Linguistic Insights & Cultural Trivia

'Le robinet' (/lə ʁɔ.bi.nɛ/) is a masculine noun with a charming historical origin: antique spigots were frequently cast in the shape of a sheep's head, nicknamed 'Robin' in Old French! Today, tap water in France is famously ordered in bistros as 'une carafe d'eau du robinet' (free of charge by French dining law). The colloquial French idiom 'couper le robinet' means to cut off funding or halt the flow of money. Remember to pronounce the ending '-et' as an open /ɛ/ sound.

Daily Conversational Example

"Ferme bien le robinet en laiton."

— Turn off the brass faucet tightly.

Other Vocabulary in this Scene (The Parisian Bathroom)

le robinet /lə ʁɔ.bi.nɛ/ The Faucet / Tap la serviette /la sɛʁ.vjɛt/ The Towel le savon /lə sa.vɔ̃/ The Soap le parfum /lə paʁ.fœ̃/ The Perfume le peigne /lə pɛɲ/ The Comb

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the grammatical gender of "le robinet"?
In French, "le robinet" uses the article "le" which denotes a masculine noun. Remember to match associated adjectives accordingly!
How can I practice pronouncing "le robinet" with the native rhythm?
Listen closely to the audio by clicking the "Listen" button in the interactive game above. Practice matching the phonetic transcription /lə ʁɔ.bi.nɛ/.