard 'clean' – propre

Propre is the most common and basic word for 'clean' in French.

As an adjective, propre must agree with the noun it modifies in number, but not in gender for the singular form. It becomes propres in the plural. For example:un livre propre (a clean book)une maison propre (a clean house)des livres propres (clean books)des maisons propres (clean houses)

Propre can be used in both formal and informal situations, making it a versatile word for describing cleanliness.

However, propre has a fascinating duality: it can also mean 'own' or 'proper' depending on its position relative to the noun it modifies.

The meaning of propre changes based on its placement:If propre is placed after the noun, it means 'clean'.If propre is placed before the noun, it typically means 'own' or 'proper' (in the sense of specific or characteristic).

Consider the difference:J'ai lavé ma propre voiture. (I washed my own car.)J'ai lavé ma voiture propre. (I washed my clean car – implying it was already clean, or I made it clean.)

This rule is generally very reliable. You'll also encounter propre in fixed expressions like 'le nom propre' (proper noun) or 'la propreté' (cleanliness, the state of being clean).

While the two meanings might seem confusing at first, the context and the position of propre almost always make it clear which meaning is intended. Pay close attention to whether it comes before or after the noun.

The concept of 'cleanliness' (la propreté) is generally valued in French culture, and you'll often hear phrases emphasizing it. For instance, 'faire le ménage' (to do the housework) or 'être propre sur soi' (to be neat and tidy in appearance) are common.

💡 * Ma chambre est toujours propre. (My room is always clean.)

• J'ai écrit mon propre livre. (I wrote my own book.)
• C'est une idée propre à sa culture. (It's an idea proper to its culture / characteristic of its culture.)
• Les enfants doivent garder leurs mains propres. (Children must keep their hands clean.)
• Il a sa propre façon de faire les choses. (He has his own way of doing things.)

The verb 'to clean' – nettoyer

When you want to express the act of 'to clean' in French, the most common and versatile verb you'll use is nettoyer.

Nettoyer broadly covers all sorts of cleaning, from tidying a room to wiping a surface. It's the go-to verb for general cleaning tasks around the house or elsewhere.

While nettoyer is a regular -er verb, it has a slight spelling change during conjugation. The 'y' changes to an 'i' before a silent 'e' in the verb ending.

For instance, you'll see je nettoie (I clean), tu nettoies (you clean), il/elle/on nettoie (he/she/one cleans), and ils/elles nettoient (they clean). However, for nous and vous, the 'y' remains: nous nettoyons (we clean), vous nettoyez (you clean).

You can use nettoyer for a wide range of objects: nettoyer la maison (to clean the house), nettoyer la voiture (to clean the car), nettoyer les vêtements (to clean the clothes), or nettoyer une tache (to clean a stain).

While nettoyer is general, you might also encounter laver, which specifically means 'to wash' and implies the use of water or liquid. For example, you would laver la vaisselle (wash the dishes) or laver le linge (wash the laundry), though nettoyer la vaisselle (to clean the dishes) is also acceptable in a broader sense.

💡 * Je nettoie ma chambre chaque samedi. (I clean my room every Saturday.)

• Elle nettoie toujours la cuisine après avoir cuisiné. (She always cleans the kitchen after cooking.)
• Nous devons nettoyer la voiture ce week-end. (We need to clean the car this weekend.)
• Peux-tu nettoyer cette tache sur le tapis s'il te plaît ? (Can you clean this stain on the carpet, please?)
• Les enfants nettoient leurs jouets. (The children are cleaning their toys.)

The 'spotless' or 'impeccable' – impeccable

The French adjective impeccable translates directly to 'impeccable' in English, meaning 'spotless,' 'flawless,' or 'perfect' in a specific context.

It describes something utterly faultless, without blemish, or beyond reproach. While it can apply to physical cleanliness, it often extends to performance, conduct, or quality.

A key feature of impeccable is that it's an invariant adjective. This means it doesn't change its form to agree with the gender or number of the noun it modifies. It remains impeccable whether describing a masculine, feminine, singular, or plural noun.

You'll frequently hear impeccable used to describe things like: un service impeccable (impeccable service), une tenue impeccable (a spotless/perfect outfit), un français impeccable (impeccable French), or des manières impeccables (impeccable manners).

Using impeccable conveys a strong sense of excellence and high standards. It implies a level of perfection that is truly outstanding and leaves no room for criticism.

Remember impeccable for when you want to emphasize absolute flawlessness, whether it's for appearance, behavior, or quality. It's a powerful word to add to your French vocabulary.

💡 * Son français est impeccable. (His French is impeccable.)

• Elle a une tenue impeccable pour l'entretien. (She has a spotless outfit for the interview.)
• Le service à l'hôtel était impeccable. (The service at the hotel was impeccable.)
• Ses manières sont toujours impeccables. (His manners are always impeccable.)
• La voiture est dans un état impeccable. (The car is in impeccable condition.)

The 'clear' or 'limpid' (for liquids or glass) – limpide

The adjective limpide in French translates to "clear" or "limpid" in English, primarily describing something free from cloudiness or obstruction.

It is most commonly used to describe liquids (like water or broth) that are perfectly clear and transparent, or surfaces such as glass or crystals that are unblemished and allow light to pass through without distortion.

Beyond physical clarity, limpide can also be used figuratively to describe something that is easy to understand, such as a "clear explanation" (une explication limpide) or "clear ideas" (des idées limpides).

As an adjective, limpide is invariable, meaning its form does not change for gender or number. It remains limpide whether modifying a masculine, feminine, singular, or plural noun.

💡 * L'eau de la source est incroyablement limpide. (The spring water is incredibly clear.)

• Ses explications étaient toujours limpides. (His explanations were always crystal clear.)
• Les vitres de la fenêtre sont parfaitement limpides. (The window panes are perfectly clear.)
• J'aime le ciel limpide après l'orage. (I love the clear sky after the storm.)

The 'purified' or 'clean-cut' (for design) – épuré

When discussing aesthetics, especially in design, the French word épuré is indispensable. It encapsulates a sense of refined simplicity.

Épuré literally means 'purified' or 'refined.' In a broader sense, it refers to something that has been stripped of unnecessary elements, leaving only the essential.

In design, épuré describes a style that is clean-cut, minimalist, and uncluttered. Think of sleek lines, clear spaces, and a lack of ornamentation.

This aesthetic often conveys elegance, sophistication, and modernity. It's about achieving impact through restraint, focusing on form and function.

You can use épuré to describe anything from architecture and furniture to graphic design and fashion. It's an adjective, so it agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies (e.g., un style épuré, une ligne épurée).

💡 * J'adore le design épuré de ce nouveau smartphone. (I love the clean-cut design of this new smartphone.)

• Son appartement a une décoration très épurée, avec peu de meubles. (Her apartment has a very minimalist decoration, with few pieces of furniture.)
• Cette marque est connue pour ses créations aux lignes épurées et modernes. (This brand is known for its creations with clean and modern lines.)
• Le style épuré de l'interface rend l'application très facile à utiliser. (The clean interface style makes the application very easy to use.)

The 'cleared' or 'tidied up' (implying clean after removal) – débarrassé

The French verb débarrasser and its past participle débarrassé literally mean 'to clear,' 'to rid of,' or 'to free from.' It implies the removal of something, leading to a state of being clean, tidy, or unburdened.

Most commonly, débarrassé is used to describe a space or object that has been cleared of its contents. Think of 'clearing the table' (débarrasser la table) after a meal, or tidying a room by removing clutter.

Beyond physical clearing, être débarrassé de quelque chose (to be rid of something) signifies freedom from a burden, a problem, or an unpleasant task. It conveys a sense of relief after something troublesome has been removed.

The reflexive form, se débarrasser de, means 'to get rid of' something or someone. This is used when the subject actively performs the action of disposal or freeing themselves from an attachment, whether it's old clothes or bad habits.

Débarrassé is a versatile term, indicating a state of cleanliness, emptiness, or relief after removal. Its meaning shifts slightly depending on whether it's applied to a physical space, an object, a responsibility, or an unwanted presence.

💡 * La table est débarrassée et prête pour le dessert. (The table is cleared and ready for dessert.)

• Je suis enfin débarrassé de ce gros dossier. (I'm finally rid of this big file/case.)
• Il faut se débarrasser de ces vieilles affaires. (We need to get rid of these old things.)
• La pièce a été débarrassée de tous les meubles. (The room has been cleared of all the furniture.)

The 'disinfected' or 'sanitized' – désinfecté

The word désinfecté in French directly translates to 'disinfected' or 'sanitized' in English. It describes something that has undergone a process of disinfection to kill germs and microbes.

This term is commonly used to refer to objects, surfaces, or areas that have been cleaned with a disinfectant. You'll often hear it in medical settings, public spaces, or when discussing general hygiene.

Désinfecté is the past participle of the verb désinfecter (to disinfect) and functions as an adjective. Like all French adjectives, it must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. For example, une surface désinfectée (a disinfected surface) or des mains désinfectées (disinfected hands).

💡 * La surface doit être désinfectée régulièrement. (The surface must be disinfected regularly.)

• Les instruments chirurgicaux sont toujours désinfectés. (Surgical instruments are always disinfected.)
• Après la maladie, la chambre a été entièrement désinfectée. (After the illness, the room was entirely disinfected.)
• Il faut utiliser une lingette désinfectée. (One must use a disinfected wipe.)

The 'tidy' or 'ordered' (for a space) – rangé

The French adjective rangé translates to 'tidy,' 'ordered,' or 'put away.' It's primarily used to describe spaces, rooms, or objects that are neatly organized.

When you say something is rangé, you mean it's been arranged systematically, or that its contents are in their proper place. This applies to a bedroom, a closet, a desk, or even individual items like clothes or books.

Like most French adjectives, rangé must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. You will see it as rangée (feminine singular), rangés (masculine plural), and rangées (feminine plural).

It's important to differentiate rangé from propre. While rangé means 'tidy' or 'ordered,' propre means 'clean.' A room can be tidy but not clean, or clean but not tidy!

💡 *Sa chambre est toujours très rangée. (His room is always very tidy.)
*Elle préfère travailler dans un bureau rangé. (She prefers to work in a tidy office.)
*Toutes les affaires étaient rangées dans le placard. (All the belongings were put away in the closet.)
*Les jouets des enfants ne sont jamais rangés. (The children's toys are never tidy/put away.)
*Regarde comme ces documents sont bien rangés ! (Look how well-ordered these documents are!)

The 'polished' or 'shined' – lustré

The French adjective lustré translates directly to “polished,” “shined,” or “glossy” in English. It derives from the noun lustre, which refers to a sheen, gloss, or radiance.

As an adjective, lustré must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. The forms are: lustré (masculine singular), lustrée (feminine singular), lustrés (masculine plural), and lustrées (feminine plural).

Lustré is typically used to describe surfaces that have been made smooth and shiny through polishing, or naturally possess a high sheen. This can apply to objects like furniture, metals, shoes, certain fabrics, or even hair that has a glossy finish.

💡 * Le bois de cette table est magnifiquement lustré. (The wood of this table is magnificently polished.)

• Elle a des cheveux longs et lustrés. (She has long, shiny hair.)
• J'ai acheté du papier lustré pour imprimer mes photos. (I bought glossy paper to print my photos.)
• Le métal lustré reflétait la lumière. (The polished metal reflected the light.)
• Ses chaussures en cuir étaient parfaitement lustrées. (His leather shoes were perfectly shined.)

Are there other ways to say 'clean' in French?

Are there other ways to say “clean” in French?

Our list features the most common ways to say “clean” in French. But the French language, like any other, is rich with nuances. You might encounter terms that are more formal, informal, regional, or even poetic ways to describe cleanliness.

You can also do an online search for “comment dire propre en ___” followed by a specific Francophone country or region to discover local expressions.

You might find some interesting synonyms for propre or other related words on this list. Of course, always make sure to check a word’s definition and try to see it used in context before you use it yourself.

Pay attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — you may discover different ways to talk about something being clean or the act of cleaning.

And if you’re looking for more ways to express cleanliness or related concepts, the WordReference entry for propre is an excellent place to start your exploration!

I hope you found this article helpful in understanding how to say “clean” in French. Here’s a fitting thought from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: L'ordre est le plaisir de la raison. (Order is the delight of reason.)