How to Ask If an Apartment Is Furnished in French
Learn to ask 'Est-ce que c'est meublé ?' in French, name common furniture, and understand what a furnished rental includes.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When you look for a place to live in a French-speaking area, one of the first questions you need to ask is whether the apartment comes with furniture. In French, the key word is 'meublé'. This lesson teaches you to ask if a place is furnished, to say what is included, and to understand the answer you get. You will practise short, polite questions you can use on the phone, in an email, or during a visit. All examples use standard contemporary French, with notes on usage in France and other regions where helpful.
By the end, you can…
- ask whether an apartment is furnished using 'Est-ce que c'est meublé ?'
- name common pieces of furniture and appliances in French
- understand and answer simple questions about what a rental includes
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Est-ce que c'est meublé ?
Is it furnished?
ess-kuh say muh-BLAY
The most common neutral question. 'Est-ce que' makes it a clear yes/no question in everyday speech.
L'appartement est meublé ?
Is the apartment furnished?
la-par-tuh-MAHN ay muh-BLAY
Same meaning, with rising intonation instead of 'Est-ce que'. Very common in conversation.
C'est un logement meublé ou non meublé ?
Is it a furnished or unfurnished place?
say tuhn lozh-MAHN muh-BLAY oo non muh-BLAY
Useful when you want to compare the two options directly. 'Logement' covers apartments and houses.
Qu'est-ce qui est inclus ?
What is included?
kess-kee ay tan-KLEW
Ask this after you learn the place is furnished, to find out exactly what comes with it.
Il y a une cuisine équipée ?
Is there a fitted kitchen?
eel ya ewn kwee-ZEEN ay-kee-PAY
'Équipée' means the kitchen has appliances and counters. It is not the same as 'meublé'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To ask a yes/no question, put 'Est-ce que' before a normal sentence: 'Est-ce que c'est meublé ?' You can also just raise your voice at the end: 'C'est meublé ?' For a negative question, say 'Ce n'est pas meublé ?' To answer yes, say 'Oui, c'est meublé.' To answer no, say 'Non, ce n'est pas meublé' or 'Non, c'est vide' (it's empty). Note that 'non meublé' is used mainly as a label on listings, not as a natural spoken answer.
When to use it
Use 'meublé' for a place that already has furniture such as a bed, table, chairs and often appliances. A 'location meublée' is a furnished rental; a 'location vide' or 'non meublée' is unfurnished. In France, furnished rentals often have a minimum one-year contract for a tenant's main home, but short-term furnished stays are also common. If you only care about the kitchen, ask 'La cuisine est équipée ?' instead.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Bonjour, je vous appelle pour l'appartement rue Victor Hugo. Est-ce que c'est meublé ?
Hello, I'm calling about the apartment on rue Victor Hugo. Is it furnished?bon-ZHOOR, zhuh voo za-PELL poor la-par-tuh-MAHN rew veek-TOR ew-GO. ess-kuh say muh-BLAYOui, il est meublé. Il y a un lit, une table, des chaises et une cuisine équipée.
Yes, it's furnished. There's a bed, a table, chairs and a fitted kitchen.wee, eel ay muh-BLAY. eel ya uhn lee, ewn TABL, day SHEZZ ay ewn kwee-ZEEN ay-kee-PAYEst-ce qu'il y a une machine à laver ?
Is there a washing machine?ess-keel ya ewn ma-SHEEN a la-VAYOui, et le loyer est un peu plus cher parce que c'est meublé.
Yes, and the rent is a bit higher because it's furnished.wee, ay luh lwa-YAY ay tuhn puh plew SHARE parss-kuh say muh-BLAYA little context goes a long way
In France, 'meublé' has a legal meaning for rentals, not just a description. A 'location meublée' must include a minimum set of furniture, and the contract rules differ from an unfurnished 'location vide'. In Belgium, Switzerland and Quebec, 'meublé' is understood the same way, but rental terms and typical furniture can vary. Always ask what is included rather than assuming.
One thing to watch for
Saying 'C'est un appartement avec des meubles ?' and expecting it to mean 'Is it furnished?' in a natural way.
Try this instead: It is understandable, but the standard question is 'Est-ce que c'est meublé ?' or 'L'appartement est meublé ?' Use 'meublé' as an adjective. For example: 'C'est meublé ?' — 'Oui, c'est meublé.'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'Is it furnished?' in a neutral, polite way?
Show a sample answer
Est-ce que c'est meublé ?
'Est-ce que' introduces a standard yes/no question. 'C'est meublé ?' with rising intonation is also correct in conversation.
2You want to know if the kitchen has appliances. What do you ask?
Show a sample answer
La cuisine est équipée ?
'Équipée' describes a kitchen with appliances and fittings. 'Est-ce que la cuisine est équipée ?' is equally correct.
3Someone says 'Non, c'est non meublé.' What does that mean?
Show a sample answer
It means the place is unfurnished (a listing label; in speech you would more naturally say 'Non, il n'est pas meublé' or 'Non, c'est vide').
'Non meublé' means there is no furniture provided; it appears mostly in rental listings. In France you may also hear 'location vide' for this type of rental.
Learn 'Est-ce que c'est meublé ?' first, then ask 'Qu'est-ce qui est inclus ?' to find out exactly what furniture and appliances come with the apartment.
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