Je nettoie la poêle dans l'évier.

I clean the frying pan in the sink.

Breakdown of Je nettoie la poêle dans l'évier.

• je: I
• dans: in
• nettoyer: to clean
• l'évier: the sink
• la poêle: the frying pan

Questions & Answers about Je nettoie la poêle dans l'évier.

Why is it la poêle and not le poêle?

Because the word for a frying pan is feminine: la poêle. There is also a masculine noun le poêle, but that means a stove/heater (the appliance that heats a room). So:

• la poêle = the pan
• le poêle = the heater/stove (appliance)

How do you pronounce the whole sentence naturally?

A clear, neutral pronunciation is roughly: “zhuh neh-twah lah pwal dahn lay-vyay.”

• Je = “zhuh”
• nettoie = “neh-twah”
• la poêle = “lah pwal”
• dans = “dahn” (nasal vowel)
• l’évier = “lay-vyay”

In IPA: /ʒə nɛ.twa la pwal dɑ̃ le.vje/.

What verb is nettoie, and how is it conjugated?

Nettoie is the first-person singular present of nettoyer (to clean). Present tense:

• je nettoie
• tu nettoies
• il/elle nettoie
• nous nettoyons
• vous nettoyez
• ils/elles nettoient

Note the spelling change: the stem alternates between nettoi- and nettoy-.

Could I say Je lave la poêle instead of Je nettoie la poêle?

Often, yes. Both are common when talking about dishes:

• laver = to wash (with water/soap)
• nettoyer = to clean (remove dirt/grease; a bit broader)

With cookware, both are idiomatic. If you’re emphasizing degreasing or scrubbing, nettoyer feels slightly stronger.

Why is there an apostrophe in l’évier?

It’s elision. Le évier becomes l’évier to avoid two vowels clashing. Évier (sink) is masculine: un évier, l’évier.

Is évier specifically the kitchen sink?

Yes. Évier is the kitchen sink. The bathroom sink is le lavabo. So:

• dans l’évier = in the (kitchen) sink
• dans le lavabo = in the (bathroom) sink

Why dans l’évier and not à l’évier or sur l’évier?

• dans l’évier = inside the sink (the basin)
• sur l’évier = on the sink (on the counter area or rim), less typical for washing
• à l’évier is not idiomatic for location here

If you mean the action happens in the basin with water, use dans l’évier.

Is there any ambiguity about what is being cleaned?

No. The direct object of nettoie is clearly la poêle. Dans l’évier just indicates where the cleaning happens, not what is being cleaned.

Can I move the location phrase to another position?

Yes, but keep it natural:

• Neutral: Je nettoie la poêle dans l’évier.
• Fronted (for emphasis or style): Dans l’évier, je nettoie la poêle. Avoid splitting the object oddly: Je nettoie dans l’évier la poêle sounds clunky.

How would I replace la poêle with a pronoun?

Use the direct-object pronoun la:

• Je la nettoie dans l’évier. = I’m cleaning it in the sink. If you also want to replace the place with y:
• J’y nettoie la poêle. = I clean the pan there.
• With both: J’y la nettoie is wrong. You’d say: Je l’y nettoie (formal/literary; everyday speech usually keeps one element explicit to avoid heaviness).

How do I say I’m cleaning the pan (right now), I cleaned it, and I will clean it?

• Present progressive idea: Je suis en train de nettoyer la poêle (dans l’évier).
• Passé composé: J’ai nettoyé la poêle (dans l’évier).
• Futur proche: Je vais nettoyer la poêle (dans l’évier).

Why use the definite article la and not the indefinite une?

French typically requires articles where English might omit them. Choose based on meaning:

• la poêle = the pan (a specific one, known in context)
• une poêle = a pan (non-specific; any pan) Both are grammatical; context decides which you want.

Any tips to remember that poêle (pan) is feminine?

Two mnemonics:

• Cooking items ending in -e are often feminine: la cuillère, la casserole, la poêle.
• Contrast with the heater: la poêle (pan) vs le poêle (stove/heater). Cooking is “la cuisine” → la poêle.

Are there related words I might confuse with poêle?

Yes:

• la casserole = saucepan/pot
• la sauteuse = sauté pan (higher sides)
• la plaque (de cuisson) = stovetop/cooktop
• le poêle = room heater/woodstove (not for frying)