Ce déchet est dangereux.

This waste is dangerous.

Breakdown of Ce déchet est dangereux.

• être: to be
• ce: this
• dangereux: dangerous
• le déchet: the waste

Questions & Answers about Ce déchet est dangereux.

What does ce mean here, and how is it different from other French words like cet, cette, or ces?

In Ce déchet est dangereux, ce is a demonstrative adjective meaning this or that. It points to a specific noun.

French has four main forms of this demonstrative adjective:

• ce déchet = this/that waste (masculine singular, before most consonants)
• cet objet = this/that object (masculine singular, before a vowel or mute h)
• cette bouteille = this/that bottle (feminine singular)
• ces déchets = these/those wastes (masculine or feminine plural)

So you say ce déchet because:

• déchet is masculine
• it starts with a consonant sound /d/, so you don’t need cet

In English you distinguish this vs that; French uses ce for both, and context tells you whether it’s more like this or that.

Why is it dangereux and not dangereuse or something else?

Dangereux is an adjective meaning dangerous. In French, adjectives must agree in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) with the noun they describe.

The basic forms of dangereux are:

• Masculine singular: dangereux
• Masculine plural: dangereux (same spelling as singular)
• Feminine singular: dangereuse
• Feminine plural: dangereuses

Since déchet is masculine singular, you must use the masculine singular form:

• Ce déchet est dangereux. = This piece of waste is dangerous.

If the noun were feminine, for example cette substance, you’d say:

• Cette substance est dangereuse. = This substance is dangerous.

Why is the adjective after est and not before the noun, like dangerous waste?

You’re seeing two different structures:

1. With être (to be)
   Structure: noun + être + adjective

   • Ce déchet est dangereux.
     Literally: This waste is dangerous.
     Here, the adjective dangereux must come after the verb est.

2. Directly before/after the noun (without être)
   Structure: article + noun + adjective

   • Un déchet dangereux = a dangerous piece of waste
     In this case, dangereux comes after the noun (most adjectives in French follow the noun).

So:

• Ce déchet est dangereux. (statement with être)
• Un déchet dangereux. (noun phrase, no être)

Putting dangereux before déchet (un dangereux déchet) is possible but stylistically marked and less common; the neutral, standard order is un déchet dangereux.

How would I say this in the plural: These wastes are dangerous?

To make the sentence plural, both the demonstrative and the noun change, but the adjective looks the same:

• Ces déchets sont dangereux. = These wastes are dangerous.

Breakdown:

• ce → ces (plural demonstrative)
• déchet → déchets (add -s)
• est → sont (third person plural of être)
• dangereux stays dangereux (masculine plural form is identical to masculine singular in spelling)

Pronunciation note:

• Singular: dangereux /dɑ̃.ʒʁø/
• Plural: dangereux /dɑ̃.ʒʁø/ (pronounced exactly the same)

Is déchet like English waste (uncountable), or can it be counted?

In French, déchet is typically countable:

• un déchet = a piece/item of waste
• des déchets / les déchets = waste/garbage in general

Examples:

• Un déchet toxique a été trouvé.
  A toxic piece of waste has been found.
• Les déchets sont collectés le mardi.
  The waste is collected on Tuesdays.

So Ce déchet est dangereux. focuses on one specific item.
If you want to talk about waste in general, you’d usually use the plural:

• Les déchets sont dangereux. = Waste is dangerous. (in general)

How do you pronounce Ce déchet est dangereux?

Approximate IPA: /sə deʃe ɛ dɑ̃ʒʁø/

By word:

• Ce: /sə/
  Like English “suh”.
• déchet: /de.ʃe/
  
  • dé: like “day”
  • chet: like “shay”
    Together: day-shay.
• est: /ɛ/
  Like the e in English “bed” (but a bit more open); the -st is silent here.
• dangereux: /dɑ̃.ʒʁø/
  
  • dan-: nasal an sound, similar to don in French: you don’t fully pronounce the n
  • -ge-: like “zh” in English “measure”
  • -reux: /ʁø/ with the French r in the throat and an eu sound somewhat like British “fur” but without the r.

No liaison between déchet and est: you don’t pronounce a t.
It’s not déchet-t-est; it’s simply déchet est.

Could I also say C’est dangereux instead of Ce déchet est dangereux?

Yes, but the meaning and focus are slightly different.

• Ce déchet est dangereux.
  Very specific: this particular piece of waste is dangerous. The noun déchet is clearly identified.

• C’est dangereux.
  More general / deictic: this is dangerous. You might say this while pointing at the waste, or after mentioning it, but you’re not repeating the noun.

In many everyday situations, a native speaker might simply say C’est dangereux if the context already makes it clear what this refers to. However, Ce déchet est dangereux is more precise and explicit.

Why not say Il est dangereux for It is dangerous?

In French, il est and c’est are not used in the same way as English it is.

• Il est dangereux. is used more naturally:

  • for a person: Il est dangereux. = He is dangerous.
  • or when the noun is already fully given and very salient in the sentence structure, often in written, more formal French.

• For things you’re pointing at or introducing, French tends to prefer ce:

  • Ce déchet est dangereux.
  • C’est dangereux.

You can say Il est dangereux, ce déchet., but notice the structure:

• Main statement: Il est dangereux.
• Then an apposition: ce déchet (clarifying what il refers to).

For simple, clear French when pointing to an object, Ce déchet est dangereux or C’est dangereux are the most natural choices.

How do I know déchet is masculine, and does its ending -et tell me anything?

You can see it’s masculine in the sentence because it uses:

• ce déchet (not cette déchet)
• dangereux (masculine form, not dangereuse)

In general, French noun gender is something you mostly have to memorize, but some endings provide clues. Nouns ending in -et are often masculine, for example:

• le billet (ticket)
• le secret
• le paquet (packet)
• le projet (project)
• le déchet

There are exceptions, but as a rule of thumb, when you learn a new noun, learn it with its article:

• un déchet
  so you remember it’s masculine.

Could I say Le déchet est dangereux instead of Ce déchet est dangereux?

Yes, both are grammatically correct, but they don’t mean exactly the same thing.

• Ce déchet est dangereux.

  • ce = this/that
  • You’re pointing out or specifying this particular piece of waste as dangerous.
    It feels deictic (linked to the physical or immediate context).

• Le déchet est dangereux.

  • le = the (definite article)
  • Refers to the waste previously mentioned or already identified in the conversation.
    It sounds more like you are talking about a specific, already-known waste, not necessarily one you’re pointing at.

In practice:

• Speaking at a lab bench, pointing: Ce déchet est dangereux.
• In a written report already talking about a specific sample: Le déchet est dangereux.

What’s the difference between déchet and other words like ordure, poubelle, or détritus?

They’re all related to waste, but used in different ways:

• un déchet / des déchets
  General term: waste, trash, refuse.
  Common in everyday speech and especially in environmental, recycling, or technical contexts:

  • déchets ménagers = household waste
  • déchets dangereux = hazardous waste

• une ordure / des ordures
  Often means garbage or filth, but also an insult for a person (C’est une ordure. = He’s a real scumbag).
  In daily life, people may say:

  • Je sors les ordures. = I’m taking out the garbage.

• une poubelle
  The trash can or bin, not the waste itself:

  • Mets ça à la poubelle. = Put that in the trash.

• un détritus / des détritus
  More formal/literary; often small bits of rubbish, litter:

  • Ramasse tes détritus. = Pick up your litter.

In Ce déchet est dangereux, déchet is the appropriate, neutral word, especially if you’re talking about chemical or hazardous waste.

When would I use cet instead of ce with a similar sentence?

You use cet (not ce) when the masculine singular noun begins with a vowel sound or mute h, to make pronunciation smoother.

Compare:

• Ce déchet est dangereux. /sə deʃe/
  déchet starts with consonant d → ce

• Cet acide est dangereux. /sɛt asid/
  acide starts with vowel a → cet

• Cet homme est dangereux. /sɛt ɔm/
  homme starts with mute h (no consonant sound) → cet

So:

• ce + consonant sound: ce déchet, ce produit
• cet + vowel or mute h sound: cet acide, cet homme
• cette + any sound (feminine): cette substance, cette usine
• ces for all plurals: ces déchets, ces substances