Using the laundry schedule and timer | Learn French in English

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Use Using the laundry schedule and timer to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

La buanderie commune est très fréquentée aujourd'hui.

lah bwahn-dree koh-MOON eh treh frray-kahn-TAY oh-zhoor-DWEE. The shared laundry room is busy today.

Inscris ton nom sur le planning avant de lancer une machine.

ahn-SKREE tohn nohn sewr luh PLAN-neeng ah-VAHN duh lahn-SAY oon mah-SHEEN. Put your name on the schedule before starting a load.

Il y a un lave-linge libre plus tard cet après-midi.

eel yah uhn lahv-LEHNZH LEE-bruh ploo TAR seh tah-preh-mee-DEE. There's a washer open later this afternoon.

Mets un minuteur.

meh uhn mee-noo-TEWR. Set a timer.

Comme ça, la personne suivante n'a pas à attendre.

kohm SAH lah pair-SOHN swee-VAHNT nah pah ah ah-TONDR. So the next person is not stuck waiting.

Est-ce que je dois déplacer mes vêtements dès que le cycle est fini ?

ess-kuh zhuh DWAH day-plah-SAY may vayt-MAHN day kuh luh SEE-kluh eh fee-NEE? Should I move my clothes as soon as the cycle ends?

Oui, fais-le, s'il te plaît ; les vêtements mouillés laissés dans une machine font attendre tout le monde.

wee feh-luh seel tuh PLAY; lay vayt-MAHN moo-YAY lay-SAY dahn-ZOON mah-SHEEN fohn ah-TONDR too luh MOHND. Please do; wet clothes left in a machine hold everyone up.

Je vais descendre mon panier avant la fin du cycle.

zhuh vay day-SAHNDR mohn pah-NYAY ah-VAHN lah FAN doo SEE-kluh. I'll bring my basket down before it finishes.

Comme ça, tout devrait bien se passer.

kohm SAH too duh-VRAY byan suh pah-SAY. That should keep things running smoothly.

Word by Word

La La means “the” before buanderie in La buanderie commune. It introduces this feminine singular noun, and La + noun is a common way to refer to a specific place.

buanderie Buanderie means laundry room here. La buanderie commune names the shared room where people use the washing machines. You can reuse buanderie when talking about a laundry room.

commune Commune means shared or communal here and describes buanderie. In La buanderie commune, it shows that the laundry room is used by several people. It is useful for describing a shared space.

est Est means is and connects La buanderie commune with its description. In La buanderie commune est très fréquentée, it states the current condition of the room. Est commonly links a subject with a description.

très Très means very and strengthens fréquentée in très fréquentée. It shows that the room is especially busy or heavily used today. Très is commonly placed before an adjective or adverb.

fréquentée Fréquentée means heavily used or busy here, describing the laundry room as a place many people use. Très fréquentée gives the idea of a particularly busy shared facility. This expression is useful when describing a place with many users.

aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui means today and sets the time for the statement La buanderie commune est très fréquentée aujourd'hui. It refers to the current day and appears at the end of this sentence. You can use aujourd'hui to say when something is true on the present day.

Inscris Inscris tells one person to write or enter something, here their name on the schedule. Inscris ton nom sur le planning uses the direct object ton nom and the location phrase sur le planning. It is useful when giving a direct instruction about recording information.

ton Ton means your before nom in ton nom. It identifies the name as belonging to the person being addressed. Ton is commonly placed directly before the noun it identifies.

nom Nom means name and is the information that should be entered on the schedule. In Inscris ton nom, it is the object of the instruction. You can reuse ton nom when asking someone to provide or write their name.

sur Sur means on and shows where the name should be written: sur le planning. It links the action of writing with the schedule as the surface or place receiving the information. Sur is commonly used before the place or surface where something is put.

le Le means the before planning in le planning. It refers to the specific schedule for the shared laundry room. Le commonly comes before a masculine singular noun.

planning Planning means schedule or timetable here. Le planning is the shared timetable on which users record their laundry time. It is useful when discussing organized time slots.

avant Avant means before and introduces the action that must happen first in avant de lancer une machine. The instruction is to enter the name before starting a machine. Avant de + infinitive is a reusable pattern for ordering two actions.

de De links avant with the infinitive lancer in avant de lancer une machine. Together, avant de lancer means before starting. De commonly follows avant when the next action is expressed with an infinitive.

lancer Lancer means start or run here, referring to starting a washing machine. In lancer une machine, the infinitive is followed by the machine being started. This expression is useful when beginning a wash cycle.

une Une means a or one before machine in une machine. It introduces one unspecified washing machine. Une commonly comes before a feminine singular noun.

machine Machine means machine here, specifically a washing machine in the laundry-room context. Une machine is the object of lancer in lancer une machine. You can use machine when referring to the appliance being started.

Il y a Il y a means there is or there are and introduces the available washing machine. In Il y a un lave-linge libre, Il frames the statement, y points to the existence or presence, and a supplies the verb in this fixed construction. Il y a is commonly followed by the thing or people that exist or are present.

un Un means a or one before lave-linge in un lave-linge. It introduces one available washing machine. Un commonly comes before a masculine singular noun.

lave-linge Lave-linge means washing machine. In un lave-linge libre, it identifies the appliance that is available later in the afternoon. You can use lave-linge when referring specifically to a washing machine.

libre Libre means free or available here, describing a lave-linge that is not being used. Un lave-linge libre tells the listener that one machine can be used later. Libre is useful for describing an available place, time, or resource.

plus Plus contributes the meaning later in plus tard, rather than the meaning more. Plus tard refers to a time after now, in this case later in the afternoon. Plus tard is a common expression for referring to a later time.

tard Tard means late and combines with plus in plus tard to mean later. Here it places the available machine at a later time this afternoon. Plus tard can be used when arranging or mentioning a later time.

cet Cet means this before après-midi in cet après-midi. It points to the afternoon belonging to the current day. Cet is used before this masculine singular noun in this expression.

après-midi Après-midi means afternoon. Cet après-midi means this afternoon and specifies when the washing machine is available. You can use après-midi when identifying the part of the day after midday.

Mets Mets tells one person to set or put something, here a timer. Mets un minuteur is a direct instruction with the object un minuteur. It is useful when telling someone to place or set an item for a purpose.

minuteur Minuteur means timer and is the object of Mets in Mets un minuteur. The timer is used to remind the user when the washing cycle needs attention. You can use minuteur when setting a device to signal a later time.

Comme ça Comme ça means that way or so and introduces the intended result of setting a timer. Comme contributes the linking idea of “like/as,” while ça points to the action just mentioned; together, Comme ça connects that action with its consequence. Comme ça, + a clause is a useful pattern for explaining how an action helps.

personne Personne means person here. In la personne suivante, it refers to the next user who wants to use the machine. You can reuse personne when referring to an individual without naming them.

suivante Suivante means next or following and describes personne in la personne suivante. It identifies the person whose turn comes after the current user. La personne suivante is a useful expression when discussing turns or order.

n'a N'a is the contracted form of ne and a in n'a pas à attendre. It contributes the negative form of avoir, while the whole n'a pas à attendre means does not have to wait. This form commonly appears inside the ne ... pas negative pattern.

pas Pas marks the negation in n'a pas à attendre. Together with n'a, it makes the statement negative: the next person does not have to wait. Pas commonly works with ne or its contracted form around the verb.

à À links avoir with the infinitive attendre in n'a pas à attendre. The whole expression n'a pas à attendre means does not have to wait, while à introduces the action that is required or not required. À can be used in the pattern avoir à + infinitive.

attendre Attendre means wait in n'a pas à attendre. It names the action that the next person should not need to do. Attendre is commonly used after à in this construction.

Est-ce que Est-ce que turns the following statement into a yes-or-no question in Est-ce que je dois déplacer mes vêtements. Est-ce provides the question framing and que links that framing to the clause. Est-ce que is a common way to ask a direct question.

je Je means I and is the subject of je dois déplacer mes vêtements and Je vais descendre mon panier. It identifies the speaker as the person who must move the clothes and will bring down the basket. Je commonly comes before the verb in a statement.

dois Dois expresses obligation or necessity here in je dois déplacer mes vêtements. The question asks whether the speaker needs to move the clothes when the cycle ends. Je dois + infinitive is a reusable pattern for saying what I must or need to do.

déplacer Déplacer means move here, referring to taking the clothes out of the machine. In déplacer mes vêtements, the infinitive is followed by the clothes being moved. You can use déplacer + a direct object when saying what is moved.

mes Mes means my before vêtements in mes vêtements. It identifies the clothes as belonging to the speaker and is used with this plural noun. Mes commonly comes directly before a plural noun.

vêtements Vêtements means clothes. In déplacer mes vêtements, it refers to the speaker's clothes that should be moved after the cycle. You can reuse mes vêtements when talking about your clothes.

dès que Dès que means as soon as and introduces the time condition dès que le cycle est fini. Dès contributes the idea of immediacy, and que introduces the following clause; together they mean as soon as. Dès que + a clause is useful for linking one action to the immediate completion of another.

fini Fini means finished or over in le cycle est fini. It describes the cycle as completed, which is the point when the clothes should be moved. Est fini is a useful expression for saying that an activity or process is over.

Oui Oui means yes and confirms that the speaker should move the clothes. It directly answers the question Est-ce que je dois déplacer mes vêtements. Oui is used to give an affirmative reply.

fais-le Fais-le means do it and refers back to moving the clothes. The form fais gives the instruction, and le stands for the action already mentioned; together, fais-le avoids repeating the whole action. It is useful when agreeing with a requested action and telling someone to carry it out.

s'il te plaît S'il te plaît means please and softens the instruction fais-le. S'il supplies the if-clause frame, te refers to the person addressed, and plaît contributes the idea of pleasing; together, the expression politely marks a request. It is commonly placed at the end of a request.

les Les means the before vêtements in les vêtements mouillés. It refers to the particular clothes left in the machine. Les commonly comes before a plural noun.

mouillés Mouillés means wet and describes the clothes in les vêtements mouillés. It helps identify the clothes that are still wet because they have been left in the machine. Les vêtements mouillés is a useful expression when discussing wet laundry.

laissés Laissés means left here, describing clothes that remain in a machine. Les vêtements mouillés laissés dans une machine means the wet clothes left in a machine. This form is useful for identifying items that someone has not removed.

dans Dans means in and shows the location of the clothes in laissés dans une machine. It places the clothes inside the washing machine. Dans is commonly followed by the place containing something.

font Font means make or cause in font attendre tout le monde. Here, the clothes left in the machine cause everyone to wait. Font attendre is a reusable pattern in which faire plus an infinitive expresses that someone or something causes an action.

tout le monde Tout le monde means everyone. Tout contributes the idea of all, le marks the noun phrase, and monde means world or people; together, the expression refers to all the people involved. In font attendre tout le monde, it is the group being made to wait.

vais Vais means am going to in Je vais descendre mon panier. It introduces an intended future action by the speaker. Je vais + infinitive is a common pattern for saying what I am going to do.

descendre Descendre means bring down here because the speaker will bring the basket down before the cycle ends. In descendre mon panier, the infinitive is followed by the basket being brought down. This expression is useful when taking an item to a lower place.

mon Mon means my before panier in mon panier. It identifies the basket as belonging to the speaker. Mon commonly comes directly before a masculine singular noun.

panier Panier means basket and is the object being brought down in descendre mon panier. In this scene, it is used to carry or collect the clothes. You can reuse panier when referring to a basket.

fin Fin means end in avant la fin du cycle. It identifies the point at which the washing cycle ends. La fin de or la fin du + noun is a useful pattern for referring to the end of something.

du Du is the contraction of de and le in la fin du cycle. It links fin to cycle and means of the in this phrase. Du commonly appears before a masculine singular noun after de.

cycle Cycle means cycle, here the washing cycle. La fin du cycle identifies the moment when the machine finishes. You can use cycle when referring to one complete machine program or process.

devrait Devrait expresses an expected or likely result in tout devrait bien se passer. It presents things going well as the anticipated consequence of bringing the basket down in time. Devrait + infinitive is a useful pattern for saying what should happen.

bien Bien means well and describes how things should happen in bien se passer. The whole bien se passer means go well or proceed smoothly, while bien contributes the favorable manner. Bien is commonly used to describe a successful result or process.

se Se is part of the expression se passer in se passer. Here it does not independently mean oneself; with passer, the whole expression means happen or go. Se passer is a reusable expression for talking about how an event proceeds.

passer Passer means happen or go in se passer, and bien se passer means go well. In tout devrait bien se passer, it describes the expected smooth progress of the laundry-room arrangements. Se passer is useful when asking or saying how an event went.

Grammar Points

dès que + proposition

Dès que le cycle est fini, déplacer les vêtements mouillés.

deh kuh luh SEE-kluh eh fee-NEE, day-plah-SAY lay vayt-MAHN moo-YAY.

As soon as the cycle is finished, move the wet clothes.

« Dès que » means “as soon as” and introduces an event that happens immediately before the main action.

faire + infinitif

Faire attendre tout le monde.

fehr ah-TONDR too luh MOHND.

To make everyone wait.

« Faire » followed by an infinitive expresses causing someone to do something.

French Vocabulary

aujourd'hui adv

oh-zhoor-DWEE today

La buanderie commune est très fréquentée aujourd'hui.

buanderie noun

bwahn-DREE laundry room

La buanderie commune est très fréquentée aujourd'hui.

commun adj

koh-MUH(N) shared commune

La buanderie commune est très fréquentée aujourd'hui.

fréquenté adj

fray-kahn-TAY busy; frequented fréquentée

La buanderie commune est très fréquentée aujourd'hui.

inscrire verb

ahn-SKREER to write down; to enter inscris

Inscris ton nom sur le planning avant de lancer une machine.

lancer verb

lahn-SAY to start; to run

Inscris ton nom sur le planning avant de lancer une machine.

lave-linge noun

lahv-LEHNZH washing machine

Il y a un lave-linge libre plus tard cet après-midi.

libre adj

LEEBR free; available

Il y a un lave-linge libre plus tard cet après-midi.

machine noun

mah-SHEEN machine; washing machine

Inscris ton nom sur le planning avant de lancer une machine.

minuteur noun

mee-noo-TEWR timer

Mets un minuteur.

planning noun

PLAN-neeng schedule

Inscris ton nom sur le planning avant de lancer une machine.

plus tard adv

ploo TAR later

Il y a un lave-linge libre plus tard cet après-midi.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Set a timer.

Show Answer

Mets un minuteur.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

machine; washing machine

Show Answer

machine

to start; to run

Show Answer

lancer

schedule

Show Answer

planning

busy; frequented

Show Answer

fréquentée