Learning a language like French is both exciting and rewarding. One of the first things you might want to know is how to say “clean” in French. This word is used daily, whether you are talking about cleaning your room, describing something neat, or discussing good hygiene.
In this article, we will explore how to say “clean” in French, different ways to use it in sentences, and how to respond in real conversations. You’ll also find fun exercises to practice using “clean” in French. By the end, you’ll feel ready to use this word naturally in everyday situations.
Ways to Say “Clean” in French
The word “clean” can be expressed in several ways in French, depending on the context. It can describe physical cleanliness, neatness, or being free from impurities. Below, you’ll find 25 different ways to say “clean” in French. Each one includes its pronunciation, meaning, and examples of how to use it in everyday sentences.
1. Propre
Pronunciation: [propr]
Meaning: Clean, tidy, neat.
In a Sentence:
- La chambre est propre maintenant. (The room is clean now.)
- Assurez-vous que vos mains soient propres avant de manger. (Make sure your hands are clean before eating.)
2. Nettoyé
Pronunciation: [neh-twa-yay]
Meaning: Cleaned or washed.
In a Sentence:
- J’ai nettoyé la voiture ce matin. (I cleaned the car this morning.)
- L’assiette a été nettoyée après le dîner. (The plate was cleaned after dinner.)
3. Épuré
Pronunciation: [ay-pu-ray]
Meaning: Pure, clean, sleek (often used figuratively).
In a Sentence:
- Le design de cette pièce est très épuré. (The design of this room is very clean.)
- L’eau est épurée pour être potable. (The water is purified to be drinkable.)
4. Pur
Pronunciation: [pur]
Meaning: Pure or clean (often for air or water).
In a Sentence:
- L’air des montagnes est pur et frais. (The mountain air is clean and fresh.)
- Ils veulent de l’eau purifiée pour cuisiner. (They want purified water for cooking.)
5. Clair
Pronunciation: [klair]
Meaning: Clear, clean (referring to transparency or lack of clutter).
In a Sentence:
- Le verre est clair comme du cristal. (The glass is as clean as crystal.)
- Garde ton bureau clair et organisé. (Keep your desk clean and organized.)
6. Hygiénique
Pronunciation: [ee-zhee-eh-neek]
Meaning: Hygienic or sanitary.
In a Sentence:
- Il est important d’avoir des toilettes hygiéniques. (It is important to have hygienic restrooms.)
- Cette méthode est plus hygiénique pour la cuisine. (This method is more sanitary for cooking.)
7. Lavé
Pronunciation: [lah-vay]
Meaning: Washed or cleaned.
In a Sentence:
- J’ai lavé mes vêtements ce matin. (I washed my clothes this morning.)
- Assurez-vous que les légumes soient bien lavés. (Make sure the vegetables are well-washed.)
8. Ordonné
Pronunciation: [or-don-nay]
Meaning: Neat or tidy.
In a Sentence:
- Sa chambre est toujours ordonnée. (His room is always tidy.)
- Une maison ordonnée est agréable à vivre. (A neat house is pleasant to live in.)
9. Assaini
Pronunciation: [ah-sah-nee]
Meaning: Sanitized or disinfected.
In a Sentence:
- La cuisine a été complètement assainie. (The kitchen has been completely sanitized.)
- Nous avons assaini l’air avec un purificateur. (We sanitized the air with a purifier.)
10. Frais
Pronunciation: [fray]
Meaning: Fresh, clean (used for air, feeling).
In a Sentence:
- Après la pluie, l’air est frais et agréable. (After the rain, the air is fresh and pleasant.)
- Ces draps sont frais, ils viennent d’être lavés. (These sheets are clean; they were just washed.)
11. Sans tache
Pronunciation: [sahn tash]
Meaning: Spotless or stain-free.
In a Sentence:
- Sa chemise blanche est toujours sans tache. (Her white shirt is always spotless.)
- Cette table est sans tache après le nettoyage. (This table is spotless after cleaning.)
12. Bien entretenu
Pronunciation: [byan on-truh-teh-new]
Meaning: Well-maintained or clean.
In a Sentence:
- Le jardin est bien entretenu par les voisins. (The garden is well-maintained by the neighbors.)
- Cette voiture est bien entretenue et propre. (This car is well-maintained and clean.)
13. Proprement
Pronunciation: [propr-mohn]
Meaning: Neatly, cleanly.
In a Sentence:
- Elle a proprement rangé tous ses jouets. (She neatly put away all her toys.)
- Mettez les couverts proprement sur la table. (Place the utensils neatly on the table.)
14. Stérile
Pronunciation: [steh-reel]
Meaning: Sterile or germ-free.
In a Sentence:
- L’équipement chirurgical doit être stérile. (Surgical equipment must be sterile.)
- Cette salle est stérile pour éviter les infections. (This room is sterile to prevent infections.)
15. Brillant
Pronunciation: [bree-yahn]
Meaning: Shiny or sparkling clean.
In a Sentence:
- Le sol brille après le nettoyage. (The floor is shiny after cleaning.)
- Les vitres sont brillantes au soleil. (The windows are sparkling in the sunlight.)
16. Propreté
Pronunciation: [proh-preh-tay]
Meaning: Cleanliness or neatness.
In a Sentence:
- La propreté est essentielle dans un restaurant. (Cleanliness is essential in a restaurant.)
- Ils vérifient la propreté de chaque chambre d’hôtel. (They check the cleanliness of every hotel room.)
17. Impeccable
Pronunciation: [ahm-peh-kahb-luh]
Meaning: Perfectly clean, flawless.
In a Sentence:
- Sa tenue était impeccable pour l’entretien. (Her outfit was perfectly clean for the interview.)
- Les draps de cet hôtel sont toujours impeccables. (The sheets at this hotel are always spotless.)
18. Cristallin
Pronunciation: [kree-stah-lanh]
Meaning: Crystal-clear or clean.
In a Sentence:
- Cette eau cristalline vient de la source. (This crystal-clear water comes from the spring.)
- Le lac est d’une pureté cristalline. (The lake is of crystal-clear purity.)
19. Ordonné(e)
Pronunciation: [or-doh-nay]
Meaning: Tidy or well-organized.
In a Sentence:
- Leur maison est toujours ordonnée. (Their house is always tidy.)
- Sa méthode est ordonnée et efficace. (Her method is tidy and efficient.)
20. Nettoyage
Pronunciation: [neh-twa-yahzh]
Meaning: Cleaning or cleaning process.
In a Sentence:
- Le nettoyage de la cuisine est terminé. (The kitchen cleaning is done.)
- Nous allons commencer le nettoyage du bureau. (We will start cleaning the office.)
21. Astiqué
Pronunciation: [as-tee-kay]
Meaning: Polished or cleaned to shine.
In a Sentence:
- Elle a astiqué ses chaussures jusqu’à ce qu’elles brillent. (She polished her shoes until they shone.)
- Ces meubles ont été soigneusement astiqués. (These pieces of furniture have been carefully polished.)
22. Lustré
Pronunciation: [loo-stray]
Meaning: Polished or buffed clean.
In a Sentence:
- Les sols sont lustrés tous les matins. (The floors are polished every morning.)
- Ce bijou a été lustré pour le rendre éclatant. (This jewel was polished to make it shiny.)
23. Purifié
Pronunciation: [pur-ree-fee-ay]
Meaning: Purified or cleaned (often used for water or air).
In a Sentence:
- L’air dans cette maison est purifié régulièrement. (The air in this house is purified regularly.)
- Nous buvons de l’eau purifiée pour rester en bonne santé. (We drink purified water to stay healthy.)
24. Désinfecté
Pronunciation: [deh-zahn-fek-tay]
Meaning: Disinfected or sanitized.
In a Sentence:
- Les poignées de porte ont été désinfectées. (The doorknobs have been disinfected.)
- Nous désinfectons souvent les surfaces à la maison. (We often disinfect surfaces at home.)
25. Propre comme un sou neuf
Pronunciation: [propr kohm uh soo nuhf]
Meaning: Spotless, very clean (idiomatic).
In a Sentence:
- Après le ménage, la maison était propre comme un sou neuf. (After the cleaning, the house was spotless.)
- Ces vêtements sont propres comme un sou neuf. (These clothes are spotless.)
26. Dépoussiéré
Pronunciation: [deh-poo-syeh-ray]
Meaning: Dusted or free from dust.
In a Sentence:
- J’ai dépoussiéré les étagères ce matin. (I dusted the shelves this morning.)
- La table a été dépoussiérée avant le dîner. (The table was dusted before dinner.)
27. Poli
Pronunciation: [po-lee]
Meaning: Polished, cleaned to shine.
In a Sentence:
- Le parquet a été soigneusement poli. (The floor was carefully polished.)
- Elle a poli ses bijoux pour les faire briller. (She polished her jewelry to make them shine.)
28. Débarrassé
Pronunciation: [deh-bah-rah-say]
Meaning: Cleared or cleaned up.
In a Sentence:
- J’ai débarrassé la table après le repas. (I cleared the table after the meal.)
- La chambre a été débarrassée de tout son désordre. (The room was cleared of all its clutter.)
29. Assainissement
Pronunciation: [ah-sah-nee-suh-mahn]
Meaning: Sanitization or cleaning process.
In a Sentence:
- L’assainissement des locaux est obligatoire chaque semaine. (The sanitization of the premises is mandatory every week.)
- Ce programme vise à améliorer l’assainissement des écoles. (This program aims to improve the sanitization of schools.)
30. Désobstrué
Pronunciation: [deh-zohb-stroo-ay]
Meaning: Cleared or unclogged.
In a Sentence:
- Le drain a été désobstrué ce matin. (The drain was unclogged this morning.)
- J’ai désobstrué le tuyau pour permettre à l’eau de circuler. (I cleared the pipe to let the water flow.)
Other Ways to Say “Clean” in French
Here are additional expressions to say “clean” in French. This table provides alternative phrases, their pronunciation, meaning, and example sentences to help you understand and use them correctly.
| Other Ways to Say | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example Sentences |
| Net | [neh] | Spotless, very clean | Le comptoir est net après le ménage. (The counter is spotless after cleaning.) |
| Sans saleté | [sahn sal-tay] | Without dirt, clean | La cuisine est maintenant sans saleté. (The kitchen is now without dirt.) |
| En ordre | [ahn or-druh] | In order, tidy | Tout est en ordre dans la pièce. (Everything is in order in the room.) |
| Rangé | [rahn-zhay] | Put away, neat | Les jouets des enfants sont bien rangés. (The children’s toys are neatly put away.) |
| Limpide | [lam-peed] | Clear, clean (water or air) | Cette rivière est limpide et magnifique. (This river is clear and beautiful.) |
| Dégagé | [deh-gah-zhay] | Cleared, clean (space or area) | Le sentier a été dégagé après l’orage. (The trail was cleared after the storm.) |
| Décontaminé | [deh-kon-tah-mee-nay] | Decontaminated, sanitized | Les surfaces ont été décontaminées pour des raisons de sécurité. (The surfaces were decontaminated for safety.) |
| Rectifié | [rek-tee-fyay] | Adjusted, corrected, cleaned up | Les erreurs ont été rectifiées, et tout est propre. (The mistakes were corrected, and everything is clean.) |
| Propre et net | [propr eh neh] | Clean and neat | Sa tenue était propre et nette pour l’entretien. (Her outfit was clean and neat for the interview.) |
| Purifié(e) | [pu-ree-fyay] | Purified or cleaned | L’air purifié rend l’espace plus agréable. (The purified air makes the space more pleasant.) |
| Sans déchets | [sahn deh-shay] | Without waste, clean | Le parc est sans déchets grâce aux bénévoles. (The park is waste-free thanks to the volunteers.) |
| Éliminé | [eh-lee-mee-nay] | Eliminated, removed | Les taches ont été complètement éliminées. (The stains were completely removed.) |
| Bien organisé | [byan or-gah-nee-zay] | Well-organized, clean | Son bureau est toujours bien organisé. (Her desk is always well-organized.) |
| Soigné | [swah-nyay] | Neat, clean in appearance | Elle a un style soigné et professionnel. (She has a neat and professional style.) |
| Exempt de saleté | [eg-zam duh sal-tay] | Free of dirt | Ce tapis est exempt de saleté après le lavage. (This carpet is free of dirt after washing.) |
Responses to “Clean” in French
When someone uses the word “clean” in a conversation, there are various ways to respond in French depending on the situation. These responses can express agreement, appreciation, or even acknowledgment of effort. Below are some common responses that you can use in everyday conversations.
1. Merci, c’est gentil
Pronunciation: [mehr-see, say zhahn-tee]
Meaning: Thank you, that’s kind.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Cette pièce est très propre. (This room is very clean.)
Person 2: Merci, c’est gentil. (Thank you, that’s kind.)
2. Oui, ça brille!
Pronunciation: [wee, sah bree-yuh]
Meaning: Yes, it shines!
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Le sol est vraiment propre maintenant. (The floor is really clean now.)
Person 2: Oui, ça brille! (Yes, it shines!)
3. Bien sûr, c’était nécessaire
Pronunciation: [byan syr, say-teh neh-say-sair]
Meaning: Of course, it was necessary.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: On a nettoyé tout l’appartement. (We cleaned the entire apartment.)
Person 2: Bien sûr, c’était nécessaire. (Of course, it was necessary.)
4. Cela fait du bien
Pronunciation: [suh-lah feh dew byan]
Meaning: That feels good.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: J’ai enfin lavé la voiture. (I finally washed the car.)
Person 2: Cela fait du bien. (That feels good.)
5. Bravo, c’est impeccable!
Pronunciation: [brah-vo, say ahm-peh-kahb-luh]
Meaning: Well done, it’s spotless!
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: J’ai fini de nettoyer la cuisine. (I finished cleaning the kitchen.)
Person 2: Bravo, c’est impeccable! (Well done, it’s spotless!)
6. Exactement comme il faut
Pronunciation: [eg-zak-tuh-mahn kohm eel foh]
Meaning: Exactly as it should be.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: J’ai rangé tous les jouets des enfants. (I put away all the children’s toys.)
Person 2: Exactement comme il faut. (Exactly as it should be.)
7. Parfait, merci beaucoup
Pronunciation: [par-fay, mehr-see boh-koo]
Meaning: Perfect, thank you very much.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: J’ai nettoyé la salle de bain. (I cleaned the bathroom.)
Person 2: Parfait, merci beaucoup. (Perfect, thank you very much.)
8. Oui, ça sent le frais!
Pronunciation: [wee, sah sahn luh fray]
Meaning: Yes, it smells fresh!
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: J’ai lavé les draps ce matin. (I washed the sheets this morning.)
Person 2: Oui, ça sent le frais! (Yes, it smells fresh!)
9. Je suis d’accord, c’est propre
Pronunciation: [juh swee dah-kohr, say propr]
Meaning: I agree, it’s clean.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: La maison est impeccable maintenant. (The house is spotless now.)
Person 2: Je suis d’accord, c’est propre. (I agree, it’s clean.)
10. Tout à fait!
Pronunciation: [too tah fay]
Meaning: Absolutely!
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Ces vitres sont vraiment brillantes. (These windows are really shiny.)
Person 2: Tout à fait! (Absolutely!)
11. Ça fait plaisir à voir
Pronunciation: [sah feh pleh-zeer ah vwar]
Meaning: It’s a pleasure to see.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Regarde comme le jardin est bien entretenu. (Look how well the garden is maintained.)
Person 2: Ça fait plaisir à voir. (It’s a pleasure to see.)
12. Merci, c’est du bon travail
Pronunciation: [mehr-see, say dew bohn tra-vy]
Meaning: Thank you, it’s good work.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: J’ai nettoyé toute la terrasse. (I cleaned the entire patio.)
Person 2: Merci, c’est du bon travail. (Thank you, it’s good work.)
Exercise to Practice “Clean” in French
Below is a fill-in-the-blank exercise designed to help you practice using the various ways to say “clean” in French. Each sentence includes a blank for you to fill in with the correct French word or phrase related to “clean.” The answers and meanings are provided at the end.
Fill-in-the-Blanks
- J’ai _______ ma chambre ce matin. (I cleaned my room this morning.)
- Après la pluie, l’air est _______ et frais. (After the rain, the air is clean and fresh.)
- Les vitres sont _______ après le lavage. (The windows are spotless after washing.)
- Le médecin utilise un équipement _______ pour l’opération. (The doctor uses sterile equipment for the operation.)
- Mon bureau est bien _______ aujourd’hui. (My desk is well-organized today.)
- Cette rivière est _______ et magnifique. (This river is clean and beautiful.)
- Nous avons _______ la cuisine avant de partir. (We sanitized the kitchen before leaving.)
- Ces chaussures ont été soigneusement _______. (These shoes were carefully polished.)
- Le sol de la maison est maintenant _______ comme un miroir. (The floor in the house is now clean like a mirror.)
- Après le dîner, la table a été _______. (After dinner, the table was cleared.)
- Le parc est _______ grâce aux bénévoles. (The park is waste-free thanks to the volunteers.)
- Cette chemise blanche est _______ de taches. (This white shirt is free of stains.)
Answers and Meanings
- Nettoyé – (Cleaned): J’ai nettoyé ma chambre ce matin.
- Pur – (Clean or pure): Après la pluie, l’air est pur et frais.
- Impeccables – (Spotless): Les vitres sont impeccables après le lavage.
- Stérile – (Sterile): Le médecin utilise un équipement stérile pour l’opération.
- Organisé – (Organized): Mon bureau est bien organisé aujourd’hui.
- Limpide – (Clear): Cette rivière est limpide et magnifique.
- Assainie – (Sanitized): Nous avons assaini la cuisine avant de partir.
- Astiquées – (Polished): Ces chaussures ont été soigneusement astiquées.
- Brillant – (Shiny or clean): Le sol de la maison est maintenant brillant comme un miroir.
- Débarrassée – (Cleared): Après le dîner, la table a été débarrassée.
- Sans déchets – (Waste-free): Le parc est sans déchets grâce aux bénévoles.
- Sans taches – (Free of stains): Cette chemise blanche est sans taches.
Conclusion
Learning how to say “clean” in French and using it in different ways helps you communicate effectively in various situations. Whether you are talking about a spotless house, a clear river, or sanitized spaces, understanding these phrases can make your conversations more precise and meaningful.
Practicing these expressions will not only expand your vocabulary but also improve your confidence when speaking French. Keep using these words in daily conversations or exercises, and soon, they’ll become a natural part of your language skills. Stay consistent, and you’ll master the word “clean” in French in no time.