Bonjour! Welcome back to your French course.
In our last lesson, you learned the essential skill of paraphrasing to confirm your understanding of a customer's problem. You practiced using key phrases like Si je comprends bien... and C'est bien ça ?. This ensures you're ready to solve the right problem.
Today, we'll build on that by learning the vocabulary you need to discuss the problem's source: the hardware itself. This lesson directly addresses the learning outcome: to identify and name common hardware in French (computer, screen, keyboard, mouse, router). For a technical support role, being able to name these items clearly and correctly is non-negotiable. It's the foundation for giving instructions and understanding the customer's setup.
1. Your Core Technical Vocabulary
Let's start by introducing the essential hardware terms you'll use every day. Notice the small but very important word before each noun: un for masculine nouns and une for feminine nouns. Remembering the gender is crucial for building correct sentences later.
Here are the five key terms for today's lesson, plus a few other useful ones from the image:
| English | French | Gender | Pronunciation Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer | Un ordinateur | Masculine | /ɔʁ.di.na.tœʁ/ (or-dee-na-tur) |
| Screen / Monitor | Un écran | Masculine | /e.kʁɑ̃/ (ay-kron) |
| Keyboard | Un clavier | Masculine | /kla.vje/ (klah-vyay) |
| Mouse | Une souris | Feminine | /su.ʁi/ (soo-ree) |
| Router | Un routeur | Masculine | /ʁu.tœʁ/ (roo-tur) |
| Laptop | Un ordinateur portable | Masculine | /ɔʁ.di.na.tœʁ pɔʁ.tabl/ |
| Printer | Une imprimante | Feminine | /ɛ̃.pʁi.mɑ̃t/ (an-pree-mont) |
A quick note on "computer":
Un ordinateur de bureaurefers to a desktop computer.Un ordinateur portable(or justun portable) refers to a laptop.
2. Hearing the Words in Context
Now, let's listen to these words being used by a native speaker. This will help you get the pronunciation right. We'll watch a video that introduces vocabulary for computing.
Vocabulaire de l'Informatique et d'Internet en Français
In the video 'Vocabulaire de l'Informatique et d'Internet en Français' from the 'Français avec Pierre' channel, you will hear the correct pronunciation of several key hardware terms.
Please watch the following two clips: From 04:29 to 05:48: Pay close attention to the pronunciation of 'le clavier' (keyboard) and 'l'écran' (the screen). From 05:48 to 06:15: This part covers 'ordinateur portable' (laptop), 'ordinateur de bureau' (desktop computer), and 'la souris' (the mouse).
Did you notice the cultural tip about the "AZERTY" keyboard in France, as opposed to the "QWERTY" layout you might be used to? It's a small detail, but it shows how objects can differ across cultures.
3. A Common Word for "Router": La Box
While un routeur is the correct technical term, in everyday conversation and on customer calls in France, you will very frequently hear another term for the device that provides internet access.
Let's watch a short video that introduces this common alternative. The video is made for children, so the language is very clear and simple, which is perfect for learning new vocabulary.
Le matériel informatique CP - CE1 - CE2 - CM1 - CM2 - Cycle 2 - Cycle 3 - Objets techniques
The video 'Le matériel informatique' by Maître Lucas explains computer hardware in simple terms. We'll focus on the part where he discusses the internet connection device.
Watch the clip from 04:59 to 05:30. The speaker introduces the term 'la box' as the device at home that connects you to the internet.
So, when a customer talks about their internet connection, they are just as likely to mention la box as they are le routeur. It's essential to know both terms.
Test your understanding!
A customer calls and says, "Ma box ne s'allume plus." (My box isn't turning on anymore). Which piece of hardware are they referring to?
Show answer
They are referring to their router.
4. Putting it all Together in a Call Center Context
Now, let's practice using these words in simple phrases you might hear or say during a technical support call.
Imagine a customer is describing a problem. Your job is to identify the piece of hardware they are talking about.
Scenario 1:
Customer: "Bonjour, j'ai un problème. Je bouge l'objet sur mon bureau, mais la petite flèche ne bouge pas sur l'ordinateur." (Hello, I have a problem. I'm moving the object on my desk, but the little arrow isn't moving on the computer.)
- Hardware:
une souris(a mouse)
Scenario 2:
Customer: "J'essaie d'écrire mon mot de passe, mais quand j'appuie sur les touches, rien n'apparaît." (I'm trying to type my password, but when I press the keys, nothing appears.)
- Hardware:
un clavier(a keyboard)
Scenario 3:
Customer: "Tout est noir. Je ne vois rien du tout." (Everything is black. I don't see anything at all.)
- Hardware:
un écran(a screen)
To review these key terms, you can use the following resource as a quick reference list.
Computer parts and troubleshooting in French
The article 'Computer parts and troubleshooting in French' provides a clear, simple list of the essential hardware vocabulary.
Please read the short list under the heading 'The French vocabulary of computer hardware'. It's a great summary of the words we've focused on today.
Conclusion
Fantastic work! You have just learned the fundamental vocabulary for discussing technical hardware in French. This is a critical step toward diagnosing and solving customer issues effectively.
Key Takeaways:
- You can now identify and name the five core pieces of hardware:
un ordinateur,un écran,un clavier,une souris, andun routeur. - You learned the common conversational term for a router:
la box. - You understand the importance of gender (
unorune) when naming nouns in French.
Preview of the Next Lesson:
Now that you can name the equipment, the next step is to describe its condition. In the next lesson, we will focus on describing common technical states. You'll learn essential words like allumé (on), éteint (off), connecté (connected), and lent (slow). This will allow you to form basic diagnostic sentences like "L'ordinateur est lent" (The computer is slow).
À bientôt! (See you soon!)