New concept
One phrase that never changes
English needs two forms, there is and there are. French has one, and it never changes: il y a.
- Il y a un canapé. — There's a sofa.
- Il y a deux chambres. — There are two bedrooms.
In relaxed speech it often shrinks to y a — but write and learn the full il y a. Here are the rooms and furniture of a home:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| le salon | the living room |
| la cuisine | the kitchen |
| la chambre | the bedroom |
| la salle de bains | the bathroom |
| les toilettes (always plural) | the toilet |
| le balcon | the balcony |
| le jardin | the garden |
| le lit · le canapé | the bed · the sofa |
| la table · la chaise | the table · the chair |
La pièce is any room in a home. La chambre is a room you sleep in — a bedroom, or a hotel room — never just any room: a classic trap for English speakers.