Piscine vs. bain vs. bassin

Irene H.C1Kwiziq community member

Piscine vs. bain vs. bassin

Quand est-ce qu'on utilise 'bain' ou 'bassin', au lieu de 'piscine'? Il semble que 'piscine' n'est pas correct dans certains cas. Pourriez-vous m'expliquer ça, s'il vous plaît?

Merci.

Asked 3 years ago
CélineKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Bonjour Irene,

As Chris mentioned ‘piscine’ is the translation of choice for ‘swimming-pool’. At the swimming-pool, you can find two types of pools: ‘le petit bassin’ (small pool) and ‘le grand bassin’ (deeper and longer pool).

Here are other expressions using ‘bassin’:

un bassin d’eau douce = a (soft-water) pond (artifically made)

un bassin olympique = an olympic pool

un bassin de plongée = a diving pool

Usually, ‘bain’ is used as followed:

la salle de bain = the bathroom

le bain = the bathroom

un bain de pied a footbath

 

I hope this is helpful.

Bonne journée !

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

La piscine is the swimming pool. Neither bain nor bassin are first choices for "swimming pool", which is the meaning in the text given.

Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

My understanding is that 'bassin' is more commonly used than 'bain' in this context, which is exactly as Céline has noted above. However when I completed it, the lesson indicated 'bain' as the best choice. Minor point, but unless there are significant regional differences to the contrary, perhaps 'bassin' should be indicated 'best choice' ?

Piscine vs. bain vs. bassin

Quand est-ce qu'on utilise 'bain' ou 'bassin', au lieu de 'piscine'? Il semble que 'piscine' n'est pas correct dans certains cas. Pourriez-vous m'expliquer ça, s'il vous plaît?

Merci.

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