French for the Laundrette: Choosing 30 or 60 Degrees
Learn to discuss washing temperatures in French: say 'à trente degrés', ask 'Quel programme pour le synthétique ?', and understand care symbols.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
At a French launderette, you often need to choose a temperature: 30°C for delicate items, 60°C for heavily soiled cottons. This lesson teaches you the key phrases to select the right cycle, ask staff for help, and interpret care symbols. You'll practise 'à trente degrés', 'à soixante', 'linge délicat', and 'couleurs', and learn to ask 'Quel programme pour le synthétique ?'. The focus is on practical communication, not on fabric-care advice.
By the end, you can…
- ask for a 30°C or 60°C wash in French.
- name delicate items and colours in a laundry context.
- ask which programme to use for synthetic fabrics.
- understand basic laundry care symbols and discuss them in French.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
à trente degrés
at thirty degrees
ah trahnt duh-gray
Use to specify a low-temperature wash, e.g., for delicate items or colours.
à soixante
at sixty (degrees)
ah swah-sahnt
Shorthand for 60°C, a hot wash for cottons and heavily soiled items.
linge délicat
delicate laundry
lanzh day-lee-kah
Refers to items needing gentle treatment; often washed at 30°C or lower.
couleurs
colours
koo-luhr
Used on settings or labels to indicate a cycle for coloured fabrics.
Quel programme pour le synthétique ?
Which programme for synthetics?
kel proh-gram poor luh san-tay-teek
A direct question to staff or when reading the machine panel.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To specify a temperature, use 'à' + number + 'degrés'. For example: 'Je lave à trente degrés' (I wash at thirty degrees). For 60°C, you can say 'à soixante degrés' or simply 'à soixante'. To ask about a programme, use 'Quel programme pour... ?' as in 'Quel programme pour le synthétique ?' or 'Quel programme pour le linge délicat ?'.
When to use it
Use 'à trente degrés' for delicate items, wool, or colours to prevent fading. Use 'à soixante' for cottons, towels, or heavily soiled clothes. When unsure, ask 'Quel programme pour le synthétique ?' or 'Quel programme pour les couleurs ?'. Staff may point to symbols on the machine; you can confirm by saying 'Donc, à trente degrés ?' (So, at thirty degrees?).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Bonjour, j'ai du linge délicat et des couleurs. Quel programme choisir ?
Hello, I have delicate items and colours. Which programme should I choose?bon-zhoor, zhay doo lanzh day-lee-kah ay day koo-luhr. kel proh-gram shwah-zeer?Pour le linge délicat, mettez à trente degrés. Pour les couleurs, à quarante.
For delicate items, set it to thirty degrees. For colours, forty.poor luh lanzh day-lee-kah, meh-tay ah trahnt duh-gray. poor lay koo-luhr, ah kah-rahnt.Et pour le synthétique ? Quel programme pour le synthétique ?
And for synthetics? Which programme for synthetics?ay poor luh san-tay-teek? kel proh-gram poor luh san-tay-teek?Le synthétique, c'est à trente degrés aussi, mais essorage doux.
Synthetics, that's at thirty degrees too, but gentle spin.luh san-tay-teek, say ah trahnt duh-gray oh-see, may ay-so-rahzh doo.A little context goes a long way
In France, launderettes (laveries automatiques) are often self-service, and staff may not be present. Machines typically display temperatures in Celsius. When asking for help, use 'Bonjour' first and 's'il vous plaît' to be polite. The term 'linge délicat' is standard on machine dials; 'couleurs' may appear as 'couleurs' or 'couleur'. Regional differences are minimal, but in Belgium and Switzerland, 'lessive' can refer to detergent, while in France it's the wash itself.
One thing to watch for
Saying 'Je lave à trente' without 'degrés'.
Try this instead: In French, 'à trente' alone is ambiguous; include 'degrés' for clarity: 'à trente degrés'. However, 'à soixante' is commonly understood as 60°C in context.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you ask for a 30°C wash for delicate items?
Show a sample answer
Je voudrais laver le linge délicat à trente degrés.
This uses 'à trente degrés' correctly. You could also say 'Quel programme pour le linge délicat ?' to ask for the setting.
2What does 'couleurs' indicate on a washing machine?
Show a sample answer
It indicates a cycle suitable for coloured fabrics, often at a lower temperature to prevent fading.
The term 'couleurs' is used on machine dials to select the appropriate programme. It's not a temperature itself but a programme type.
3Translate: 'Which programme for synthetics?'
Show a sample answer
Quel programme pour le synthétique ?
This is a direct translation and a common question. You could also ask 'Quel programme pour les synthétiques ?' using the plural.
Use 'à trente degrés' for delicate items and colours, 'à soixante' for heavy cottons. Ask 'Quel programme pour le synthétique ?' when unsure. Always check symbols and confirm with staff if needed.
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