French Vocabulary for Machinists

I work in a French-speaking country and frequently need to communicate with our machinists, many of whom do not speak English.

I started with vocabulary for machinists, but I have expanded it to other domains as well.

Here is a list of English-French vocabulary words that I have found useful. I will update it as I learn more words.

Last update: 2024-12-12

Materials and processing

• aluminum, n : aluminium (m)
• anodized, adj : anodisé
• stainless steel, n : 1. acier inoxydable, 2. inox (the cool way to say it)

Measurements

• dimensions, npl : les dimensions (fpl)

Screws, bolts, fasteners, etc.

• latch, n : un loquet (possibly Swiss-French)
  • push latch, n : un loquet poussoir
• screw, n : une vis
  • cap (or head) screw, n : une vis à tête
  • countersunk cap screw, n : vis à tête fraisée
• spring, n : un ressort
• threading, n : un filetage
  • exterior threads : 1. filetage extérieur, 2. filetages mâles
  • interior threads : 1. filetage intérieur, 2. filetages femelles

Tools

• die, n : une filière
• lathe, n : un tour
• mill, milling machine, n : une fraiseuse
• tap, n : un taraud

Electronics

Basic Concepts

• current, n : le courant
• power, n : la puissance
• voltage, n : la tension

Connectors

• connector, n : la cosse
• pin (for a PCB), n : la barrette