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maison
/mɛ.zɔ̃/
house
J'habite dans une petite maison avec un jardin.
I live in a small house with a garden.
neutral
A building for human habitation, typically with a single family living in it.
Nous avons acheté une maison à la campagne.
We bought a house in the countryside.
In French, 'maison' can also refer to a home or household in a broader sense.
neutral
A building used for a specific purpose, such as a business or institution.
La maison de retraite est bien équipée.
The nursing home is well-equipped.
Common in compound terms like 'maison de retraite' (nursing home) or 'maison d'édition' (publishing house).
formal
A family or dynasty, especially in a noble or royal context.
La maison de Bourbon a régné en France pendant des siècles.
The House of Bourbon ruled France for centuries.
Used in historical or aristocratic contexts.
Collocations
maison individuelledetached housemaison d'éditionpublishing housemaison de retraitenursing homemaison closebrothel
Synonyms
Antonyms
Pro Tip
Gender and Plural
In French, 'maison' is feminine (la maison) and its plural is 'maisons'.
Gold Rule
Avoid Confusion with 'maison' as 'home'
While 'maison' can mean 'home' in a general sense, it specifically refers to the building itself. For abstract concepts like 'feeling at home,' use 'chez soi' or 'à la maison'.
Word Origin
From Old French 'maison', from Latin 'mansio' (dwelling, residence), from 'manere' (to remain, stay).
Usage Notes
'Maison' is the most common term for a house in French, but it can also refer to a home or household in a broader sense. In compound terms, it often denotes a specific type of building or institution.
Word Breakdown
maison
house
rootDictionnaire Français-Anglais