French word

lavabo

Pronunciation

IPA/lavabo/

Meaning

  • masculine nounsink

Example

J'ai nettoyé le lavabo ce matin.

I cleaned the sink this morning.

Illustration for lavabo (sink)

More examples

Je me suis lavé les mains au lavabo avant de manger.

I washed my hands at the sink before eating.

Core concept

A fixed basin with a tap, collecting water as hands or the face are washed.

Common phrases

  • sous le lavabo

    under the sink

  • un lavabo mural

    a wall-mounted sink

  • se laver les mains au lavabo

    wash one's hands at the sink

Similar words

évier: A deep sink with a drain for washing dishes and vegetables in a kitchen.
robinet: A fitting connected to pipes for regulating and releasing water.

Definition in French

Appareil fixé dans une salle de bains, formé d'un bassin et d'un robinet, destiné au lavage des mains et du visage.

Word origin

Lavabo comes from Latin lavabo, meaning 'I shall wash', a word from a liturgical hand-washing phrase that later named the basin.

Usage tips

  • Lavabo is masculine, so the usual form is le lavabo, while a kitchen sink is usually un évier.

Other meanings

  • washbasinnoun

Word lists with this word