French word

vaisselle

Pronunciation

IPA/vɛsɛl/

Meaning

  • feminine noundishes

Example

Peux-tu sécher la vaisselle, s'il te plaît ?

Could you dry the dishes, please?

Illustration for vaisselle (dishes)

More examples

Je dois faire la vaisselle ce soir.

I have to do the dishes tonight.

Core concept

A gathered set of plates, cups, glasses, and eating tools ready for a meal.

Common phrases

  • faire la vaisselle

    do the dishes

  • laver la vaisselle

    wash the dishes

  • la vaisselle sale

    dirty dishes

Similar words

assiette: A shallow, flat dish for serving food.
couverts: Forks, knives, spoons, and similar tools used while eating.
verre: A glass container for holding and drinking beverages.
ustensile: A cooking or serving tool used to prepare or arrange food.

Definition in French

Ensemble des ustensiles et récipients utilisés à table pour manger et boire.

Word origin

French vaisselle comes through Old French vaissel from Latin vascellum, meaning a small vessel, and developed into a collective word for tableware.

Usage tips

  • Vaisselle is commonly treated as a singular mass noun, as in La vaisselle est propre, even when it refers to many items.

Other meanings

  • washing-upnoun

Related words

  • lave-vaisselledishwashernoun
  • vaisselierdish cabinetnoun

Word lists with this word