French word

colocation

Pronunciation

IPA/kolokasjɔ̃/

Meaning

  • feminine nounflatshare

Example

Je vis en colocation avec deux amis.

I live in a flatshare with two friends.

Illustration for colocation (flatshare)

Core concept

A home divided into personal zones but held together by common rooms and shared expenses.

Similar words

colocataire: Someone who lives in shared housing and contributes to rent and daily living costs.
coloc: A casual shortened term for sharing a rented home with other people.
appartement partagé: A way of living in which several people share an apartment and its facilities.

Definition in French

Location partagée dans laquelle plusieurs personnes occupent ensemble un logement en conservant parfois des espaces privés et en partageant les pièces communes et les coûts.

Word origin

Colocation is a French formation in which co- expresses joint participation and location refers to renting, giving the noun its shared-rental sense.

Usage tips

  • Colocation refers to the living arrangement, while the people can be called colocataires, a useful distinction in everyday French.

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