Maison is the most common way to say “house” in French. But there are several other options that add nuance and precision.Whether you’re describing your own dwelling, a friend’s place, or a specific type of building, knowing these different words will enrich your French vocabulary.Let’s explore 9 different ways to say “house” (and related concepts) in French!

The standard 'house' – la maison

The standard 'house' – la maison

La maison is the most common and versatile French word for 'house'.

In French, nouns have a grammatical gender. Maison is a feminine noun, so it's always preceded by feminine articles like la (the) or une (a/an). Its plural form is les maisons (the houses).

You can use la maison in virtually any context, from formal discussions about real estate to casual conversations about where you live. It's a reliable go-to word.

While la maison directly translates to 'the house', it's also frequently used in expressions related to 'home' or 'at home', which can sometimes cause confusion with chez.

To express 'at home' or 'to home', the common phrase is à la maison. For example, Je suis à la maison (I am at home). However, when referring to someone's place or dwelling, especially when it's a person's home, you'll often use chez followed by a person's name or a pronoun, e.g., chez moi (at my place/home), chez Jean (at Jean's place).

So, Nous allons à la maison means 'We are going home/to the house', emphasizing the building. But Nous allons chez mes parents means 'We are going to my parents' home/place', focusing on the inhabitants and their dwelling.

There are several idiomatic expressions with maison. For instance, une maison de campagne means 'a country house', and une maison de retraite refers to a 'nursing home'. The meaning is usually clear from the context.

Fortunately, distinguishing between la maison as a building and its use in 'at home' expressions, or when to use chez, becomes intuitive with practice. The context of the conversation almost always provides enough clues.

In French culture, 'home' (often la maison or chez soi) holds significant importance as a private, personal space. Inviting someone chez soi is a more intimate gesture than just meeting them somewhere else.

💡 * J'habite dans une grande maison. (I live in a big house.)

Elle est rentrée à la maison. (She went back home.)

Nous avons visité leur nouvelle maison. (We visited their new house.)

La maison est très belle avec un grand jardin. (The house is very beautiful with a large garden.)

Je t'attends à la maison. (I'm waiting for you at home.)

The 'dwelling' or 'housing' – le logement

The “dwelling” or “housing” – le logement

When you need a general term for “housing” or “dwelling” in French, the word you're looking for is le logement.

Derived from the verb loger (to lodge, to house), le logement encompasses any type of place where someone lives. It's a broad, administrative, or even sociological term, referring to the concept of housing in general, rather than a specific building.

You'll often encounter le logement in formal contexts, such as government reports, real estate listings, or discussions about social policies. It refers to the provision or availability of housing for a population.

In everyday conversation, le logement is commonly used when discussing the act of finding a place to live, housing conditions, or the housing market. For example, chercher un logement means 'to look for housing'.

It's important to note that le logement is a generic term. Unlike la maison (house) or l'appartement (apartment), it doesn't specify the type of residence, but rather the function of providing shelter. Think of it as 'a unit of housing' or 'accommodations'.

Common phrases include crise du logement (housing crisis), aide au logement (housing benefit), or un logement social (social housing).

💡 * Nous cherchons un logement près de l'université. (We are looking for housing near the university.)

Le prix des logements a augmenté cette année. (The price of housing increased this year.)

Il a trouvé un logement décent à un bon prix. (He found decent accommodation at a good price.)

La crise du logement affecte de nombreuses villes. (The housing crisis affects many cities.)

Cette association aide les personnes sans logement. (This association helps homeless people.)

The 'residence' or 'dwelling' (more formal) – l'habitation

When discussing a place of living in a more formal or administrative context, the French word l'habitation comes into play.

L'habitation (feminine noun) directly translates to 'dwelling,' 'residence,' or 'habitat.' It signifies a place where someone lives.

Unlike the more common maison (house) or appartement (apartment), l'habitation is frequently encountered in official documents, legal texts, or technical descriptions related to housing and urban planning.

While you'd typically say ma maison (my house) in everyday conversation, l'habitation refers more generally to the act of dwelling or the structure itself as a place of residence, often in a collective or abstract sense.

It's important to remember that habitation is a feminine noun, so it's always l'habitation (with the definite article) or une habitation (with the indefinite article).

The noun habitation is derived from the verb habiter, which means 'to live' or 'to reside,' reinforcing its core meaning of a place where one lives.

💡 * Le permis de construire a été délivré pour cette habitation. (The building permit was issued for this dwelling.)

Les zones d'habitation sont strictement réglementées. (Residential areas are strictly regulated.)

Cette habitation est conforme aux normes de sécurité. (This dwelling complies with safety standards.)

Il a été constaté une dégradation de l'habitation. (A deterioration of the dwelling was observed.)

The 'abode' or 'residence' (often for grander homes) – la demeure

The term la demeure in French translates to 'abode' or 'residence,' carrying a more formal or elevated connotation than a simple 'house' (la maison).

Unlike maison, demeure often implies a significant, sometimes grand, historic, or stately home. It suggests a residence with character, history, or a certain architectural presence, frequently used for older, more impressive properties.

Demeure is a feminine noun, always preceded by a feminine article like la or une. This is crucial for correct grammatical agreement in sentences.

💡 * C'est une magnifique demeure du XVIIIe siècle. (It's a magnificent 18th-century residence.)

Ils ont acheté une charmante demeure à la campagne. (They bought a charming country abode.)

Les vieilles demeures ont souvent beaucoup d'histoire. (Old residences often have a lot of history.)

Cette demeure a été transformée en hôtel de luxe. (This abode was transformed into a luxury hotel.)

The 'home' or 'household' (focus on the family unit) – le foyer

The 'home' or 'household' (focus on the family unit) – le foyer

Le foyer is a versatile French noun primarily referring to the 'home' or 'household,' often emphasizing the family unit residing within it.

It carries a slightly more formal or administrative tone than la maison (the house) or chez moi (my place), making it suitable for broader contexts like social studies or official documents.

While it can denote the physical dwelling, similar to 'house,' le foyer often implies the hearth or center of the home, where daily life and family activities take place.

Crucially, le foyer frequently refers to the people living together – the family unit or household. For example, 'chef de foyer' means 'head of household.'

Think of le foyer as encompassing both the physical structure and, more importantly, the emotional and social unit that makes a house a 'home,' especially in official or broader societal terms.

💡 *Le foyer est le cœur de la famille. (The home is the heart of the family.)
*Nous avons un grand foyer avec trois enfants. (We have a large household with three children.)
*Il est important de protéger son foyer. (It is important to protect one's home/household.)
*Le chef de foyer est responsable des dépenses. (The head of household is responsible for expenses.)
*Ils ont créé un foyer chaleureux. (They created a warm home.)

The 'residence' (general term for a place of dwelling) – la résidence

When looking for a general term for a place of dwelling in French, la résidence is a key word to know. It encompasses various types of living spaces and is a versatile term in everyday vocabulary.

At its core, la résidence refers to a place where someone lives, resides, or stays for a period. It's often used to describe a multi-unit building, such as an apartment complex, rather than an individual house. Think of it as a 'residential building' or 'housing complex'.

While la maison means 'house' and l'appartement means 'apartment,' la résidence offers a broader, more formal scope. It can denote the entire complex where apartments are located, or more generally, the act of residing somewhere. It's less specific than 'my house' or 'my apartment' and more about the concept of a living establishment.

You'll often hear la résidence in specific contexts: une résidence universitaire (student housing), une résidence senior (retirement home), or une résidence hôtelière (apart-hotel). It can also refer to a secondary home, as in une résidence secondaire (a vacation home or second residence).

In general, la résidence is a widely understood term for a place of habitation, especially when referring to a building with multiple units or a specific type of organized living arrangement. It conveys a sense of permanency or semi-permanency of dwelling.

💡 * J'habite dans une nouvelle résidence étudiante. (I live in a new student residence.)

La résidence est très calme et bien entretenue. (The residence is very quiet and well-maintained.)

Ils ont acheté une résidence secondaire à la campagne. (They bought a second residence in the countryside.)

L'entrée de la résidence est sécurisée. (The entrance to the residence is secured.)

Cette résidence offre de nombreux services aux habitants. (This residence offers many services to its residents.)

The 'property' (including land and buildings) – la propriété

In French, la propriété primarily refers to property in the sense of ownership or to a specific piece of land or a building that is owned. It encompasses both the legal concept and the physical asset.

While la propriété can mean the general concept of property or ownership, when used with an indefinite article (une propriété), it refers to a specific estate, land, or building that is owned, such as a house or a country estate.

💡 * Il a acheté une grande propriété à la campagne. (He bought a large property in the countryside.)

La propriété privée est un droit fondamental. (Private property is a fundamental right.)

Nous allons visiter la propriété familiale ce week-end. (We are going to visit the family property this weekend.)

C'est une propriété facile d'entretien. (It's an easy-to-maintain property.)

Les droits de propriété intellectuelle sont très importants. (Intellectual property rights are very important.)

The 'private mansion' (a grand, urban house) – l'hôtel particulier

In French, an hôtel particulier refers to a grand, private urban dwelling, typically a detached townhouse, built for a single wealthy family. Unlike a modern hôtel (which means 'hotel' for guests), an hôtel particulier is a private residence, often with its own courtyard and garden.

These magnificent buildings are often historic and showcase impressive architectural styles, reflecting the prestige and wealth of their original owners. Many have since been converted into museums, embassies, or corporate headquarters.

It's crucial not to confuse hôtel particulier with the modern French word hôtel, which means a commercial lodging establishment. The term hôtel particulier preserves an older meaning of hôtel as a large urban residence.

💡 * L'Hôtel de Ville de Paris est un exemple célèbre d'ancien hôtel particulier transformé. (Paris City Hall is a famous example of a former private mansion transformed.)

Beaucoup d'anciens hôtels particuliers du Marais sont devenus des musées. (Many former private mansions in the Marais have become museums.)

Ils ont acheté un magnifique hôtel particulier dans le 16e arrondissement. (They bought a magnificent private mansion in the 16th arrondissement.)

Cet hôtel particulier possède une cour intérieure et un jardin. (This private mansion has an inner courtyard and a garden.)

The 'detached house' or 'suburban home' – le pavillon

When you’re talking about a detached house, especially one found in a suburban area, the French word you’ll most often hear is le pavillon.

A pavillon specifically refers to a detached or semi-detached single-family house, typically with a small garden, often located in the suburbs or on the outskirts of a town. It's the equivalent of a 'suburban home' or a 'detached house' in English, carrying a nuance of a standard, often mass-produced, family dwelling.

While une maison is the general term for 'house', le pavillon specifies a particular type of house. It implies a certain architectural style and setting – usually part of a housing development rather than a unique, grand residence (which might be called une villa or simply une grande maison individuelle).

The term pavillon often evokes an image of middle-class family life outside the city center. It can sometimes carry a slight connotation of being somewhat uninspired or generic compared to older, more characterful urban houses, but it's a very common and neutral term in everyday French.

💡 * Ils ont acheté un joli pavillon en banlieue. (They bought a nice suburban house.)

Notre pavillon a un petit jardin derrière. (Our detached house has a small garden in the back.)

Beaucoup de familles vivent dans des pavillons autour de Paris. (Many families live in suburban homes around Paris.)

Le pavillon d'à côté est à vendre. (The detached house next door is for sale.)

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

Our list has covered the most common ways to say 'house' in French. But French, like any language, is rich with nuance, offering various terms from formal to informal, regional to historical, and even some delightful slang that might describe a dwelling.

For even more specific terms or regional expressions, you can always do an online search for "comment dire maison en ___" followed by a specific Francophone country or region.

You might stumble upon some interesting synonyms for maison or logement on this journey. As always, make sure to verify a word’s definition and observe its usage in context before incorporating it into your vocabulary.

Immerse yourself in French culture by reading, watching, and listening to French media. You'll naturally pick up different ways to refer to houses, homes, and other dwellings as they're used in real-life situations.

If you're eager to delve deeper into the nuances of terms related to 'house' or 'home' in French, the WordReference entry for maison is an excellent starting point for further exploration.

I hope this article has provided a solid foundation for understanding how to talk about 'house' in French. To conclude, here's a beautiful quote from Gaston Bachelard that perfectly captures the essence of a home: La maison est notre coin du monde. Elle est notre premier univers. (The house is our corner of the world. It is our first universe.)

9 ways to say "house" in French