French · Home, Clothes & Daily Life
"Trash" in French: ordures
les ordures
Note: bin: la poubelle
Trash in French as refuse is often les ordures, feminine plural. Sortir les ordures means take out the trash. The bin itself is la poubelle.
Chore reminder
Tu sors les ordures ce soir ?Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce ordures
Say it
or-DEWR
/ɔʁ.dyʁ/
or-DEWR. Soft d; eu like blur. Plural -s silent.
"Trash" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| les ordures | trash / garbage Refuse in general. | Refuse in general. |
| sortir les ordures | to take out the trash Chore. | Chore. |
| sacs d'ordures | trash bags Shopping. | Shopping. |
| la poubelle | the trash can The bin, not the waste itself. | The bin, not the waste itself. |
How to use ordures in real life
- 1Chore reminder
Tu sors les ordures ce soir ?
Are you taking out the trash tonight?
Les ordures.
- 2Smell
Les ordures sentent mauvais. Change le sac.
The trash smells bad. Change the bag.
Plural agreement.
- 3Street
Ne laisse pas les ordures devant la porte.
Don't leave the trash in front of the door.
Building rules.
Mistakes English speakers make with ordures
Incorrect: Le ordure est plein.
Correct: Les ordures sont pleines. / La poubelle est pleine.
Everyday trash is often les ordures; the bin is la poubelle.
Incorrect: Sortir le trash.
Correct: Sortir les ordures.
Use ordures.
Good to know
French cities push tri sélectif: sorting glass, plastic, and residual waste. Ordures ménagères is the official label on bins; at home people still say sortir les ordures or sortir la poubelle.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Collection night
ChatPal
C'est demain, les ordures ?
Is it trash day tomorrow?
You
Oui. Je sors les ordures après le dîner.
Yes. I'll take out the trash after dinner.
ChatPal
Pense aux ordures recyclables aussi.
Think about the recyclable trash too.
You
OK, je fais les deux sacs.
OK, I'll do both bags.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Trash" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Trash" in French
How do I say trash?
Les ordures for the waste; la poubelle for the bin.
How do I say take out the trash?
Sortir les ordures.
Is ordures plural?
Yes, usually les ordures.
How do you pronounce ordures?
Or-DEWR.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
Keep reading
- Ordering Food in French: Essential Phrases for 2026Ordering food in french - Learn how to confidently order food in French with real-life phrases and tips for 2026 travelers
- 10 Best French Speaking Practice Apps for 2026Find the best French speaking practice app to build fluency. We review 10 top tools like ChatPal for conversation, travel prep, and building confidence in 2026.
