French for the Laundrette: Saying Clothes Are Still Damp After Two Cycles
Learn to say 'le linge est encore humide', 'j'ai mis deux cycles', 'ça ne sèche pas' and ask 'Est-ce qu'il y a un autre sèche-linge ?' at the laundrette.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
You are at a self-service laundrette in a French-speaking area. After two dryer cycles, your clothes are still damp. You need to explain the problem clearly and ask for another dryer. This lesson gives you the exact phrases to do that. You will learn to describe the dampness, say how many cycles you ran, state that the dryer is not drying, and ask if there is another machine. The focus is on practical, matter-of-fact communication with staff or other customers. No prior grammar is assumed beyond the present tense and simple past (passé composé) with common verbs.
By the end, you can…
- say that my laundry is still damp using 'le linge est encore humide'.
- explain that I ran two cycles with 'j'ai mis deux cycles'.
- state that the dryer is not drying with 'ça ne sèche pas'.
- ask if there is another dryer with 'Est-ce qu'il y a un autre sèche-linge ?'.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Le linge est encore humide.
The laundry is still damp.
luh lɛ̃ʒ ɛ tɑ̃-kɔʁ y-MEED
Use 'le linge' for laundry or clothes collectively. 'Encore' means 'still'. 'Humide' means damp, not soaking wet.
J'ai mis deux cycles.
I ran two cycles.
ʒe mi dø SIKL
Literally 'I put two cycles'. This is the standard way to say you operated the machine for two cycles. Use 'j'ai mis' for a completed action.
Ça ne sèche pas.
It's not drying.
sa nə sɛʃ pɑ
Use 'ça' to refer to the dryer or the process. 'Ne... pas' makes it negative. 'Sèche' is from 'sécher' (to dry).
Est-ce qu'il y a un autre sèche-linge ?
Is there another dryer?
ɛs kil i a œ̃ nɔtʁ sɛʃ-LƐ̃ʒ
Ask this to find a different machine. 'Un autre' means 'another'. 'Sèche-linge' is the appliance; 'séchoir' is less common in laundrettes.
Le linge est encore mouillé.
The laundry is still wet.
luh lɛ̃ʒ ɛ tɑ̃-kɔʁ mu-YE
Use 'mouillé' if the clothes are wetter than damp. 'Humide' is for slightly wet; 'mouillé' is for clearly wet.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To describe a problem with the result, use 'le linge est encore + adjective'. For example: 'Le linge est encore humide.' (The laundry is still damp.) 'Le linge est encore mouillé.' (The laundry is still wet.) To say what you did, use 'j'ai mis + number + cycles'. For example: 'J'ai mis deux cycles.' (I ran two cycles.) To say the machine is not working as expected, use 'ça ne + verb + pas'. For example: 'Ça ne sèche pas.' (It's not drying.) These patterns are reusable in other contexts: 'La machine ne marche pas.' (The machine is not working.)
When to use it
Use these phrases when you need to explain a laundry problem to staff or another customer. Start with the result: 'Le linge est encore humide.' Then explain what you did: 'J'ai mis deux cycles.' Then state the issue: 'Ça ne sèche pas.' Finally, ask for a solution: 'Est-ce qu'il y a un autre sèche-linge ?' This order is logical and polite. If you are not sure whether the clothes are damp or wet, use 'humide' for slightly wet and 'mouillé' for very wet. In France, 'sèche-linge' is the common term for a dryer in a laundrette. In Canada, you may hear 'sécheuse', but 'sèche-linge' is also understood.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Bonjour, excusez-moi. J'ai un problème avec le sèche-linge.
Hello, excuse me. I have a problem with the dryer.bɔ̃-ʒuʁ, ɛks-ky-ze mwa. ʒe œ̃ pʁɔ-blɛm a-vɛk lə sɛʃ-LƐ̃ʒOui, qu'est-ce qui se passe ?
Yes, what's going on?wi, kɛs ki sə pɑsLe linge est encore humide. J'ai mis deux cycles, mais ça ne sèche pas. Est-ce qu'il y a un autre sèche-linge ?
The laundry is still damp. I ran two cycles, but it's not drying. Is there another dryer?luh lɛ̃ʒ ɛ tɑ̃-kɔʁ y-MEED. ʒe mi dø SIKL, mɛ sa nə sɛʃ pɑ. ɛs kil i a œ̃ nɔtʁ sɛʃ-LƐ̃ʒOui, il y en a un au fond. Vous pouvez l'utiliser.
Yes, there is one in the back. You can use it.wi, il i ɑ̃ a œ̃ o fɔ̃. vu pu-ve ly-ti-li-zeA little context goes a long way
In French laundrettes, staff are usually present during opening hours. It is normal to approach them directly with a problem. Use 'vous' with staff unless they invite 'tu'. In some smaller laundrettes, the owner may be the only person on site. If no staff is available, you can ask another customer using the same phrases. In Canada, 'sécheuse' is common for a dryer, but 'sèche-linge' is also used. In Belgium and Switzerland, 'sèche-linge' is standard.
One thing to watch for
Saying 'le linge est encore humide' when the clothes are soaking wet, or using 'mouillé' for slightly damp.
Try this instead: Use 'humide' for damp (slightly wet) and 'mouillé' for wet (clearly wet). For example, if the clothes are dripping, say 'Le linge est encore mouillé.' If they are just cold and slightly damp, say 'Le linge est encore humide.'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'The laundry is still damp' in French?
Show a sample answer
Le linge est encore humide.
This uses 'le linge' for laundry, 'est' for 'is', 'encore' for 'still', and 'humide' for 'damp'. It is the standard phrase.
2You ran two cycles and the dryer is not drying. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
J'ai mis deux cycles, mais ça ne sèche pas.
'J'ai mis deux cycles' means 'I ran two cycles'. 'Mais' means 'but'. 'Ça ne sèche pas' means 'it's not drying'. You can also say 'J'ai mis deux cycles et ça ne sèche pas' without 'mais'.
3Ask if there is another dryer.
Show a sample answer
Est-ce qu'il y a un autre sèche-linge ?
This is a polite question. 'Est-ce qu'il y a' means 'is there'. 'Un autre' means 'another'. 'Sèche-linge' is the appliance. In Canada, you might hear 'sécheuse', but 'sèche-linge' is also understood.
Use 'le linge est encore humide' for damp clothes, 'j'ai mis deux cycles' to say you ran two cycles, 'ça ne sèche pas' to say it's not drying, and 'Est-ce qu'il y a un autre sèche-linge ?' to ask for another dryer. Keep it simple and matter-of-fact.
Progress is saved on this browser.
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Put today’s French into a conversation with an AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr