When you think of the word “room” in French, la pièce or la chambre might be the first words that come to mind. While these are correct, the best word to use often depends on the type of room you're talking about.

Just like in English, you wouldn't call your living room a 'bedroom'. Using the right French term for a specific room will make your language skills sound much more precise and natural.

Let's open the door to a wider vocabulary and explore 9 different ways to say 'room' in French!

1. The standard 'room' in a house – la pièce

The most standard and versatile word for a 'room' in a French house is la pièce. It's a feminine noun that serves as the general, all-purpose term for a defined space within a dwelling.

You can use la pièce to refer to any room when its specific function isn't important. Think of it as the default term you'd use when simply pointing to a space or asking a general question about a room.

A crucial point for learners is the difference between la pièce and la chambre. The rule is simple: la chambre is specifically a bedroom. La pièce is any room (living room, office, dining room, AND bedroom). Therefore, a chambre is always a pièce, but a pièce is not always a chambre.

La pièce is extremely common in real estate and for describing the size of a home. For example, a deux-pièces is a 'two-room apartment', which typically means a living room and a bedroom (kitchen and bathroom are usually not counted in this total).

If you are in a house and want to ask someone to move to the next room without specifying which one, you would say, "On peut aller dans l'autre pièce ?" (Can we go into the other room?). It’s the perfect neutral choice.

💡 * Quelle est la plus grande pièce de la maison ? (What is the biggest room in the house?)

• J'ai repeint la pièce principale en bleu. (I repainted the main room blue.)
• Nous cherchons un appartement de trois pièces à Paris. (We are looking for a three-room apartment in Paris.)
• C'est une petite pièce, mais elle est très lumineuse. (It's a small room, but it's very bright.)

The 'bedroom' – la chambre

The primary French word for 'bedroom' is la chambre. As indicated by the article la, this is a feminine noun. This is the most common and essential term you'll need when talking about rooms in a house.

La chambre specifically refers to a room used for sleeping. While in English one might just say 'my room', in French, specifying ma chambre clearly designates it as the bedroom, distinguishing it from other rooms like le salon (the living room).

The use of chambre extends beyond a private home. It's the standard term for a hotel room (une chambre d'hôtel) or a guest room (une chambre d'amis). The context remains focused on a space designated for lodging or sleeping.

You'll often hear chambre paired with verbs related to household chores. For example, ranger sa chambre means 'to tidy one's room,' and faire la chambre means 'to clean/make up the room,' a phrase commonly used in a hotel context.

To describe it, you might say une grande chambre (a large bedroom) or une petite chambre (a small bedroom). You can also specify its purpose, like la chambre des parents (the parents' bedroom).

💡 * Ma chambre est au deuxième étage.

• Nous avons réservé une chambre d'hôtel avec vue sur la mer.
• Les enfants doivent ranger leur chambre avant de sortir.
• Il y a une chambre d'amis pour quand vous viendrez nous voir.

The 'living room' – le salon

The most common and standard way to say ‘living room’ in French is le salon. This is the word you will hear and use most frequently in everyday conversation.

Le salon refers to the main room in a house or apartment used for relaxing and entertaining guests. It's the direct equivalent of the English 'living room,' 'lounge,' or 'sitting room'.

A key point to remember is that salon is a masculine noun. Therefore, it is always preceded by masculine articles like le (the) or un (a). For example, you would say 'un beau salon' (a beautiful living room).

You may also encounter the term la salle de séjour. While often used interchangeably, le salon is more common and specifically implies a comfortable room for receiving guests. La salle de séjour can sometimes be part of a larger, open-plan living/dining area.

Historically, the word salon also designated a reception or gathering of intellectuals and artists. This historical context lends the word a sense of being a primary social space within the home.

💡 * Nous passons la soirée dans le salon à regarder la télé.

• J'ai repeint les murs du salon en bleu.
• Les invités attendent dans le salon.
• C'est un grand salon avec une belle vue sur le jardin.

The 'dining room' – la salle à manger

The standard and most direct term for 'the dining room' in French is la salle à manger.

Literally, this means 'the room for eating.' It's formed by combining la salle (the room) with the preposition à (for) and the infinitive verb manger (to eat).

The key noun, salle, is feminine. Therefore, the entire phrase la salle à manger is treated as feminine. You will always use feminine articles like la or une with it.

This is the universal term used in any context, from casual conversation about home layout to formal architectural plans. It specifically refers to a room dedicated to eating meals.

💡 * Le dîner est prêt, passons dans la salle à manger. (Dinner is ready, let's go into the dining room.)

• J'ai acheté de nouvelles chaises pour la salle à manger. (I bought new chairs for the dining room.)
• Notre salle à manger donne sur le jardin. (Our dining room overlooks the garden.)
• C'est une petite salle à manger, mais elle est très chaleureuse. (It's a small dining room, but it's very cozy.)

The 'bathroom' – la salle de bain

The most common and direct translation for 'bathroom' in French is la salle de bain. It's the term you'll hear and use most frequently in everyday conversation.

Literally, la salle de bain translates to 'the room of bath' (salle = room, bain = bath). This name highlights its primary function: it's the room where you find a bathtub (une baignoire) or a shower (une douche).

A critical point for learners is the difference between la salle de bain and les toilettes. In French, les toilettes refers specifically to the room containing only a toilet (a powder room or W.C.). If you just need the toilet, you ask for les toilettes.

You might also encounter the term la salle d'eau ('the room of water'). This typically describes a bathroom that has a shower but not a bathtub, making it a more specific term than la salle de bain.

In short: use la salle de bain for the room where you wash, shower, or bathe. Use les toilettes when you are specifically looking for the toilet.

💡 * Où est la salle de bain, s'il vous plaît ? (Where is the bathroom, please?)

• Je vais prendre une douche dans la salle de bain. (I'm going to take a shower in the bathroom.)
• La salle de bain est en haut à droite. (The bathroom is upstairs on the right.)
• Notre nouvelle maison a deux salles de bain. (Our new house has two bathrooms.)

The 'office' or 'study' – le bureau

In French, the word le bureau is a key vocabulary item that cleverly serves two purposes. It can mean both the room where you work, such as an 'office' or a 'study', and the piece of furniture you work at, 'a desk'.

When referring to a physical space, le bureau translates to 'the office'. This can be a corporate office or a study within a home. For example, the phrase Je vais au bureau means 'I am going to the office'.

When referring to furniture, le bureau means 'the desk'. If you're talking about the object your computer sits on, this is the word you'd use. For example, Pose le livre sur mon bureau means 'Put the book on my desk'.

The meaning is almost always clear from the context. Verbs like aller (to go) or prepositions like dans (in) usually point to the room, while verbs like acheter (to buy) or prepositions like sur (on) often refer to the desk. Paying attention to the surrounding words will prevent any confusion.

💡 * Je travaille dans mon bureau tous les jours. (I work in my office every day.)

• Mon ordinateur portable est sur mon bureau. (My laptop is on my desk.)
• Elle est en route pour le bureau. (She is on her way to the office.)
• J'ai acheté un nouveau bureau en bois. (I bought a new wooden desk.)

The large 'room' or 'hall' – la salle

The French word la salle generally refers to a large room or a hall, especially one intended for a specific purpose or public gathering. Unlike la pièce, which can mean any room in a house, la salle often implies a more functional or spacious area.

La salle is a feminine noun and is frequently used in compound phrases to specify the room's function. Common examples include la salle de bains (the bathroom), la salle à manger (the dining room), la salle de classe (the classroom), and la salle de concert (the concert hall).

💡 * Les élèves entrent dans la salle de classe. (The students are entering the classroom.)

• Le dîner est servi dans la salle à manger. (Dinner is served in the dining room.)
• Où est la salle de bains, s'il vous plaît ? (Where is the bathroom, please?)
• Le mariage a eu lieu dans une très belle salle. (The wedding took place in a very beautiful hall.)

The 'hotel room' – la chambre d'hôtel

The most direct and universally understood term for a 'hotel room' in French is la chambre d'hôtel. This phrase literally translates to 'the room of the hotel' and is the standard term you will encounter and use.

The term is composed of two parts: la chambre, which means 'the room' (and often specifically 'bedroom'), and d'hôtel, which specifies its location. This possessive structure (de + noun) is very common in French to add descriptive context, similar to using an adjective in English.

While la chambre d'hôtel is the full term, in context, you can often shorten it to just la chambre. For example, when you are already at the hotel reception, you can ask, À quelle heure dois-je libérer la chambre? (What time do I have to check out of the room?). The location is already understood.

When making a reservation, you'll often need to be more specific. Common variations include une chambre simple (a single room), une chambre double (a double room), or une suite (a suite). This allows you to specify exactly what kind of chambre d'hôtel you need.

💡 * J'ai réservé une chambre d'hôtel pour deux nuits.

• La vue depuis notre chambre d'hôtel était incroyable.
• Le service de chambre est disponible 24h/24 dans cette chambre d'hôtel.
• Pourriez-vous m'apporter des serviettes supplémentaires dans ma chambre, s'il vous plaît ?

1. The 'attic' or 'loft' – le grenier

The primary and most common French word for both 'attic' and 'loft' is le grenier. It is a masculine noun, so you will always use masculine articles like le or un with it.

Le grenier refers to the space directly under the roof of a house. Traditionally, it's used for storage, much like an English attic. Common verbs you'll see with it include monter au grenier (to go up to the attic) and ranger dans le grenier (to store in the attic).

If you want to specify that the attic has been converted into a living space, you can use the term un grenier aménagé (a converted attic). For modern, apartment-style lofts, especially in former industrial buildings, the English word le loft is also commonly used in French.

💡 * Nous rangeons les vieux meubles dans le grenier. (We store the old furniture in the attic.)

• Les enfants ont peur de monter au grenier la nuit. (The children are afraid to go up to the attic at night.)
• Ils ont transformé le grenier en une chambre d'amis. (They converted the attic into a guest room.)
• J'ai trouvé ce vieux tableau en nettoyant le grenier. (I found this old painting while cleaning the attic.)

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

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

Our list covers the most essential words for 'room' in French, from la pièce to la chambre. But French is full of specific vocabulary. You'll find other terms for particular types of rooms, regional variations, or even historical terms you might encounter in literature.

For more specialized vocabulary, try an online search for 'comment dire [type of room] en français', such as 'utility room' or 'attic'.

You might discover some interesting synonyms for pièce. Before using a new word, always check its specific meaning and context. For instance, un boudoir is a very different kind of room from une buanderie (a laundry room)!

As you read French novels, watch French films, or even browse real estate listings online, pay attention to how different rooms are described. This is a fantastic way to expand your vocabulary naturally.

If you're looking for more specific terms or related vocabulary about rooms and houses, the WordReference entry and forum for pièce is an excellent resource with discussions from native speakers.

I hope this guide has helped you furnish your French vocabulary! To conclude, here’s a famous thought from the architect Le Corbusier that highlights the purpose of all these rooms: La maison est une machine à habiter. (The house is a machine for living in.)