French Conversation · Level 63
76 words
French word
poubelle
Pronunciation
IPA/pubɛl/
Meaning
- feminine nountrash can
Example
La poubelle est pleine.
The trash can is full.
More examples
Jette ce papier à la poubelle, s'il te plaît.
Throw this paper in the trash, please.
Core concept
A household or public bin filled with discarded items awaiting removal.
Common phrases
jeter à la poubelle
throw ___ in the trash
la poubelle publique
the public trash can
vider la poubelle
empty the trash can
Similar words
corbeille: A small indoor container for paper scraps and other small pieces of rubbish.
sac poubelle: A disposable bag for rubbish that is tied shut before being thrown away.
conteneur: A very large waste container placed for collection by a waste service.
bac: A large box-shaped container used in homes or public places for sorting or collection.
Definition in French
Objet ou bac servant à recueillir les ordures pour leur enlèvement.
Word origin
French adopted the surname Poubelle as a common noun after Eugène Poubelle introduced waste-container requirements in Paris in the 1880s.
Usage tips
- "Jeter quelque chose à la poubelle" can also mean abandoning a plan or proposal, not only throwing away a physical object.