How to Ask About Laundry Facilities in French: 'Is There a Laundromat Nearby?'
Learn to ask if there's a laundromat nearby in French, understand opening hours, and handle basic laundry needs with confidence.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When traveling or living in a French-speaking area, knowing how to ask about laundry facilities is essential. This lesson teaches you to ask 'Is there a laundromat nearby?' in French, understand the response, and ask about opening hours. You'll learn key phrases for finding a laundromat, checking if it's open, and asking about services like washing and drying. The focus is on practical, polite questions you can use immediately.
By the end, you can…
- ask if there is a laundromat nearby in French.
- ask about the opening hours of a laundromat.
- understand simple responses about laundry facilities.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Est-ce qu'il y a une laverie près d'ici ?
Is there a laundromat nearby?
ess-kuh eel ee-ya oon lah-vree preh dee-see
Use this polite question to ask if there's a laundromat close by. 'Laverie' is the standard term for a laundromat in France.
Où est la laverie la plus proche ?
Where is the nearest laundromat?
oo eh lah lah-vree lah ploo prosh
Ask this if you need directions to the closest laundromat. 'La plus proche' means 'the nearest' (feminine form).
À quelle heure ouvre la laverie ?
What time does the laundromat open?
ah kel ur oovr lah lah-vree
Use this to ask about opening time. 'Ouvre' is the third-person singular form of 'ouvrir' (to open).
À quelle heure ferme la laverie ?
What time does the laundromat close?
ah kel ur ferm lah lah-vree
Ask this to find out closing time. 'Ferme' is from 'fermer' (to close).
Est-ce que la laverie est ouverte maintenant ?
Is the laundromat open now?
ess-kuh lah lah-vree eh too-vert man-tuh-nahn
Use this to check if it's currently open. 'Ouverte' is the feminine form of 'ouvert' (open).
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To ask if something exists or is available, use 'Est-ce qu'il y a...?' (Is there...?). For example, 'Est-ce qu'il y a une laverie près d'ici ?' means 'Is there a laundromat nearby?' You can replace 'une laverie' with other nouns: 'Est-ce qu'il y a un distributeur de billets ?' (Is there an ATM?). To ask about location, use 'Où est...?' (Where is...?): 'Où est la laverie la plus proche ?' (Where is the nearest laundromat?).
When to use it
Use these phrases when you need to do laundry while traveling or in a new neighborhood. 'Est-ce qu'il y a une laverie près d'ici ?' is polite and works in most situations. If you're already at the laundromat, ask about hours: 'À quelle heure ferme la laverie ?' (What time does it close?). For a more formal tone, you can add 's'il vous plaît' at the end: 'Est-ce qu'il y a une laverie près d'ici, s'il vous plaît ?'
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Excusez-moi, est-ce qu'il y a une laverie près d'ici ?
Excuse me, is there a laundromat nearby?eks-koo-zay-mwah, ess-kuh eel ee-ya oon lah-vree preh dee-seeOui, il y a une laverie au coin de la rue.
Yes, there is a laundromat at the corner of the street.wee, eel ee-ya oon lah-vree oh kwan duh lah rooMerci. À quelle heure ferme-t-elle ?
Thank you. What time does it close?mair-see. ah kel ur ferm telElle ferme à 20 heures.
It closes at 8 PM.el ferm ah van-turA little context goes a long way
In France, laundromats are called 'laveries' or 'laveries automatiques'. They are often self-service and may require coins or a card. In Canada (Quebec), the term 'buanderie' is commonly used for a laundromat, while in France 'buanderie' usually refers to a laundry room in a home. Hours can vary; many close by 8 or 9 PM. It's polite to greet with 'Bonjour' before asking a question.
One thing to watch for
Using 'buanderie' in France to mean a laundromat.
Try this instead: In France, 'buanderie' means a laundry room (often in a home), not a public laundromat. Use 'laverie' instead. For example, say 'Est-ce qu'il y a une laverie près d'ici ?' not 'Est-ce qu'il y a une buanderie près d'ici ?' In Quebec, 'buanderie' can mean laundromat, so be aware of regional differences.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'Is there a laundromat nearby?' in French?
Show a sample answer
Est-ce qu'il y a une laverie près d'ici ?
This is the standard polite way. You could also say 'Est-ce qu'il y a une laverie dans le coin ?' (in the area), but 'près d'ici' is more common.
2What does 'À quelle heure ferme la laverie ?' mean?
Show a sample answer
What time does the laundromat close?
'À quelle heure' means 'at what time', 'ferme' is the verb for 'closes', and 'la laverie' is 'the laundromat'.
3If someone says 'Elle est ouverte jusqu'à 21 heures', what does it mean?
Show a sample answer
It is open until 9 PM.
'Ouverte' means 'open', 'jusqu'à' means 'until', and '21 heures' is 9 PM in 24-hour time. In Quebec, you might hear '9 heures du soir' instead.
Use 'Est-ce qu'il y a une laverie près d'ici ?' to find a laundromat, and 'À quelle heure...?' to ask about hours. Remember that 'laverie' is used in France, while 'buanderie' is common in Quebec for a laundromat.
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